"^ 







f 



HISTORY 



OF 



Windsor County 



^^o^ 



VERMONT 



I 



WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF 
SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS 



EDITED BY 
LEWIS CASS ALDRICH and FRANK R. HOLMES 



SYRACUSE, N. Y.; 

D. MASON & CO., PUBLISHERS 

1891 



PREFACE. 



" ^ ■'rvn"/"'" 



or so years alter that outbrtak, man)' of tlie stirring events of State 
liistory were enacted within the borders of this county, and at the 
■ 'Uatje I'f Windsor; tliertfcrc it has been found necessary in this 
work to furnish at some 'lertiJilif a. narrative of the events of that 
penod. notwithstanding' the /jct tliat they were of general rather 
than local importance and bearing. But a recital of the early his- 
tory of Vermont, wherever the events may have occurred, is a thing 
of which the average citizen never tires, and in which every native 
of the State has reason to feel a just pride. 

On account of its geographical location in the State, Windsor 

county happened to become peculiarly prominent in the alfairs of 

the commonwealth during the period of the somewhat noted con- 

trovcrs\' with New York ; and when were formed the unions witii 

the New Hampshire towns, east of the Connecticut River, this county 

was made to embrace a much larger area than it at present contains, 

and was the chief seat ci op'-r,; ions in the political history of the 

State ''iirmg tha* time. The village of Windsor was the place in 

whicii tl. iinpottant i. '-mictions occurred, from which fact the reader 

wiil ob^e ve that a "-^ r.efal outline of the early histor)' of tiie State 

uecooits a prope- .-.-.ubjecT for disrassion in this volume 

III '• . pct,.uration of the " History of Windsor County " the ed 
• , .4ave had access and reference to such of the standard works of 



r, History of Windsor County. 



State and lncal history as are extant at the present day; there have 
been occasions on wliich they have made free use of the language as 
well as the tl\oughts of past writers, and not always have they been 
careful to disfigure the present pages with- quotation marks. More 
than this, the writers have also to acknowledge the generous assistance 
of a number of the well known residents of the county, among whom 
mav/ iir.ii.frh' he named the Rev. K. N. Goddard, of Windsor; Fay 
• Miv I' 



have contributed to the accomiilishment of the arduous task of edit- 
ing and compiling this volume Added to the above list, there tt^ 
be mentioned collectively the ])er.sons who have likewise give- 
work tlicir luariy and unrestrained sujjport ; who have mad 
lication not only [jossible but a fact ; and to whom, witii all , 
who iiave taken an interest in its preparation, directly and indirectly, 
are due the thanks of he editors and the publishers. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Eorly Explorations and Discoveries— Cartier and Champlain in Canada— John Smith 
in New Enghind— Dutcli Settlements in New York— Their Conquest by the 
E^nglish— The English in Virginia, Maine and New Hampshire— The Puritans 
irJ New England— Tlie French Jesuits among the Indians -English Manner of 
Treating the Savages— Causes of Indian Hostilities 17 

I 

CHAPTER II. 

The ijroquois Confederacy— Indian Traditions— War Among the Indians— Tribes 
Inhabiting the Region of Vermont— The Canadian Indians— Wars Between 
lingland and France- Their Effect upon the Colonies in America— Various 
I eace Treaties— Expeditions and Battles in and near Vermont— Erection of 
Uort Dummer— The First Civilized Settlement in Vermont— Bridgman and 
S tartwell's Fort at Vernon— Its Destruction by Indians— Final War Between 
filngland and France— Settlement in Vermont Unsafe— Overthrow of French 
I ower in America 



j CHAPTER III. 

The jLw Hampshire Grants— Charter Rights Granted by Governor Wentworth- 
<! ilaims of New York— Correspondence Between the Governors— Early Grants 
Akade by Governor Wentworth of Towns of Windsor County— Proclamations 
I ssued- The Royal Decree— New York Violates the King's Order— Lands 
F>tegranted— Uprising of the Settlers— The Green Mountain Boys-Counties 
Organized by New York— Chester Named as the County Seat of Cumberland 
County— Changed to Westminster— Gloucester County Created— Sentiment 
I Divided— The Situation in Cumberland and Gloucester Counties-Counties 
F ormed Bastof the Mountanis -Boundaries of Albany and Charlotte Counties. 



29 



IIisToKv oi- Windsor Countv. 



CHAPTKR IV. 



The Controversy with New York — Means Employed to Overcome the New Ham])- 
shire Grantees — Change of Sentiment East of tlie Mountains — Allegiance , 
New York Disclaimed— The Massacre at VVestminsler — Death of Williai ' 
French — Meetings held at Westminster — Tlie Settlers Formally Renonnce Al- 
legiance to New York — The Commencement of the Struggle for State an|l 
National Independence — The Conventions ai Dorset — Towns East of thk 
Mountains Asked to Send Delegates — The Conventions at Westminster — In^- 
dependence of the Slate Declared — Named New Connecticut — Clianged to Ver 
mont — Conventions at Windsor — State Constitution Adopted — Paul Spoone 
of Ilartland ' 



CHAPTER V. 

"The Pingry Papers" — A Chapter Devoted to the Proceedings of the Committee 
of the Counties of Cumberland and Gloucester from June, 1774, to September 
1777; Together with Such Other flecords of Events as will be of Interest to 
the Present and Future Generations of Readers of this Work — The Narrative 
with Explanations, Comprises Extracts Taken from the Book Entitled " Gov 
ernor and Council, ' Vohuno 1, Appendix A, No. 1 



34 



CHAPTER VI. 

The I'eriod ol the Revolutionary War — The Cause of the People on the Grants Be 
comes United — Allen's Exploits at Ticonderoga and on Lake Champlain — Sin 
gular Situation of Vermont — .Military Organizations Formed at the Dorset Con- 
vention — Selh Warner Elected Colonel — The Rangers Organized East of the 
Mountains — New York Authority Prevails — First Convention at Windsor- 
Battles at Hubbardton and Bennington — Toryism in Cumberland County- 
President Chittenden's Proclamation — Council of Safety — Effect of Burgoyne's 
Surrender- Exposed Condition of the Vermont Frontier — The Ilaklimand Cor- 
respondence — Negotiations with Canada — Their Effect Upon Vermont and the 
County — Indiaii Depredations — Attack Upon Barnard— Burning of Royallon. . 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Controversy with Now York Resumed — The Situation — Petition to Congress 
— Its Reception — Governor Clinton's Proclamation — Ethan Allen's Vindica- 
tion of Vermont — New Hampshire Towns .'-leek a Union with Verniont--The 
Union Effei-led — Protest by New York — Disaffection in Cumberland County 
— Withdrawal from the Vermont Legislature— Threatened Union with New 



CI 



i^mtm 



Contents. i i 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

History of the town of Ludlow 528 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Hi.'itory of the Town of Bethel 5.58 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

History of tlie Town of Barnard 574 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

Hi.story of tlie Town of Stockbridge 587 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

History of tlie Town of Bridgewater Gill 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

Hi-story of the Town of Andover . 020 

CHAPTER XXX. 

History of the Town of Weston (i^!6 

CHAPTIiR XXXI. 

History of the Town of Rochester 640 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

History of the Town of Chester ()C3 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

History of the Town of Weathersfield '^07 



12 History ok Windsor County. 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

History of the Town of Baltimore 72'{ 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

History of tlie Town of Ponifr<'t 72li 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

History of tlii> Town of Slinron 7 Hi 

CHAPTER XXXVH. 

History of lliu Town of Koyalton 701 

CHAPTER XXXVHI. 

Biofrraphioal 785 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

Ol.l Fainilie.'? . !«3 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



Abbott, Solomon S 785 

Aldrich, Hon. Joshua M 802 

Amsden, Charles 004 

Baldwin, Albert F 906 

Baxter, Dr. Edward K 853 

Billings, Hon. Frederick 876 

Bisbee, Aaron 786 

Brockway, John 803 

Bruce, Capt. Harvey N 860 

Burke, Udney 787 

Butler, Rev. Franklin 899 

- Call, Joseph A 788 

Chase, Dr. Rolla M 930 

Collamer, Judge Jacob 854 

Cook, Selden 805 

Coolidge, Gov. Carlos 900 

Davidson, John 807 

Davis, Hon. Gilbert A 821 

Dewey, Hon. Albert G 806 

Dillon, William 788 

Downer, Cheater .... 896 

Durkee, William H 930 

Fay, Maj. Levi C 907 

Field, Hon. Abner. '. 824 

Fletcher, Hon. Ryland 835 

Forbush, Hon. Charles A 789 

Fullam, Hon. Sewall 864 

FuUerton, F. E 893 

Gill Family 883 

Gill, James S 871 

Gillette, B. B. .a.^ 859 

Gillette, DaniefO. 834 

Graves, Leland J., M.D 790 

Green, Dr. George B 868 

Green, Dr. Isaac 866 



; Guernsey, Rev. George S 831 

Hale, Frank S .'^S7 

Hall, Alfred 909 

Harlow, Col. Hiram 828 

Harlow, Hermoii W 808 

Harrington, Edwin 857 

Hayes, Francis B 911 

HazeltoD, Daniel W., M. D 830 

Heald, Daniel A 926 

Hill, George S 859 

Kenney, Asa W 858 

Kidder, Rev. Moses 792 

Leramex, W. H 862 

Mackenzie Family 844 

Marsh, Frederick W 810 

Martin, Alonzo A 793 

Mclndoe, Lyman J 901 

Morgan, Charles 809 

Morgan, Harvey D 794 

Morrison, M. F 847 

Parks, Frederick 808 

Paul, Hon. Norman 795 

Pingry, Hon. WiUiam M 8S5 

Porter, John 911 

Potter, Sanford H 797 

Powers, Calvin R 853 

Powers Family 849 

Powers, John D 851 

Powers, Dr. John D 850 

Powers, Dr. Thomas E 852 

Raymond, Judge Isaiah 798 

Robbins, Charles 826 

Robbins, Otis 839 

Robbins, Philemon H 826 

Roberts, WiUiam G 811 



>4 



History of Windsor County. 



Rugg, David R, M. D 811 

Sanders, Coleman 833 

Slack, Col. W. H. II 865 

Slack, John A 813 

Smith. Dr. Charles C 925 

Stearns, Daniel 903 

Steele, Dr. R B 838 

Steele, Hon. Benjamin H 889 

Stocker, Samuel Rus-^ell 800 

Story, Dr. Dyer 891 

Sumner, David II 893 

Taylor, James C 839 

Tracy, Tlon. Andrew 913 

Tiittle, Col. O.'^car S 872 



Vail Family 814 

Walker, Hon. William 11 842 

Wardner, Allan 917 

Wardner, Clark 886 

Wardner, George S71 

Warner, Hiram L . . 843 

Warren, John 914 

Washburn, Hon. Peter T 817 

Washburn, Hon. Reuben 928 

Watson, Hon. Edwin C 87'4 

Webber, Hon. Sumner Allen 841 

Weston, Horace 819 

Wheeler, Capt. Daniel Davis 920 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



/Abbott, S. S facing 784 

■^Aldrich, Joshua M facing 700 

■^Amsden Charles facing 708 

/Baldwin, A. P facing 604 

/ba.\ter, B. K facing 7.')4 

i<Billings, Frederick facing .S7i) 

/Bisbee, Aaion facing 406 

i/Brockway, Jo!m facing 736 

(/Bruce, Capt. Harvey N facing 144 

/Bnrke, Udney . facing 787 

/Btitler, Rev. Franklin facing 212 

v^Call, Joseph A facing 712 

•Ciiase, Dr. R. M facing 930 

•^losson. Henry facing 452 

/Colburn, Joseph W facing 416 

v^ollamer, Jacob facing 180 

w^Cook, Selden facing 444 

/Coolidge, Gov. Carlos facing 98 

y4)ana, Thomas facing 428 

i/Davidson, John facing 440 



>T)avis, Gilbert A facing 3 1 6 

''bewey, A. G facing 354 

i^illon, William facing 460 

''ilowner, Chester facing 774 

v4)urkce, William H facing .592 

n^&y. Levi C facing 320 

v'tield. Abner facing 468 

i^letcher, Hon. Ryland. facing 108 

"T'orbush, Charles A facing 420 

'^^uUam, Hon. Sewall facing 532 

>^'\illerton, F. E facing 892 

''Gill, Daniel A facing 408 

/Gill, James S facing 540 

(Gillette, R. B facing 858 

/(rillette, Daniel O facing 344 

iKrraves, Dr. Leland J facing 276 

i/Green, Dr. George B facing 868 

►(jreen. Dr. Isaac facing 280 

■/Guernsey, Rev. George S facing 652 

>4lale, Frank S facing 378 



Cq;)JTENTS. 



15 



»^Hall, Alfred facing 908 

/ Harlow, Hermon W facing 328 

"'Harrington, Edwin facing 564 

v41aves, Francis B facing 704 

►4lazelton, D. W., M. D facing 412 

/keM, Daniel A facing 926 

i^pill, George S facing 516 

/k^enney, Asa W facing 768 

>^Kidder, Rev. Moses facing 260 

/Lemraex, W. H facing 292 

/Mackenzie, Justin F facing 844- 

>^Iarsh, F. W facing 692 

'Martin, A. A facing 792 

/Mclndoe, Lyman J facing 900 

i^organ, Charles facing 65G 

/Morgan, Harvey D facing 594 

nJorrison, M. F facing 376 

/Parks, Frederick facing 458 

►^aul, Norman facing 268 

i/pingry, William M facing 884 

/Porter, John facing 332 

i^orter. Judge Samuel W facing 424 

/'Potter, S. H facing 348 

/Powers Calvin R facing 852 

^Powers, Dr. J. D facing 232 

'4'ower.s, Dr. Thomas B facing 228 

/Powers, John D facing 23G 

/Raymond, Judge Isaiah facing 604 

/Robbins, Charles facing 826 

/Robbins, Otis facing 680 



»llobbins, P. H facing 691 

/Roberts, W. G facing 810 

/Rugg, D. F., M. D facing 812 

/Sauders. Coleman facing 732 

'^lack, John A facing 448 

■^Slack, Col. W. H. H facing 464 

i^mith, Dr. Charles C facing 924 

i^ teams, Daniel facing 308 

/Steele, Dr. F. E facing 838 

/Stocker, Samuel R facing 802 

•^tory, Dr. Dyer facing 300 

/Sumner, David H facing 364 

/taylor, J. C facing 840 

^'racy, Hon. Andrew facing 248 

•I'uttle, Col. O-scar S facing 114 

'^^1il Homestead 815 

»^ail, Joshua 815 

/^Valker, William H facing 544 

3Vardner, Allan facing 284 
Vardner, Clark facing 384 
Gardner, George facing 312 

i4Varner, Hiram L facing 536 

v^Varren, John facing 914 

i/fVashburn, Hon. Peter T facing 818 

Washburn, Reuben facing 628 

v^Vatson, Hon. Edwin C facing 336 

/Webber, Hon. Sumner Allen . facing 648 

"fWe.ston, Horace facing 304 

J^heeler, Capt. D. D facing 920 



H I S T O R \ 



r 



OF 



WINDSOR COUNTY. 



CHAPTER I. 

Early Explorations and Discoveries — Car'.ierand Champlain in Canada — John Smith 
in New England — Dutch Settlements in New York— Their Cotuiuest by the English 
— The English in X'irginia. Maine anil New Hampshire — The Puritans in New l-ng- 
land — The French Jesuits among the Indians — English Manner of Treating the Sav- 



THE first explorations and discoveries in the rei;ion of the present 
State of Verniont, of wliicii there appears an)' record, were made 
durinij; the year 1609, by Saimiel Champlain, a I'rencli nobleman. This 
adventurous person made his first visit to the western hemisphere dur- 
ing the year 1603, and he then followed in the course of James Cartier, 
who, like Champlain, was a na\igatnr under tiie government of hVance, 
and the object of whose explorations was to plant a French colony in 
the then new and comi^arativel)- unknown country. In the main the 
voyages of these men were confined to the region i>f the St. Lawrence; 
but it remained to Chamjilain to pursue his investigations in another 
direction, the result of which was the discovery of the lake now on the 
western boundarj- of the State of \'ermont, and to which the navigator 
gave the name of Lake Champlain. This occurred, as has been stated, 
in the spring of the year 1609. 

Whether or not the ad\'enturous Frenchman set foot on the soil of 
Vermont, or the territory tliat afterward became so named, there ap- 
3 



l8 IllSmuv OK WlNIiSKK ("c.L'NTV. 

pear*? no record nor tradition, but certain it is tliat lie voyajjed down tlie 
lake to near its southern extremity and liiscovered and named another 
though smaller lake, now called Lake Geor<;e, but to wiiich he gave the 
name St. Sacrament. 

Hut the I'rench were not alone in endeavoring to plant colonies in 
America, for during the same period in which their operations were be- 
ing carried on in the northern region, other nations were making similar 
efforts in other localities. In the year 1607 the luiglish succeeded in 
effecting.! [>ermanent settlement in \'irginia, in the neighborhood of the 
James Ri\'er ; and furthermore, about the same time, planted another 
small colony in the countrj- that afterwards became a part of the State 
of Maine. And in this same region, too, it was tliat Captain John 
Smith, in the year 1614, made a voyage of e.xploration and discovery, 
reaching from the Penobscot to Cape Cod. He carefully mapped the 
country covered by his explorations, and gave to it the name of New 
England. 

In the year 1609 CajUain Hendrick Hudson, a J^utch navigator in 
the service of Holland, entered New York B.iy, and thence sailed up 
the river to which he g.ive his own name, Hudson River, by which it is 
known to the present day. But it was not until some five \'ears after 
Hudson's voyage that the Dutch made jiertnanent settlements in the 
country explored by their navigator. The first Dutch colony was 
planted on Manhattan Island, now the city of New York, and others 
soon followed at various places to the northward, up the river as far as 
Albany and Schenectady. The Dutch ha^'e ever been known as a 
thrifty and prolific p-.'ople, and their settlements grew and prospereil, 
and spread out over a considerable region of country; and it is stated 
on good authority that the)- made settlements and improvements east of 
the Hudson River, and so far as to reach the territorj- of the present 
State of Vermont, to a number of the streams of which they "avc the 
nanie-i by which they are still known. Hut the Dutch were not tlesiined 
to long enjoy the fruits of their colonization in the New Netherlands, as 
their new settled country was called, for they became involved in a dis- 
pute with the English over the right to the possession, which resulted in 
the overthrow and surrender of the Dutch power in America, and the 
name of their principal cits-, New Amsterdam, was changed to New 



Eaki.v Colonization. 19 

York Tin's occurred during' the year 1664, and by it. the extinction of 
IJiitch power in America, there remained only tlie two great nations of 
Kny;land and France to contend for the supremacy. 

But in the connection of e.irly settlement and colonization in America 
there remains at least one other worthy of mention liere, and this by the 
people, althouL;h of luij^lish nationality, known as the Puritans of New 
England. They who comprised the baiul of Puritans were Kn<jlish sub- 
jects that had, about the beginning of tlie seventeenth century, left their 
native land and taken refuge in 1 lolhuul, that they might without an- 
noyance or persecution conduct themselves according to the strict laws 
of their religious belief, which privilege had not been fieel\- granted them 
in England. In the year 1620, after having remained in exile in Hol- 
land for a period of about twenty )'ears, the Puritans left Europe for 
America, and arrived in the latter country late in the fall of the same 
year, and at a point three hundred miles from that at which thcv in- 
tended to lani.1, and far from Any of the settled colonies. After many 
trials and hardships the Puril.ms founded the town which they called 
New I'lymouth, in Massachusetts, but which is now known as Plymouth. 
Heing frugal, patient ami industrious, the Puritans became a prosperous 
people and soon extendeel their settlements through various p.irts of 
New England. 

In the year 1623 the l-'nglish established settlements at Dover and 
Portsmoutli, in the province of New Hampshire ; and ten years later 
fount! colonies planted on the Connecticut Rivei'. in the province of tlie 
same name Two years after this tliey hail e.xtetuled up the river as far 
as Springfield and Dcerfield, nearly to the north line of the province of 
Massachusetts Hay and the south line of the then unnamed tract that 
forms the present State of V'ermont. 

Notwithstanding all this colonization and rapid settlement and im- 
provement in various other tlirections, there appears not yet to iiave 
been any attempt at occu[)ation or settlement within the tjrritory north 
of the Massachusetts province litie and between the Connecticut River 
on the east and the Hudson on the west, except the settlements and 
forts built by the Dutch on the last named stream. The P'rench had 
rapidly colonized and settled Canada: the Puritans and English had oc- 
cupied and established towns in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine and 



20 History of Windsor County. 



New Hampshire provinces; the Dutch and subsequently the Knglish had 
built up strong towns in the province of New York, along the Hudson 
and elsewhere, but as yet no similar effort had been made to colonize or 
settle in the region between the Green and White Mountains, or in that 
region afterward known as the New Hampshire Grants. 

The French, in their occupancy of Canada, from the very first, em- 
ployed their every art to cultivate a friendly relation with the Indians of 
that region. For this purpose they had brought into their colonies a 
number of Jesuit priests, whose only duty it was to labor among the sav- 
ages that the power of both France and Rome might be advanced and 
strengthened. With them there were no encroachments upon Indian 
lands, nor were any of their rights attempted to be violated. The di- 
plomacy of the priest effectually overcame every Indian prejudice, and 
savages and French mingled as freely as if of one color and nationality. 

Such, however, was not the case with the Fnglish in their colonies 
and settlements in other parts of the country. They sought only to in- 
crease their possessions and extend their settlements in every direction 
regardless of the rights of the Indian occupants; and if they did recog- 
nize the fact that the sa\'agcs had any rights they employed subterfuge 
and deceit to possess themselves of those rights, and this incurred the 
distrust and enmity of the native occupants of the soil. I'urthermore, 
the Knglish colonists seemed to misjudge the Indian character and his 
strength as an opponent in warfare. These feelings and abuses soon 
brought against the English the open hostilities of the Indians and re- 
tartled the advance of settlement in localities where it might have gone 
much earlier had different measures been employed. The Knglish settlers 
were obliged to protect themselves by the erection of forts, and to main- 
tain an armed force on every frontier to guard against an Indian attack 
and its consequent merciless massacre. 

The enmity against the ICnglish by the Indians had the effect of check- 
ing the advance of settlement and civilization in frontier localities; but 
added to that was a constantly growing jealousy and rivalry between 
the French in Canada and the English in New York and New England. 
Had the English been friendly with all their Indian neighbors, the latter 
were abundantly able to cope with the Canadian Indians whom the 
French were constantly employing to make war upon the Indian villages 



The Ikoqiois Confederacy. 21 



and English settlements on the southern frontier, for the powerful Iro- 
quois, the celebrated l'"ive Nations, had once subjugated all other na- 
tions of Indians, and were the acknowledged rulers of this entire region, 
and with whom all treaties for the acquirement of lands were necessary 
to be made before the Indian title was considered as extinguished. At 
the time of which we write, during the early part of the seventeenth 
century, the Iroquois confederacy was at enmity with the English, and 
they were also in open hostility against the Canadian Indians and 
French, and would gladly have been at [)eacc with their neighbors, the 
English colonists, had the latter been disposed to cultivate a friendship 
by correct means. 



CHA1T1:R 11, 

The Iro(|U()is Confederacy — Inciian Traililions — War .\nioii^r the Indi.ins — Tribes 
Inhabiting; tne Re^non of X'erniont— The Canadian Indians— W.irs Between Kngland 
and France — Their KiTect upon ihe Colonies in America — N'arious I'eace Treaties — 
Expeditions and Battles in and near WTmont — Krection of Fort Dumnier— The First 
Civilized Settlement in \'ermont— liridgman and Siartwell's Fort at Vernon — Its De- 
struction by Indians — Final W .ir lieiween I'.n^dand and France — Settlement in Ver- 
mont Unsafe — Ovenlirow of French Power in .America. 

THE preceding chapter has made mention of the Iroquois confed- 
eracy, or the h'ive Nations, and while it is not proposed to make 
any extended allusion to that body as a nc'cessary part of this nar- 
rative, still from the fact that the confederacy were the rulers and own- 
ers, so far as Indian ownership was concerned, of the whole region of 
country south of the Canadas, it is proper in this connection to give at 
least a brief description of the confederacy, how it was created, and how 
it acquired the wonderful supremacy it maiiit lined for upwards of two 
hundred years. Direct and positive relationshi[) cannot be found to 
connect all tribes tiiat ilwelt in the New luigl.md provinces with the 
Iroquois; but it is reasonabl)' well understood that they were remotely 
associated at least, and that the Intiian peoples throughout the extreme 
east stood in awe or felt themselves bounii, perhaps by fear, to obej' the 
directions and pay homage to the chiefs and sachems of the confed- 



22 HiSTOKV OF WlNDSOK COL'NTV. 

eracy. The knowledge that tlie whites obtained concerning this remark- 
able brotiicrliood — the Iro(juois confcdcrac)- — was bnscci upon the tra- 
ditions of the tribes that inhabiteil tlie country at the time the fust 
Spanish adventurers landed upon the shores of America The confed- 
eracy was in existence at that time, and had been, according to the tra- 
dition, for very many years; and it continued a power until after the 
beginning of tiie Revolutionary war. 

It seems, as the tradition goes, that several centuries ago two nations 
of Indians by accident fell in with one another, far west of the great 
river — the Mississippi — both journeying eastward; and that being on a 
common journey, they agreed to travel together. 'I hey were known as 
the Lenni Lenapes (meaning original people) and the Mcngwc, and 
neither had previous acquaintance with or knowledge of the other; that 
when the banks of the Mississippi were reached they found that river in 
possession of a numerous and warlike tribe, who called themselves the 
Allegwi, and who were disposed to make war upon the pilgrims. A 
request was made of the Allegwi that the journeying tribes be permit- 
ted to cross the river and settle in the country to the east. This was 
granted on condition that the Lenapes and Mengwe settle far to the 
east and not in the country of the Allegwi. The voyage over the river 
was tlien commenced and many crossed over, but before all had passed 
the stream the Allegwi, either deceived as to the number of the trav- 
elers, for there were very manj- of them, or with treachery aforethought, 
fell upon them and slaughtered great numbers and drove the rest into 
the forests. At length the scattered and exhausted people were brought 
together, and, after a joint council, it was decided to return and make 
war upon the Allegwi. This was done, and a long and terrific battle fol- 
lowed, the result of which was the defeat of the treacherous Allegwi 
and their being driven to the country far south. 

After the battle the concpiering tribes resumed their journey toward 
the east, but they soon fell into a dispute, the Lenni Lenapes claiming 
that the Mengwe did not fight, but hung in the rear, letting the biunt 
and disasters of the battle fall upon themselves. Finally they sejiarated, 
the Lenapes taking a southerly course and eventually settling upon the 
rivers throughout the region that afterwards became the States of Penn- 
sylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas, 



Tilt; Ik()(,il'(ilS CdNKEDEKACV. 23 

and eastward aloii^ the Atlantic cuast to the eastern provinces, while 
the Mengwe settled in the country bordering on the lakes and rivers of 
New York State and Massachusetts, or the territory that was afterward 
formed into these States. The first named, the Lcnni Lenapes, had 
their seat of fjovernmcnt upon the Delaware River, and for that reason 
they became known to the first white settlers as the Dclawares, their 
ori;^inal name becomincj eventually lost; and as families or tribes 
branched off from the parent tribe and took up their abode in some 
other locality, they always took upon themselves a name suited to their 
situation; hence the names of their three principal tribes — the Turkey, 
Turtle, antl Minsi, and their subordinate tribes — the Shawonese, the 
Suscpiehannas, the Nanticokes, the Neshamines, and others that might 
be named. 

The Mengwe became, in course of time, separated into five distinct 
tribes, and were severally known as follows: Mohawks, Oncidas, Onon- 
dagas, Cayugas and Senecas. Although their main line of possession 
hovered along the borders of the Great Lakes, their hunting ground 
reached many miles inland, and they frccjuently came in contact with 
the Lenapes, of whom they were jealous, and they endeavored to arouse 
hostilities among them, but in this they were unsuccessful. The Len- 
ajjcs were the stronger and more jiowerful in ])oint of numbers, and 
this fact was well known to the Mengwe. They dare not attack nor 
wage war against them, nor was their border as carefully guarded as that 
of the Lenapes, with the Minsi upon their frontier. Having failed in 
every attempt either to create dissension among the various Lenapes 
sub -tribes, or to lead them from their well defended border, the Mengwe 
called together their several tribes for the purpose of effecting a union 
for aggressive and defensive warfare. This council having met, it re- 
sulted in the creation of that great branch of Indian government known 
as the Five Nations. By the h'rench they were known as Iroquois, by 
the Dutch, Maquas, and by the English, Mingoes. In general the con- 
federacy was known as the Iroquois Nation, and thus have historians 
been content to designate it. It should be borne in mind, however, that 
the name "Iroquois" was never used by the confederates themselves. 
It was first used by the French, and its precise meaning is veiled in ob- 
scurity. The men of the confederacy called themselves " Hedono- 



24 History of Windsor County. 

saunee," which means literally "They form a cabin," dcscribin-^ in this 
manner the close union existing anion^ them. The Indian name just 
above quoted is more literally and commonly rendered. " The People of 
the Long House," which is more full in description, though not quite so 
accurate a translation. 

The central and unique characteristic of the Iroquois league was not 
the mere fact of five separate tribes being confederated together, for such 
unions have been frequent among civilized or semi-civilized people, 
though little known among the savages of this continent. The feature 
that distinguished the people of the Long House from all other confed- 
eracies, and which at the same time bound together all these ferocious 
warriors, was the system of clans extending throughout the different 
tribes. The distinctive word "clans" has been adopted as the most con- 
venient one to designate the peculiar families about to be described, and 
appears much better than the word " tribe," which usually applies to an 
Indian people separate and distinct from another. 

The whole confederacy of Iroquois Indians, or people, was divided 
into eight clans, as follows: Wolf, Hear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, 
Heron and Hawk. Some writers declare that every clan extended 
through all the tribes, while others assert that only the Wolf, Hear, and 
Turtle clans did so, the rest being restricted to a less number of tribes. 
Certain it is, nevertheless, that the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Ca- 
yugas and Senecas contained parts of the three clans named, and several 
of the others. Each clan formed a family, and all the members of it, no 
matter how widely sejiarated, were considered as brothers and sisters to 
each other, and were forbidden to inter- marry. This prohibition was 
strictly enforced b)- common consent. So |)owerful, indeed, was this 
bond of union that linked the whole confederacy together, that for hun- 
dreds of years there was no serious dissension between the several tribes 
of the Iroquois Nation. 

The dates furnished by various historians as to the several conquests 
over smaller tribes or nations, by the P^ive Nations, differ materially. 
The French accounts tend to show that the Kahquahs were first con- 
quered, and the Eries after them, while others reverse the order of con- 
quest. He that as it may, both were subjugated by the Irociuois, and the 
Neuter Nation, too, in turn, fell an easy prey to their relentless masters. 



The Indian Occupants. 25 

The time of the war against the Neuter Nation is given as having oc- 
curred about 1642; that of the Kahquahs soon after 1650, while some 
writers assert that between the years 1640 and 1655 the fierce confed- 
erates "put out the fires" of both Eries and Kaliquahs. 

After having overcome these smaller tribes the Iroquois next turned 
tlieir attention to their old enemies, the Delawares, the descendants of 
the Lenapes; and the latter, in turn, were completely overcome and 
subjugated. By this conquest the Five Nations became the absolute 
Indian rulers of this broad land, and were only stayed by the steady ap- 
proach of the white-faced pioneer. 

About the year 17 12 the Tuscaroras were driven northward from the 
Carolinas by the white settlers and allied Indians. They came to the 
land of the Five Nations, and were adopted into their brotherhood. 
Thereafter the Five Nations were known as the Six Nations. 

But throughout these wars among the Indians there does not appear 
to have been waged any conflict on tiie soil of Vermont ; neither does it 
appear that the Iroquois attempted any conquest of the tribes inhabiting 
the provinces of Massachusetts or Connecticut, or those which inhabited 
the Connecticut River Valley. And the St. Francis and other Cana- 
dian tribes of Indians also seem to have been exempted from Iroquois 
vengeance, except as they were occasionally repelled when on an expe- 
dition into the Iroquois country. The Indians that dwelt in the valley 
of the River Connecticut were known as Coossucks. These had their 
main village or home up towards the headwaters of the river, and ex- 
tended their hunting and fishing grounds in both north and south direc- 
tions. They were supposed to have been in some manner related to 
the St. Francis Indians, and used about the same dialect. Their name, 
Coossucks, was derived from the locality in which they chiefly hved, the 
prefix "Coos" signifying "the pines," while "suck" in the Indian tongue 
meant river; thus Coossucks being translated became the river at the 
pines, for the region of their habitation was well supplied with pine trees. 

The Fequots were a tribe that inhabited the northwestern part of the 
province of Connecticut, and gave considerable trouble and anxiety to 
the pioneers throughout that region. They became involved in a war 
with the English that lasted about a year, but in 1637 they were seri- 
ously beaten, seven hundred being killed, while the remainder fled for 
4 



26 HisToRV OK Windsor County. 

refuge to the land of the Mohawks. This conquest had such a salutary 
effect upon the other New England savages that for nearly two- score 
years the settlers were free from further depredations. 

But it was the St. Francis and other Canadian Indians that caused 
the greatest annoyance to the English colonists in New England and 
New York. The French had not only labored among the Indians in 
the cause of Romanism, but had taught them the use of fire-arms and 
supplied them with weapons. The English, too, had furnished guns to 
the Five Nations who were not hostile to the whites. Both nations, the 
French and English, did this that they might obtain the services of the 
Indians in the long series of wars that were then impending. The 
French, although they were the undisputed masters of their strongholds, 
the Canadas, sought to extend their possessions and power into the 
country below, the provinces of New York and New England. This, of 
course, was opposed by the English, and the result was the series of 
conflicts that have been called the French and English wars. In these 
wars the Iroquois were generally allied to the English, on account of a 
hatred they held against the Canada Indians, and were ever ready to 
join the English soldiery in any expedition against the Canadas; and, 
likewise, the Canada Indians were ever eager to wage war against the 
English colonists, upon the assurances of entire freedom to plunder, 
burn, and murder at will. 

These wars commenced during the latter part of the seventeenth cen- 
tury, and continued at intervals until the final treaty of peace between 
England and France, in February, 1763, which ceded the French power 
in America to the English. The French and English wars commenced 
with the descent of the Iroquois upon Montreal, and the destruction and 
plundering of that post. This was avenged by the French and Indian 
attack upon Schenectady, the massacre of sixty of its inhabitants, the 
plundering and burning of the town, and the successful escape of the 
attacking party. Then, in the year 1691, the English, under command 
of Colonel Schuyler, and an accompanying band of friendly Iroquois, 
made an attack upon the French and Indians on the River Richelieu, 
and slaugiitered many of them. The French retaliated by an expedi- 
tion against the country of the Mohawks, the tribe of the Iroquois that 
lived farthest east. 



French and English Wars. 27 



England and France concluded a treaty of peace in 1697, but in 1702 
they again had recourse to arms ; and, of course, the American colonies 
of each nation followed the lead of their mother country. It was during 
this war, and in the winter of 1704, that the French commander, De 
Rouville, set out on an expedition against the weak and struggling 
colony at Deerfield, in Massachusetts. Accompanied by a body of 
French soldiers and ever-willing Indians, the party voyaged down Lake 
Champlain to the Winooski River ; thence up that stream and across the 
northern territory of Vermont (but not then so named) to the Connecti- 
cut ; and down the valley of the last named stream, passing through 
what afterward became Windsor county, to the field of operations, 
where they arrived late in the month of February. The next day an 
attack was made upon the poorly defended place, and although a vigor- 
ous defense was made, the attacking party was too strong, and another 
act of murder and plunder was perpetrated. 

After this and other similar incursions the English determined upon 
several plans and expeditions whereby to overcome the French and pro- 
tect their own colonies; but the greater part of these met with indifferent 
success, until at last another peace between the contending nations was 
agreed upon ; but this did not serve to check the fury of the Indians, for 
they, at the instigation of the Jesuit missionaries, kept up a constant war- 
fare against the English frontier settlements, during which the whole ter- 
ritory of the subsequent New Hampshire Grants was continually overrun 
by marauding bands of Canadian savages, in quest of plunder, murder 
and rapine. 

But during all this time the larger settlements continued to grow and 
others were established along the valley of the larger streams. To af- 
ford all possible protection to these settlers, forts, stockades and block- 
houses were erected, wherein the frontier pioneers and their families 
might find refuge in time of danger. One of these was built on the Con- 
necticut River, at a point called Dummer's Meadows, near the present 
town of Brattleboro; and the fortress, by reason of its location, was called 
Fort Dummer. This is believed to have been the first permanent settle- 
ment made by civilized whites within the borders of the State of Ver- 
mont ; but it was erected there under the impression that the locality was 
part of the province of Massachusetts, and it was not until a survey was 



28 History of Windsor County. 

made, to settle conflicting claims between Massachusetts and New Hamp- 
shire, that Fort Dummer and its settlement were found to be in the lat- 
ter province, and subsequently became a part of the New Hampshire 
Grants, and, still later, theStateof Vermont. The fort was built in 1724. 

Other forts were built in various localities on the frontier, among 
them, in this vicinity, Fort Number Four, on the site of Charleston, New 
Hampshire ; one at Vernon, known as Bridgman's and Startwell's fort. 
The latter was attacked in June, 1746, and though a number of the gar- 
rison were slain the Indians were finally repulsed. The next year, 1747, 
a more successful attack was made against the fort, which resulted in its 
destruction, and slaughter and capture of many of its garrison, and those 
who had taken refuge therein. 

The several peace treaties agreed to between England and France 
had not the effect of entirely checking hostilities in the colonies ; and 
while the mother countries were at nominal peace, their representatives 
on this side of the Atlantic were engaged in almost continual warfare. 
In 1748, by the treaty of Aix-Ia-Chapelle, another peace was agreed to, 
but the terms of the treaty not only failed of ratification bj' both coun- 
tries, but each absolutely rejected them in toto. Although six years of 
nominal peace followed this attempt at settling national disputes, both 
countries were making every preparation for another war that must inev- 
itably ensue. Through the influence of Sir William Johnson the English 
were to receive the assistance of the powerful Iroquois Nation, while the 
Canadian Indians pronounced in favor of France. The more severe battles 
of this war were waged on the soil of the provinces of New York, Penn- 
sylvania, and in the south and west ; and while the colonists of New Eng- 
land were by no means freed from danger, many, nevertheless, joined the 
English army and fought throughout the years of the conflict. The 
then unoccupied territory north of the Massachusetts province line, and 
between the Connecticut and Hudson Rivers, although not the theater of 
any disasterous conflict, was constantly crossed and recrossed by armed 
parties of whites and marauding Indians. It was a vast unguarded 
frontier, unsafe for occupancy, and liable at any time to be overrun by 
savage foes. 

This being the situation, it cannot be a source of wonder or remark 
that the territory now included within the bounds of Vermont was not 
sooner occupied or settled by the whites. 



Early Settlements. 29 

The French and English war continued with unabated fury along the 
Hudson and Lake Champlain, and in the Canadas, as well as elsewhere 
in the west, until the final defeat and surrender of the French commander, 
Vaudreuil, by which the province of Canada, so long held by the-French, 
passed to the control and government of Great Britain. The final treaty 
that ceded this vast province to the king was agreed to and signed at 
Paris, on the lOtii of February, 1763. 



CHAPTER III. 

The New Hampshire Grants — Charter Rights Granted by Governor Wentworth — 
Claims of New York — Correspondence Between the Governors — Early Grants Made 
by Governor Wentworth of Towns of Windsor County — Proclamations Issued — The 
Royal Decree — New York Violates the King's Order — Lands Regranted — Uprising of 
the Settlers — The Green Mountain Boys — Counties Organized by New York — Chester 
Named as the County Seat of Cumberland County — Changed to Westminster — Glou- 
cester County Created — Sentiment Divided — The Situation in Cumberland and Glou- 
cester Counties— Counties Formed East of the Mountains—Boundaries of Albany and 
Charlotte Counties. 

DURING the years of the French wars bodies of armed troops were 
constantly crossing through various portions of tlie uninhabited 
lands lying north of Massachusetts province line; and as soon as the 
condition of the frontier would admit application was made by several 
parties for the grant of township tracts of land in that section of the 
country. These applications were made to the governors of the prov- 
inces of New York and New Hampshire : to the foriner generally by 
residents of New York, for the reason that it was understood that the 
grant by the king to James, the Duke of York, embraced all the terri- 
tory north of the Massachusetts province line, as far east as the Con- 
necticut River; and to the latter, the governor of New Hampshire, Ben- 
ning Wentworth, for the reason that it was understood that the province 
of New Hampshire extended as far to the west as did the provinces of 
Massachusetts and Connecticut, to a line twenty miles east of the Hud- 



30 History of Windsor County. 

son River. This conflict of opinion led to a serious controversy between 
the authorities of the two provinces, but after some years, and after he had 
granted a large body of the disputed tract, Governor Wentworth, of New 
Hampshire, withdrew from the contest, and left his unfortunate grantees 
to protect themselves and their rights without his advice or assistance. 
This contest continued with greater or less severity for a period of about 
forty years, and was finally terminated by Congress, in the recognition 
of the rights of the persons holding under the New Hampshire charters, 
and the admission of the disputed territory to the Federal Union, under 
the name of "State of Vermont," in the year 1791. 

The first grant of lands by Governor Wentworth, under the authority 
he claimed to possess, was made on the 3d day of January, 1749, and 
conveyed to the grantees therein named a tract containing thirty- six 
square miles of land, and situated near the southwest corner of his sup- 
posed province, abutting the twenty-mile line, to which township he 
gave the name of" Bennington." This grant was immediately followed 
by numerous other applications for similar charters or grants of lands in 
that and other localities, but the doughty governor evidently had not 
every confidence in his alleged rights, and it was not until the year 1750 
that any further grant was made. 

After having granted the township of Bennington, Governor Went- 
worth opened correspondence with Governor Clinton of the province of 
New York, apprising him of what had been done, and expressing a de- 
sire not to interfere with the latter's province, or trespass upon the same; 
and particularly inquiring as to "how many miles eastward of Hudson's 
River, to the northward of the Massachusetts line," the government of 
New York extends. To this Governor Clinton made answer that, by the 
advice of council, he was to acquaint Governor Wentworth " that this 
province (New York) is bounded eastward by Connecticut River ; the 
letters-patent from King Charles H. to the Duke of York, expressly 
granting 'all the lands fron) the west side of Connecticut to the east side 
of Delaware Bay.'" Then followed further correspondence between the 
governors, and it was decided to refer the matter to the Crown for adju- 
dication. But on May 11, 1750, Governor Wentworth made another 
grant, and this was followed by others, so that, within a period of four- 
teen years, there had been granted charter rights for one hundred and 



New Hampshire Grants. 31 

thirty- eight townships in the disputed territory. The towns so chartered 
during that time that at present form a part of Windsor county, with 
dates of their charter, were as follows : Hamstead, alias Chester, Febru- 
ary 22, 1754, regranted November 4, 1761 ; Hartford, July 4, 1761 ; 
Norwich, July 4, 1761 ; Reading, Saltash (now Plymouth), and Windsor, 
July 6, 1761 ; Pomfret, July 8, 1761; Hertford (now Hartland), Wood- 
stock, and Bridgewater, July 10, 1761 ; Bernard (now Barnard), July 17, 
1761 ; Stockbridge, July 21, 1761 ; Sharon, August 17, 1761 ; Spring- 
field and Weathersfield, August 20, 1761 ; Ludlow, September 16, 176 1 ; 
Cavendish, October 12, 1761 ; Andover, October 13, 1761. 

This general and promiscuous granting of lands by the governor of 
New Hampshire had the effect of calling forth, from the governor of 
New Yoik, a proclamation directing the authorities of that province " to 
take the names of all persons who had taken possession of lands under 
New Hampshire grants." But this was met by a counter proclamation 
issued by Governor Wentworth, urging the settlers under his grants 
"to be industrious in clearing and cultivating their lands, agreeable to 
their respective grants." And, furthermore, commanding all civil 
officers of the province " to deal with any person or persons, that may 
presume to interrupt the inhabitants or settlers on said lands, as to law 
and justice do appertain," etc. 

Such was the disturbed and unhappy condition of things when, on the 
20th day of July, 1764, the king having at last taken cognizance of the 
subject in controversy, and by the advice of his council, did order and 
declare " the western banks of the River Connecticut, from where it 
enters the province of the Massachusetts Bay, as far north as the forty- 
fifth degree of northern latitude, to be the boundary line between the said 
two provinces of New Hampshire and New York " ; and further ordered 
the officers of the two provinces "to take notice of his Majesty's pleas- 
ure', and govern themselves accordingly." 

Thus the people on the grants found themselves situated by the ro)'al 
decree. With them it was not so much a matter of concern as to which 
jurisdiction they belonged, and they were entirely content to become a 
part of the province of New York. But when they iound that the 
authorities of that province were disposed to annul their barters and 
regrant them the lands for consideration, or else grant them to other 



32 History of Windsor County. 

applicants, they rebelled against any such usurpation of right, and were 
at once made bitterly hostile to the New York powers. So great, 
indeed, was the indignation of the settlers at this outrageous proceeding 
that it was a dangerous occupation for any New York officer to appear 
upon the grants. That they might know whether the New York 
authorities could justly evict them from their land, or compel them to 
repurchase, the settlers met in convention, through representatives from 
the several towns, and decided to send Samuel Robinson, of Bennington, 
to England to present their grievances to the king. The king and 
council, after patientl)' hearing the statements of Mr. Robinson, made 
an order forbidding the "Governor or Commander-in-Chief of his 
Majesty's Province of New York, for the time being," from making " any 
grant whatsoever of any part of the lands described in the report (the 
report of the board of trade), until his majesty's pleasure be further 
known," etc. 

But, notwithstanding this, the governor of New York did C(3ntinue to 
make grants, and did bring suits in ejectment against the settlers, until, 
at last, their patience became exhausted at the continued oppression put 
upon them ; and as law and justice were denied them, an organization 
for mutual protection of life and property became necessary. This re- 
sulted in the formation of that heroic band of statesmen and warriors 
known in history as the " Green Mountain Boys," of which Ethan Allen 
was chosen colonel, and Seth Warner, Remember Baker, Robert 
Cochran, Gideon Warner and others, captains. 

After the royal decree of 1764, by which the Connecticut River 
became the eastern boundary of the province of New York, the success- 
ful authorities made all possible haste to organize and govern the same, 
thus hoping to subdue the rebellious spirit that had then begun to 
manifest itself in various quarters; and in carrying out their jjlan of 
government the territory of the grants was divided into counties, the 
portion east of the mountains being called Cumberland count}' ; and 
they had created courts and appointed officers for the civil government 
of the county when the king's order of 1767 was received, and by which 
their former proceedings were annulled. But in spite of this the act 
creating the county was again passed, and the county again organized 
under New York authority. The county seat of Cumberland county 



Early County Divisions. 33 

was fixed at Chester, in the present county of Windsor, and here courts 
were held for four or five years, but no permanent county buildings 
were erected at that place 

The town of Chester, as will be seen by reference to earlier pages, 
was first chartered by Governor Wentworth, on February 22, 1754, 
under the name of Hamstead. On November 3, 1761, the town was 
rechartered under the name of Flamstead, or New Flamstead ; and on 
July 14, 1766, the name " Chester " was adopted. This latter name was 
given the town by the charter that was then granted by the provincial 
authorities of New York to Thomas Chandler and thirty six associates. 

In many of the towns lying in the southeastern portion of the grants 
there was a strong contingent of settlers who were satisfied to accept 
the New York terms of adjustment of the existing difficulties, and who 
were willing to surrender their claims under New Hampshire and pro- 
cure new charters from New York. In Chester there were many 
persons inclined to this course, although this class were far more numer- 
ous in the towns farther south. But in Chester, too, there was an 
equally determined class of settlers who refused to submit to the New 
York authority ; and the feeling between these opposing factions at 
length grew so bitter that it was deemed advisable to move the county 
seat to Westminster, which was accordingly done. 

And about the same time, on March 7, 1770, that portion of the ter- 
ritory of the grants east of the mountains and north of the town lines of 
the present towns of Norwich, Sharon and Royalton, was formed into 
another count)r by the name of Gloucester, the county seat of which 
was fixed at Newbury. This action on the part of the New Yorkers 
divided the territory east of the mountains into two distinct sub -dis- 
tricts. The great majority of the residents of Gloucester county were 
opposed to the New York authority, while the majority of those who 
dwelt in Cumberland county may be said to have been indifferent as to 
the situation or else they favored New York control. But still there 
were many in Cumberland county that warmly and earnestly espoused 
the cause for which the Green Mountain Boys and the residents west of 
the mountains were contending. 

But the New York authorities did not confine their operations exclu- 
sively to the region where their followers were the most numerous, for 
5 



34 History ok Windsor County. 



they also divided the territory east of the Green Mountains into two 
separate counties, the one called Albany county and the other Charlotte 
county. The county seat of the first was fixed at Albany, while that 
of the latter was at Skenesborough (now Whitehall). The north lines 
of the towns of Arlington and Sunderland separated these counties, and 
this boundary was continued westerly to the Hudson River. This or- 
ganization of the territory of the grants into counties, by the authorities 
of New York, was continued until the year 1777, when the representa- 
tives of the people on the disputed tract declared their lands to be an 
independent jurisdiction or State, and gave to it the name of VERMONT. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The Controversy with New York — Means Employed to Overcome the New Hamp- 
shire Grantees — Chan.ije of Sentiment East of the Mountains — Allegiance to New 
York Disclaimed — The Massacre at Westminster — Death of William French — Meet- 
ings held at Westminster— The Settlers Formally Renounce Allegiance to New York 
— The Commencement of the Struggle for State and National Independence — The 
Conventions at Dorset — Towns East of the Mountains .^sked to Send Delegates — The 
Conventions at Westminster — Independence of the State Declared — Nametl New 
Connecticut — Changed to Vermont — Conventions at Windsor — State Constitution 
Adopted — Paul Spooner of Harlland. 

DURING the period of the controversy with New York concerning 
the right of ownership in and jitrisdiction over the territory known 
so many ) ears by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, the chief 
theater of events lay west of the Green Mountains. This section was 
much nearer the seat of government of the province of New York, and 
should her officers not be able to suppress an insurrection in that locality, 
how little could they hope to hold in subjection any strong rebellious 
sentiment tliat should manifest itself in the more remote and inaccessi- 
ble regions beyond the mountains! But with these people the New 
Yorkers pursued a decidedly different course from that employed against 
the Green Mountain Boys, using pacific measures to accomplish their 
purpose with the former, while force of arms must be resorted to in order 
to overcome the opposition offered by Ethan Allen and his brave com- 



The Controversy with New York. 35 

patriots. On the west side the New York authorities never gained any 
substantial foothold or advantage over the settlers on the grants, and 
the officers sent to apprehend the alleged rioters were treated to such 
smarting applications of the beech seal and sundry other punishments 
as to most effectually discourage other officers from making any attempt 
at arrest or eviction. And that element of the population that were 
called Tories found the region wholly unsafe for habitation, and either 
fled to other parts or so conducted themselves as not to bring upon 
them a visitation of the wrath of the leaders of the alleged mob. To 
be sure the territory had, in the same manner as that on the east side, 
been divided into counties, and officers appointed to exercise their 
respective functions therein; but hardly any of these attempted to act, 
and when an occasional justice or other petty officer assumed to perform 
the duty imposed upon him by virtue of his appointment, he did so in 
defiance of the order of the Green Mountain Boys, and upon conviction 
was punished in such manner as suggested itself to the fancy of the 
leaders, and by no means were their primitively constituted magistrates 
inclined to exercise leniency toward offenders. For inimical conduct, 
which was nothing more nor less than Toryism, David Redding was 
hanged at Bennington. 

But on the east side of the mountains the character of the people and 
situation was decidedly different; and it is believed that public sentiment 
for and against New York was nearly equally divided, excepting of 
course that element of the settlers that expressed or held no decided 
preference. This was the situation prior to the breaking out of the Rev- 
olution, but that event aroused all factions to activity, and the so-called 
Tory contingent became decidedly small and weak, though it was by no 
means extinguished. 

The affection entertained for the authorities and government of the 
province of New York by the inhabitants of the grants east of the mount- 
ains became suddenly and effectually alienated during the years just pre- 
ceding the Revolution, and the peculiar situation of New York was the 
innocent and ignorant cause of it. The reader will bear in mind that the 
Duke of York was the grantee, under the charter issued by the king, to 
the entire province named in his honor, and this charter was not unlike 
many others. But the Duke of York, in course of time, ascended the 



36 History of Windsor County. 

throne, and by that event the province of New York merged in the 
crown, became an English province, and was governed by officers ap- 
pointed by tlie king. From this fact it was known as a royal province, 
and its authorities and magistrates were the immediate subjects of the 
crown, and owed a clo.ser allegiance thereto than many of the other prov- 
inces. Therefore, when in 1774 the representatives of the several col- 
onies met at Philadelphia for the purpose of deliberating upon measures 
to relieve themselves from the oppressions put upon the colonies by the 
mother country, it was not a surprising thing that New York was re- 
luctant about acting with the earnestness shown by the other provinces 
throughout the land. This lack of zeal cost the governing authorities 
of New York the friendsliip, not only of other provinces, but particularly 
of the settlers on the grants east of the Green Mountains. These peo- 
ple had, in the main, been former residents of the provinces south and 
east of the section in which they then lived, and as those colonies were 
eager and earnest in their efforts to separate from Great Britain, they 
felt that the tardy action of New York was sufficient cause for throwing 
off all allegiance to that province, and uniting with the great mass of the 
people in the common cause against England and her oppressive policy. 
But the officers of Cumberland county, holding under the authority 
they derived from New York, felt it incumbent upon them that they 
perform such duties as had previously been their custom notwitiistand- 
ing the opposition of the people, who advised against such action. This 
disregard of the people's wishes led to the unfortunate disaster that has 
ever since been termed the massacre at Westminster. This aft'air oc- 
curred at a time when the New York authorities were in control of the 
civil government of Cumberland county, of which county this region 
then formed a part. The facts of the case were so clearly and concisely 
stated in the narrative contained in " Thompson's Vermont " that we 
make bold to copy the same literally in these pages, as follows : " The 
affairs of the colonies had assumed so alarming an aspect, that delegates 
from most of the provinces met at Philadelphia on the 5th of Septem- 
ber, 1774, to consult upon measures for the common safety. The meet- 
ing of this congress was followed by an almost universal suspension of 
the royal authority in all the colonies, excepting New York, which re- 
fused to assent to the measures recommended by that body, and the 



The Massacre at Westminster. 37 

courts of justice were either shut up or adjourned without doing any 
business. The first interruption of this kind in the colony of New York 
happened in the county of Cumberland, on the New Hampshire grants. 

" The stated session of the court for that county was to have been 
holden at Westminster, on the 13th of March, 1775. Much dissatisfac- 
tion prevailed in the county because New York had refused to adopt the 
resolves of the Continental Congress, and exertions were made to dis- 
suade the judges from holding the court. But, as they persisted in do- 
ing it, some of the inhabitants of Westminster and the adjacent towns 
took possession of the court-house at an early hour in order to prevent 
the officers of the court from entering. The court party soon appeared 
before the court-house armed with guns, swords and pistols, and com- 
manded the people to disperse. But, as they refused to obey, some 
harsh language passed between them, and the court party retired to their 
quarters. 

" The people then had an interview with Judge (Thomas) Chandler, 
who assured them that they might have quiet possession of the house till 
morning, when the court should come in without arms, and should hear 
what they had to lay before them But, contrary to this declaration, 
about eleven o'clock that night the sheriff with other officers of the court, 
attended by an armed force, repaired to the court-house. Being refused 
admittance, some of the party fired into the house and killed one man 
and wounded several others. The wounded men they seized and dragged 
to prison, with some others who did not succeed in making their escape. 
By means of those who escaped the news of this massacre was quickly 
spread, and before noon the next day a large body of armed men had 
collected." (About 200 of these came from New Hampshire, and oth- 
ers from Massachusetts, which, with those from the grants, aggregated a 
total armed force of five hundred men ) "A jury of inquest brought in 
a verdict that the man was murdered by the county party. Several of 
the officers were made prisoners and confined in the jail at Northampton ; 
but upon the application of the chief justice of New York, they were re- 
leased from prison and returned home." 

The victim of the massacre at Westminster was William French. His 
body was interred in the graveyard at Westminster, and on the monu- 
ment erected to his memory was this inscription, a veritable literary 
curiosity : 



38 History of Windsor Countv. 

"In Memory of William French, Son to Mr. Nathaniel French, Who 
Was Shot at Westminster, March ye 13th, 1775, by the hands of Cruel 
Ministerial tools of George ye 3d, in the Corthoiise at a 1 1 a Clock at 
Night, in the 22d year of his age. 

" Here William French his body lies, 

For murder his blood for vengeance cries, 

King Georg the third his Tory crew, 

tha with a bawl his head Shot threw, 

For Liberty and his Country-'s Good, 

he lost his Life his Dearest blood." 

Following the affair at Westminster, the cause of the settlers upon the 
grants, both east and west of the mountains, became a common one. 
No longer was there a strong disaffected element, and all factions be- 
came united in the cause against both New York and Great Britain. In 
the midst of this feeling a convention of committees, representing the 
towns east of the mountains, was called to be holden at Westminster, on 
the 1 ith day of April, 1775. At this meeting the following proceedings 
were taken : 

" I. Voted, That Major Abijah Lovejoy' be the Moderator of this 
meeting. 

" 2. Voted, That Dr. Reuben Jones 2 be the Ch-rk. 

"3. Voted, as our opinion. That our inhabitants are in great danger 
of having their property unjustly, cruelly, and unconstitutionally taken 
from them by the arbitrary and designing administration of the govern- 
ment of New York ; sundry instances have already taken place. 

"4. Voted, as our opinion, That the lives of those inhabitants are in 
the utmost hazard and imminent danger, under the present administra- 
tion. Witness the malicious and horrid massacre on the night of the 
13th ult. 

" 5. Voted, as our opinion. That it is the duty of said inhabitants, as 
predicated on the eternal and immutable law of self-preservation, to 
wholly renounce and resist the administration of the government of New 
York, till such time as the lives and property of those inhabitants may be 
secured by it ; or.till such time as they can have opportunity to lay their 
grievances before his most gracious majesty in council, together with a 

' Major Abijah Lovejoy of Westminster. 

'' Ur. Reuben Jones of Rockingham, afterwards of Chester. 



At the Beginning of the Revolution. 39 



proper remonstrance against the unjustifiable conduct of that govern- 
ment ; with an humble petition to be taken out of so oppressive a juris- 
diction, and, either annexed to some other government, or erected and 
incorporated into a new one, as may appear best to the said inhabitants, 
to the royal wisdom and clemency, and till such time as his majesty 
shall settle this controversy. 

"6. Voted, That Colonel John Hazeltine, Charles Phelps, Esq , and 
Colonel Ethan Allen, be a committee to prepare such remonstrance and 
petition for the purpose aforesaid." 

"It is difficult," says Slade, "to conjecture what would have been 
the issue of this controversy had not its progress been suddenly averted 
by the commencement of the Revolutionary war. The events of the 
memorable 19th of April, 1775, produced a shock which was felt to the 
very extremity of the colonies; and ' local and provincial contests were 
at once swallowed up by the novelty, the grandeur, and the importance 
of the contest thus opened between Great Britain and America.' The 
commencement of the war at this period led to a train of causes im- 
mediately connected with the final independence of Vermont The 
attention of New York was suddenly diverted from the subject of its 
particular controversy to a higher one, involving the independence of 
the whole American community, while the final result of the former was 
necessarily thrown forward to a more distant period. The New Hamp- 
shire grantees did not fail to profit by this delay. While they never 
for a moment lost sight of the object for which they had so long con- 
tended, they improved the delay in the cultivation of a more perfect 
union, and in a better organization of their strength; while a violent, 
irritable state of public feeling, ill calculated to sustain a long conflict, 
gradually settled down into a more deliberate but not less decided 
hostility to the claims of New York." 

'• In this state of things," continues the same writer, "the inhabitants 
on the grants soon began to feel their importance; and this feeling was 
not a little .strengthened by the signal e.xploit (the surprise and capture 
of Ticonderoga on the 9th of May, 1775), which has given the brave 
Allen and his companions in arms so distinguished a place in the 
annals of the Revolution. Their frontier situation peculiarly exposed 
them to the depredations of the enemy. Their own immediate safety, 



40 HisTcjRV i)F Windsor County. 

therefore, as well as a strong sympathy in the general hostility to the 
mother countrj', led them to take an early and distinguished part in the 
common cause. With New York, however, they were determined to 
have no immediate connection even in the common defence." 

In the early proceedings that resulted in the declaration of independ- 
ence of Vermont, the inhabitants on tiic yrants east of the mountains 
did not take an active part, and the first convention in which the\- were 
represented was that held at Dorset, on the 24th of July, 1776, at which 
time Captain Samuel Fletcher and Josiah Fish were delegates from 
Townshend, that town then being in Cumberland county, of which the 
present county of Windsor formed a part. Prior to that event, and on 
July 26, 1775, and January 16, 1776, conventions had been held at 
Dorset, but no representatives from the eastern towns of the grants 
were present. At the convention of July, 1776, it was "Voted to chose 
a committee to treat with the Inhabitants of the New Hampshire grants 
on the East side of tiie range of Green Mountains relative to their 
associating with this body"; and further, "Voted, That Captain 
Heman Allen, Colonel William Marsh, and Dr. Jonas Fay in conjunc- 
tion with Captain Samuel Fletcher and Mr. Joshua Fish, be a Com- 
mittee to exhibit the proceedings of this Convention to said inhabitants, 
and to do the business as above." In addition to these proceedings it 
was also voted that Dr. Jonas Fay, Colonel Thomas Chittenden and 
Lieutenant Ira Allen be appointed a committee to prepare instructions 
for the committee last above chosen. 

At tills time, although the independence of Vermont had not been 
formally declared, the people were making an earnest effort to bring 
about that end through the intervention of Congress. It therefore be- 
came a part of the business of the July convention at Dorset to ascertain 
the general sentiment of all the towns relating to such a proceeding. For 
this purpose town meetings were requested to be held in the towns east 
of the mountains, at which the freemen should express their opinion as 
to the course best to be pursued. In Rockingham on the 26th of 
August it was voted to send two delegates to the convention to be held 
at Dorset in the fall, and instructed them " to use their best influence 
to obtain the passage of such resolve as would tend to establish the 
' Grants ' as a separate and independent State." And at a similar meet- 



The Westminster Convention. 41 

ing " the fullest meeting ever (then) known in Chester," held in Septem- 
ber, like measures were adopted, and the articles of association, which 
had been approved of by tlie Dorset committee, were signed by forty- 
two of the inhabitants. Other towns were heard from, some by written 
and others by verbal communications. 

At an adjourned session of the Dorset convention, held September 25, 
1776, ten towns east of the mountains were represented, but only one 
Windsor, was in what is now the county of that name. Ebenezer Hois- 
ington represented that town. Mr. Hoisington took an active part in 
the proceedings of this as well as subsequent conventions, and served as 
a member of several of the most important committees. 

From Dorset the convention adjourned to reassemble at Westminster 
on the 30th day of October, 1776. At tlie meeting at Westminster 
were two representatives from towns in this county, Mr. Hoisington for 
Windsor, and Colonel Thomas Chandler for Chester. This convention 
was in session but three days when it was voted to adjourn to meet 
again at Westminster, on the third Wednesday of January, 1777. 

At the appointed time tlie representatives met at the court-house in 
Westminster, the delegates from the eastern towns outnumbering those 
from the west side. From the towns now of Windsor county the dele- 
gates were as follows: From Chester, Colonel Thomas Chandler; Wind- 
sor, Ebenezer Hoisington ; Hartford, Stephen Tilden ; Woodstock, 
Benjamin Emmons; Norwich, Major Thomas Moredock and Jacob Bur- 
ton. The towns of Pomfret, Barnard and Royalton sent letters to the 
convention pronouncing in favor of a new State, but neither of these 
were otherwise represented. One of the first subjects of discussion in 
this convention was the sentiment existing in the towns east of the 
mountains regarding the formation of a new State ; and for the purpose 
of receiving correct information on that subject a committee, consisting 
of Lieutenant Leonard Spaulding, of Dummerston, Ebenezer Hois- 
ington, of Windsor, and Major Thomas Moredock, of Norwich, was 
chosen to examine and report as to the number of persons in the east- 
ern towns who were in favor of a new State, and how many were op- 
posed thereto. The report of this committee states that " We find by 
examination that more than three-fourths of the people in Cumberland 
and Gloucester counties, that have acted, are for a new State ; the rest 
we view as neuters." •* 



42 History of Windsor County. 

This convention was, perhaps, the most important of any that was 
held during the period of agitation and uncertainty, for it was here that 
the representatives of the towns on tlie New Hampshire Grants, through 
their committee selected for the purpose, declared to the world that 
"the district of territory comprehending and usually known by the 
name and description of the New Hampshire Grants, of right out to be, 
and is hereby declared forever hereafter to be considered as a separate, 
free and independent jurisdiction or State ; by the name, and forever 
hereafter to be called, known and distinguished by the name of New 
Connecticut," etc. 

There seems to have been, and perhaps still is, considerable discus- 
sion concerning the fact whether the name of the newly created State is 
correctly given above — Neiu Connecticut, or whether it was at that time 
named New Connecticttt, alias Vermont. The great bulk of reliable au- 
thority on this subject seems to incline to the belief that the name New 
Connecticut only was given in the original declaration ; that the words 
"alias Vermont" were afterward added, and that on the 4th of June, 
following, the name was changed to Vermont. There is no question 
but that the name N^ew Connecticut was adopted at the Westminster 
convention, but there was a question whether the added words were a 
part of the original document. At all events the succeeding conven- 
tion, at Windsor, June 4, 1777, was dissatisfied with some of the pro- 
visions of the original proceeding, particularly from the fact that no rea- 
sons were stated for the separation from New York ; whereupon the 
body there assembled, by their first preamble, did state: "Whereas, 
This convention did at their session in Westminster, the 15th day of 
January last, among other things, declare the district of land commonly 
called and known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, to be ' a 
free and independent State, capable of regulating their own internal 
police in all and every respect whatsoever, and that it should thereafter 
be known by the name oi Ncio Connecticut.'" "Resolved, therefore, 
unanimously, that the said district described in the preamble to the dec- 
laration at Westminster, aforesaid, shall now hereafter be called and 
known by the name of Vermont." 

The representatives in this convention at Windsor, from those towns 
that now form a part of Windsor county, together with the towns they 



The New Constitution. 43 

respectively represented, were as follows : From Chester, Lieutenant 
Jabez Sargent ; Windsor, Ebenezer Hoisington ; Hertford (Hartland), 
Major Joel Matthews and William Gallup ; Woodstock, Benjamin Em- 
mons ; Hartford, Colonel Joseph Marsh and Stephen Tilden ; Pomfret, 
John Throop and John Winchester Dana ; Barnard, Asa Whitcomb and 
Asa Chandler; Norwich, Colonel Peter Olcott, Major Thomas More- 
dock, and Jacob Burton; Sharon, Joel Marsh and Daniel Gilbert; Cav- 
endish, Captain John Coffein ; Reading, Andrew Spear. 

After having completed, adopted and signed the revised declaration 
of State independence, the convention next proceeded to make provis- 
ion for the temporary government of the State, and for its protection 
from the inimical persons who were endeavoring to create a new feeling 
of disaffection in many of the towns. This being arranged satisfactorily, 
the convention adjourned, but met again at the same place on the 2d 
day of July, 1777. This was a meeting equally important with any of 
its predecessors, for, at that time, the question of the adoption of a State 
constitution would have to be met. At the former convention a com- 
mittee was chosen to make the draft of a constitution, but as to who act- 
ually constituted that committee there appears to be no record. Au- 
thorities agree, however, that it was composed of Jonas Fay, Thomas 
Chittenden, Heman Allen, Reuben Jones, and, probably, Jacob Bayley. 
These persons had been appointed agents to present the cause of Ver- 
mont to Congress, seeking admission to the Union, and recognition by 
that body as a separate and independent State ; and it is believed from 
the fact that these persons, or a majority of them, visited Philadelphia, 
and attended upon Congress, and, furthermore, became so closely asso ■ 
ciated with Dr. Young, of that city, that he induced them to adopt a 
constitution after the form of that of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 
Whatever of accuracy there may have been in this opinion cannot now 
be determined, but it is a fact that the constitution adopted for the gov- 
ernment of the State of Vermont was modeled upon that of Pennsyl- 
vania with, of course, some additions and eliminations. Concerning the 
events that occurred at the Windsor convention when the question of 
adopting the constitution was under consideration, we lay before the 
reader the account written by Ira Allen in the year 1798, which was as 
follows : 



44 History of Windsor County. 



" A draft of a new constitution was laid before the convention, and 
read. The business being new, and of great consequence, required se- 
rious deliberation. The convention had it under consideration when the 
news of the evacuation of Ticonderoga arrived, which alarmed them very 
much, as thereby the frontiers of the State were exposed to the inroads 
of an enemy. The family of the President of the Convention, as well as 
those of many other members, were exposed to the foe. In this awful 
crisis the convention was for leaving Windsor, but a severe thunderstorm 
came on, and gave them time to reflect, while other members, less 
alarmed at the news, called the attention of the whole to finish the Con- 
stitution, which was then read paragraph by paragraph for the last time. 
This was done, and the convention then appointed a Council of Safety 
to act during the recess, and the Convention adjourned." 

It was the duty of the Council of Safety to administer the civil and 
military affairs of the State during the seasons when the convention was 
not in session. This, of course, was a highly important service, and the 
members of the council were required to be men of undoubted ability 
and courage. The members of the council that were chosen by the 
Windsor convention were Heman and Ira Allen, of Colchester; Jacob 
Bayley, of Newbury ; Benjamin Spencer, of Clarendon, who became a 
Tory, and was superceded by Benjamin Carpenter, of Guilford ; Thomas 
Chittenden, of Williston ; Jeremiah Clark, of Shaftsbury; Nathan Clark, 
Jonas and Joseph Fay and Moses Robinson, of Bennington ; Matthew 
Lyon, of Arlington ; and Paul Spooner, of Hartland. 

Another important act of the Windsor convention of July, 1777, was 
the provision made for holding the first election of officers under the 
new constitution, the time so appointed being in December following; 
but the unfortunate turn of affairs upon the frontier, leaving the northern 
and western portions of the State almost wholly un[)rotected, necessi- 
tated the assembling of another general convention, which was called to 
meet again at Windsor on the 24th of December, 1777 ; and that body, 
when met, postponed the election of State officers until the first Tuesday 
of March, 1778. Among other things this convention made a revision 
of the constitution, but no business appears to have been transacted, 
other than above referred to, that is of any special importance in these 
pages. 



Dr. Paul Spooner. 



45 



Dr. Paul Spooner, the representative and member of the Council of 
Safety, from Hartland, appears first in Vermont history in a convention 
at Westminster, October 19, 1774, which convention was called, says the 
"Governor and Council," " to condemn the tea act, the Boston port bill, 
and other kindred measures. Dr Spooner was one of a committee which 
made a written report expressing surprise that tlie king and parliament 
should dare to assert 'a right to bind tlie colonies in all cases whatso- 
ever,' and to take, 'at their pleasure, the properties of the king's Ameri- 
can subjects without their consent.' ' He who has nothing,' said this 
committee, ' but what another has power at pleasure lawfully to take 
away from him, has nothing that he can call his own, and is, in the fullest 
sense of the word, a slave — a slave to him who has such power ; and as 
no part of British America stipulated to settle as slaves, the privileges 
of British subjects are their privileges, and whoever endeavors to deprive 
them of their privileges is guilty of treason ac^ainst the Americans, as 
well as the British constitution.' He again appeared as a delegate at a 
convention of Whigs at Westminster, February 7, 1775, and was secre- 
tary. Still again, June 6, 177S, he was a delegate at a Cumberland 
county Congress (so called), and was chosen one of three delegates to 
represent the county in the New York Provincial Congress. He served 
as such for the remainder of the session which commenced May 23, 
1775, was re-elected November 7, and served in the session which com- 
menced November 14. May 5, 1777, lie was chosen sheriff of Cumber- 
land county under New York, but declined accepting the office in a let- 
ter dated July 15. Just one week before writing that letter he had been 
appointed one of the Vermont Council of Safety, which office he accepted 
and was appointed deputy secretary thereof in the absence of the secre- 
tary, Ira Allen. He was a member of the first council under the con- 
stitution, and was re-elected five times, serving from 1778 till October, 
1782, when he was elected lieutenant-governor, and annually re elected 
until 1787. Twice he was agent from Vermont to Congress, in 1 780, 
and again in 1782. For nine years he was a judge of the Supreme 
Court, in 1779 and 1780, and again from 1782 to 1788. During the 
same period, in 1781 and 1782, he was judge of probate for Windsor 
county." He died in Hartland in 1789. 



46 History of Windsor County. 



CHAPTER V. 

" The Pingry Papers " — A Chapter Devoted to the Proceedings of the Committees 
of the Counties of Cumberland and Gloucester from June, 1774. to Septeml)er, 
1777 ; Together with Such Other Records of Events as will be of Interest to the Pres- 
ent and Future Generations of Readers of this Work — The Narrative, with Explana- 
tions, Comprises Extracts Taken from the Book Entitled "Governor and Council," 
Volume I, Appendix A, No. i. 



M 



AY 16, 1774, a committee of correspondence, consisting of fifty 
members, was formed in tlie city of New York for the purpose of 
eliciting tlie sentiments of the people of the respective provinces, and 
particularly of New York, on the measures of the mother country in re- 
spect to her American colonies. Of this committee Isaac Low was 
chairman. Two days before he was confirmed in that office he addressed 
the supervisors of Cumberland county. May 21, 1774, asking informa- 
tion as to the sentiments of the people. The supervisors met in June, 
but took no action on this letter, and in fact endeavored to conceal it. 
By accident. Dr. Reuben Jones, of Rockingham, and Captain Azariah 
Wright, of Westminster, heard of it, and immediately notified their 
towns, when a meeting was held and a comtnittee appointed in each of 
those towns to wait upon the supervisors at their September session and 
inquire whether any papers had been received which ought to be laid 
before the several towns of the county. The supervisors, with many 
excuses for their delay, produced Low's letter, when a copy of it was 
sent to each town, and a county convention was called to meet at West- 
minster on the 19th of October. In response on application of four in- 
habitants, Colonel Thomas Chandler, clerk of Chester, called a meeting 
of the frectuen of that town, which was held on the loth of October, 
and appointed a committee of five to join the county committee for the 
purpose of preparing a report to be sent to the New York coinmittee of 
correspondence. The proceedings of that meeting were as follows: 

" Request for a Town Meeting. We, the Subscribers, Inhabitants of 
the Town of Chester, Desire Col" Thomas Chandler as Clerk of the Town 
Aforesaid to Call a Town meeting to know the minds of the People, 
Wither they are Willing to Choose a Com""' to make Report to sd Com''" 



Town Meetings. 47 



of Correspondence and Whither the People will Stand for the Privileges 
of North America, or Wither they are Willing to Consent to Receive 
the Late Acts of Parliament as Just or Wither they view them as unjust, 
Oppressive and unconstitutional, and to act as they think proper, and we 
Desire the meeting to be Called as Soon as Possible. Chester, October 
3d, 1774, George Earl, David Hutchinson, William Atwood, Jonathan 
Tarbell. 

" Warrant or Notification. Agreeable to the above Request I hereby 
Notify the Inhabitants of Chester to meet at the House of Mr. Jonathan 
Tarbell in sd Chester on Monday the Tenth Day of October, Instant at 
Two of the Clock in the afternoon then and there to Act on the Articles 
mentioned in the Request, if they See Cause given under my hand in 
Chester this Third Day of Oct' A. D. 1774. Tho Chandler Supervisor 
& Clerk. 

" Meeting opened. At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of 
Chester Duly Notified and meet at the usual place of meeting Oct' lotli, 
1774. Tho"* Chandler, Esq., Chosen Moderator. 

"Voted that Thomas Chandler, junr., Timo Alcott, Moses Gile, John 
Smith, and John Grout be a Com*'" to Joyn with the County Com''" to 
make Reports to sd Com*''- of Correspondence in the Metropelous of 
this Province. 

" At said meeting Resolved first That the People of America are Nat- 
urally Intitled to all the Privileges of Free Borne Subjects of Great 
Britain, which Privileges they have Never Forfeited. 2ly, Resolved that 
Every Man's Estate Honestly Acquired is his Own and no person on 
Earth has A Right to take it Away without the Proprietor's Consent 
unless he forfeit it by Some Crime of his Committing, jly. Resolved 
that all the Acts of the Britisii Parliament Tending to take Away or 
Abridge these Rights Ought not to be Obeyed. 4ly, Resolved that the 
People of this Town will Joyn with their Fellow American Subjects in 
Opposing in all Lawfull ways Every Incroachmeut on their Natural 
Rights." 1 

" At a meeting of the committees from a number of townships in the 
county of Cumberland and province of New York, held in the County 
Hall, at Westminster, on the 19th and 20th of October, 1774, to con- 



' From American Archives, Fourth series, vol. 2. 



48 History of Windsor County. 

sider a letter very lately received from Mr. Isaac Low, chairman of the 
committee of correspondence of New York, dated May 21, 1774, to con- 
sult on measures proper to be taken at this important day; present, 
eighteen delegates from twelve towns. Colonel John Hazeltine chosen 
chairman. 

" After having read Mr. Chairman Low's letter, and the act of the Brit- 
ish Parliament in laying a duty or tax on tea, for the purpose of raising 
a revenue in America, the Boston Port Bill, so called, and divers other 
late acts of the British Parliament; sundry debates being had thereon, 
voted, that John Grout, of Chester; Joshua Webb, of Westminster; Dr. 
Paul Spooiier, of Hartford; Edward Harris, of Halifax; and Major 
William Williams, of Marlborough; be a committee to take into consid- 
eration the aforesaid letter, and divers aforesaid acts, and report to this 
meeting. (The report is not deemed essential in this chapter, having 
been referred to and quoted in part in an earlier chapter.) Therefore, 

"Resolved, \. That as true and loyal subjects of our gracious .Sover- 
eign, King George the Third of Great Britain, etc., we will spend our 
lives and fortunes in his service. 

" n. That we will defend our King while he reigns over us, his sub- 
jects, and wish his reign may be long and glorious, so we will defend 
our just rights, as British subjects, against every power that shall attempt 
to deprive us of them, while breath is in our nostrils, and blood in our 
veins. 

"III. That considering the late acts of the British Parliament for 
blocking up the port of Boston, etc., which we view as arbitrarj' and un- 
just, inasmuch as the Parliament has sentenced them unheard, and dis- 
pensed with all the modes of law and justice which we think necessary 
to distinguish between lawfully obtaining right for property injured, and 
arbitrarily enforcing to comply with their will, be it right or wrong, we 
resolve to assist the people of Boston in the defence of their liberties to 
the utmost of our abilities. 

" IV. Sensible that the strength of our opposition to the late acts con- 
sists in a uniform, manly, steady, and determined mode of procedure, 
we will bear testimony against and discourage all riotous, tumultuous, 
and unnecessary mobs which tend to injure the persons or properties of 
harmless individuals ; but endeavor to treat those persons whose abom- 



Extracts from Town Records. 49 

inable principles and actions show them to be enemies to American Hb- 
erties, as loathesome animals not fit to be touched or to have any soci- 
ety or connection with. 

" V. Resolved, That we choose a committee to correspond with the 
other Committees of Correspondence of this Province and elsewhere, 
and that Mr. Joshua Webb, John Grant, esq.. Deacon John Sessions, of 
Westminster ; Major William Williams and Captain Joab Hoisington, 
of Woodstock ; be a committee as aforesaid. 

"VI. Resolved, That the thanks of this Committee be given to the 
Committee of Correspondence in the capital of this Province, for the no- 
tice they have taken of this infant county. 

"VII. Resolved, That Mr. Chairman forward these resolves to Mr. 
Low, Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence at New York, and 
communicate to him by letter the reasons why his letter to the super- 
visors of this county was answered no sooner. 

"VIII. Resolved, That Colonel Hazeltine, the chairman, have the 
thanks of this committee for his good service as chairman. 

" The above report being divers times read, paragraph by para- 
graph, voted, nemine eontradiccitte. That the same be accepted as the 
sense of this meeting, and as their resolves." 

The following is an extract from the Dummerston town records re- 
lating to the arrest and imprisonment of Lieutenant Leonard Spaulding: 
"On the 28th of October, A. Dom. 1774, Lieutenant Leonard Spauld- 
ing of the town of Fulham alias Dummerstown, was Committed to the 
Common gaol for high treason against the British tyrant George the 
third, by the direction of the infamous Crean Brush, his attorney, & 
Noah Sabin, William Willard and Ephraim Rannsey, Esqs., and William 
Paterson the high Shreeve and Benj. Gorton, and the infamous Bil- 
dad Easton and his Deputies ; upon which, on the following day, viz., 
October the 29th a majority of the inhabitants met near the house of 
Charles Davenport on the green, and made Choice of Sundry persons to 
Serve as a Committee of Correspondence to joyn with other towns or re- 
spectable bodies of people, the better to secure and protect the rights 
and privileges of themselves and fellow creatures from the raveges and 
imbarrasments of the British tyrant & his New York and other imme- 
saries. The persons made choice of were these, viz., Solomon Harvey, 



so History of Windsor County. 

John Butler, Jonathan Knight, Josiah Boyden, & Daniel Gates, by 
whose vigilence and activity Mr. Spaulding was released from his Con- 
finement after about eleven days ; the Committee finding it Necessary to 
be assisted by a Large Concourse of their freeborn Neighbours and 
bretherin. Consisting of the inhabitants of Dummerstown, Putney, Guil- 
ford, Halifax, and Draper (Wilmington), who discovered a patriotic Zeal 
& true heroic fortitude on the important occassion. The plain truth is, 
that the brave sons of freedom whose patience was worn out with the 
inhuman insults of the imps of power, grew quite sick of diving after re- 
dress in Legal way, & finding that the law was only made use of for 
the Emolument of its Creatures & the immesaries of the British tyrant, 
resolved upon an Easyer Method, and accordingly Opened the gaol with- 
out Key or Lockpicker, and after Congratulating Mr. Spaulding upon 
the recovery of his freedom, Dispersed Every man in pease to his re- 
spective home or place of abode. The aforegoing is a true and short re- 
lation of that Wicked affair of the New York, Cut throatly, Jacobitish 
High Church Toretical minions of George the third, the pope of Canada 
and Tyrant of Britain." ^ 

Extracts from the Proceedings of the Cumberland County Convention, 
February 7-9, 1774 : " At a Meeting of the Delegates of Twelve Towns 
in the County of Cumberland Convened at Westminster and formed into 
a Body February ye 7th 1775. istly, Voted that John Hazelton be 
Chareman of the Convention. 2dly, that Doct. Paul Spooner be the 
Clerk. 9ly, that this convention recomend it (to) their Constitiants to 
chuse a Man for their Supervisor at the next Anual meeting such as 
they would chouse if they ware to send him to New york as their As- 
semblyman; that so the Supervisors may select Two men out of their 
body, such as they shall think most proper; which they the supervisors 
of the County are desired to Return to their Constitients for their Con- 
sideration and approbation by a Regular vote when Called upon to 
chouse Assemblymen in said County. loly, Voted, That Joshua Webb, 
Nathaniel Robertson & Abijah Lovejoy, of Westminster; Captain 
Minerd, of putney; Solomon Hervey, of fullom ; Nathaniel Frinch, of 
Brattleborough; William Bollock, Hezekiah Stowell, of Guilford; Lieut. 

' The above quotation is reproduced more on account of its extraordinary character 

as a literary curiosity tli.m as huviug any bearing" on the history of this county. 



Extracts from Town Records. 51 



Parterson, of Hins Hinsdall ; Edward Hades, of Halifax ; Charles Phil- 
lips, & Captain Whitmore, of Marlborough ; Elijah Alvord, of Draper ; 
S'l Robertson, of Newfain ; John Hazelton & S'l Fletcher, of Town- 
shend; James Rogers, of Kent ; Moses Guild, of Chester ; Moses Wright, 
& Jonathan Burt, of Rockingham ; Simon Stephens, Esq., of Spring- 
field ; Hezekiah Grout, & Oliver Rider, of Weathersfield ; Benjamin 
Wait, of Windsor ; Paul Spooner, of Hertford ; Esq. Burch, of Hert- 
ford ; Jacob Haselton, of Woodstock ; John Whinchester Daviee, of 
Pomphret (John Winchester Dana, of Pomfret) be a standing Committee 
of Correspondence to Correspond with the Committee of Correspondence 
for the City of New York ; and other Committees of Correspondence 
elsewhere." 

Passing over some of the proceedings of the county committee and 
other bodies, that are sufficiently adverted to elsewhere, the attention of 
the reader is now directed to the proceedings of the county "Congress" 
of July and November, 1775. "The county Congress again met at 
Westminster on the 26th of July, 1775, and authorized Major (after- 
ward Colonel) William Williams to act for both of the delegates of the 
county in the New York Provincial Congress ; and he was permitted to 
do so, casting the two votes of the county. In August the Province 
was divided into military districts and the counties of Charlotte, Cum- 
berland, and Gloucester were embraced in one brigade. On the 4th of 
November, a new election of deputies having been ordered, the Provin- 
cial Congress was dissolved. On the 2ist the county 'Congress' met 
once more at Westminster, and proceeded first as a ' Congress ' to elect 
deputies, and then as a ' Committee of Safety ' to nominate militia of- 
ficers." 

"Congress and Committee of Safety, November 21, 1775. May it 
please your Honour : We, the Committee of Safety for this County, have 
proceeded in the election of Deputies, pursuant to the resolves of the 
honourable Congress for the Colony of New York, of October 18, 1775: 
And this certifies that Major William Williams and Doctor Paul Spooner 
are chosen by this County to represent the people thereof in the hon- 
ourable Provincial Congress at the city of New York. Also, we, the 
Committee of Safety for this County, have presumed to nominate Col- 
onel James Rogers to be the Brigadier for Cumberland, Gloucester, and 
Charlotte Brigade. 



52 History uk Windsor County. 

" Moreover, according to the directions of the honourable Provincial 
Congress of New York, (as are transmitted to us) per our Delegate, Ma- 
jor Williams, we have recommended that the following gentlemen, be- 
longing to this County, be speedily commissioned by said Congress, viz.: 
Lower regiments in the County : Major William Williams, first Colonel; 
Major Jonathan Hunt, second Colonel; Lieutenant John Norton, first 
Major ; Oliver Lovell, second Major ; Arad Hunt, Adjutant ; and Sam- 
uel Fletcher, Quartermaster. 

" Upper Regiment : Captain Joseph Marsh, first Colonel ; Captain 
John Barrett, second Colonel ; Lieutenant Hilkiah Grout, first Major ; 
Captain Joel Mathews, second Major; Timothy Spencer, Adjutant; 
Amos Robinson, Quartermaster. 

" Regiment of Minute Men : Captain Joab Hoisington, first Colonel ; 
Seth Smith, second Colonel ; Joseph Tyler, first Major ; Joel Marsh, 
second Major; Timothy Phelps, Adjutant; Elish Hawley, Quartermas- 
ter. " The nominations of the above officers, except those for the lower 
regiment, were confirmed in January, 1776. Concerning the selection 
of officers for the accepted regiment it was urged that the meeting of 
the Committee of Safety was poorly attended, and that the selections 
made did not meet with general approbation. To remedy this a well at- 
tended meeting of the committee was held February i, 1776, and the 
following officers agreed upon : "Major William Williams, first Colonel; 
Benjamin Carpenter, second Colonel ; Oliver Lovell, first Major ; Abijah 
Lovejoy, second Major; Samuel Minott, junior, Adjutant; Samuel 
Fletcher, Quartermaster." 

"On the 22d of May, 1776, three committee men from each of the 
counties of Cumberland and Gloucester met at Windsor, in response to 
a circular issued to the Committees of Safety of these counties and the 
county of Charlotte. The latter was not represented when the commit- 
tees (six persons) for the other counties proceeded to nominate Jacob 
Bayley, of Newbury, for Brigadier-General, and Colonel Simon Stevens, 
of Springfield, for Brigade- Major, of which a return was made to the 
New York Provincial Congress by Colonel Joseph Marsh of Hartford, 
who was one of the Cumberland county committee. On the 7th of 
June, 1776, the Provincial Congress assigned one hundred and twenty- 
five men to Cumberland county and seventy -five men to Gloucester as 



Meeting at Westminster. 53 

the quota of each towards three thousand men to be raised by the prov- 
ince for continental service; and the militia of these counties having 
been formed into a brigade, the nominations of Brigadier-General Bay- 
ley and Brigadier- Major Stevens were confirmed on the 1st of August.'' 

Extracts ' from the Journal of the Cumberland County Committee of 
Safety: " Meeting at Westminster, June 11-13, 1776. Towns repre- 
sented as follows : Hinsdale (Vernon), John Bridgman, Esq., Arad Hunt; 
Brattleborough, Israel Smith, John Sergeant ; Gillford, Israel Gurley, 
Samuel Nichols; Marlborough, Jonathan Warren; Newfane, Luke 
Knoulton, Esq.; Townsend, Joseph Tyler, Samuel Fletcher; F"ullom 
(Fulham-Dummerston), Joseph Hildrith, Ebenezer Haven; Putney, 
Captain James Clay, Lucas Willson; Draper (Wilmington), Elijah Al- 
vord, John Gibbs ; Westminster, John Norton, Elkanah Day ; Rocking- 
ham, William Simons, Ebenezer Fuller; Chester, John Chandler, Esq., 
Captain George Earl ; Kent (Londonderry), Captain Edward Aiken ; 
Springfigld, _Simon__Ste yen s,^erath'l Powers; Windsor, Ebenezer Hois- 
mgton, Eben'r Curtis; Weathersfield, Israel Burlingame, William Up- 
ham ; Hertford (Hartland), Jonathan Burk. 

"6thly. Voted it is the Opinion of this Body that all Persons wereing 
the Edition (additions to their names, or title,) of Gentlemen by former 
Commissions to be exempted from military training. 

"lOthly. Took under Consideration a Complaint Exhibited by Will- 
iam Taggart against Nathaniel Bennet Touching sd Bennet's abuseing 
sd Taggart's wife, 20 Members being present, resolved that the sd Ben- 
net be Committed To Frisson, — there Holden till further Orders of this 
Committee. 

" 15th. Voted to recommend to the Capt's of several Companys of 
Militia in the respective Towns in this County to as soon as possible 
make return of their minutemen to Mr. Lucas Wilson & Ebenezer Hois- 
ington, who are appointed by the rest of their Brethren, viz., Arad Hunt, 
Israel Smith, Joseph Hildreth, Lucas Willson, John Norton, Wm. Si- 
mons, Sam'cl Fletcher, Being Choose a Committee, & Impowered by 
this Body to se the minute-men Properly Imbodyed in Companys, & 
Lead them to a choice of Officers in the several Companys when so 
Formed according to the rules and orders for regulating the MiUtion, & 

' From the " Pingry Papers." 



54 History of Windsor County. 

to make return to this County Committee — and Likewise Choose Eben'r 
Horsington, Simon Stevens, lisqr., Jonathan Hurk, Israel Burlingames 
& Eben'r Curtis, to Inspect the Uper Regiment in their proceedings as 
above directed." 

From the meeting of June 22 : "Voted that we recommend to the 
Commanding officers of each Regiment in this County do meet one of 
Each of the Sub-Committees in the several Towns in the County at the 
respective Times & places following, namely, the Commanding (officer) 
of the Lower Regement & one Sub- Committeeman of Each Town in 
the same regement do meet at Capt. Sergants in Brattleborough on 
thirsday the 27th Ins't, at one o'clock in the afternoon, then & there to 
appoint one Cap't, Two Lieuts, of such men as they shall think most 
suitable to go into the service of their Country, & Let them see if they 
Can Inlist a Company of men to go to Canady — and the Commanden 
officer of the Upper regiment, together with one Sub- Committeeman 
from Each Town in the same regement, do meet at Windsor, at the 
Townhouse, On thirsday the 26th day of this Ins't June, at one o'Clock 
in the afternoon, there to appoint One Capt, Two Lieuts, of such men 
as they shall think best for their Cuntrys service, & Let them se if they 
can Inlist a Company of men to go to Canady ; & those officers so ap- 
pointed Make return to the Chairman of the County Committee, of the 
Number they Inlist, at or Before the i6th day of July ne.xt." 

On the 6th of August, 1776, the committees of Cumberland and 
Gloucester counties held a joint meeting at Windsor. From the pro- 
ceedings then had the following extracts are made: 

" The Committee of the County of Cumberland In Conjunction with 
the Committee for the County of Gloucester, meet at Windsor Town- 
house in Order to appoint Officers, such as Capt's, Lieuts, &c., for a 
Ranging Department granted by the Provincial Congress at N. York, 
viz., 252 Out of the Counties of Cumberland & Gloucester, to the Com- 
mand of Which they have Appointed & Commissioned Mr. Joab Hos- 
ington (Hoisington) Major. 

" Following Members Being Present, Formed into a body & Proceeded 
to Business: Capt. James Clay, Elkanah Day, Eben'r Fuller, Jon'a 
Burk, Israel Burllingame, Capt. Curtis, Ebenr Hosington, Mr. Upham, 
Col. Kent, Mr. Tylden, Lieut Strong, Benja. Emmons, Lieut Powers. 
Choose Capt. Clay, Chairman, and Dr. Elkanah Day, Clerk. 



Meeting at WiNnsoR. 55 



" 1st. Agreed to appoint 3 Capts. & 4 Lieuts in the County of Cum- 
berland, and one Capt. & 4 Lieuts in the County of Gloucester. 

"2d. Proceeded to Chuse the Officers for Cumberland County, ist 
Appointed Benjamin Wait of Windsor ye it Capt. in the above Depart- 
ment. Elisha Hawley it & Zebelon Lyon (2d) his Lieuts. 

" 3dly. Appointed Maj'r Joel Marsh, Capt. in sd Department. 

"4ly. Appointed Capt Samuel Fletcher of Townsend a Capt; Ben- 
jamin Whitney of Westminster 1st Lieut. 

" 5thly. Voted to Chuse a Committee, & Accordingly Choose Thomas 
Hazen, Stephen Tylden, Lieut. Strong, J. Winchester Deny (Dana) to 
join the Committee of Glouster County to appoint their proportion 
of Officers for the above Arangement, Viz. i Capt. & 4 Lieuts, and to 
meet at Abner Chamberlains in Thetford Next Tuesday at 10 o'clock 
Beforenoon & to appoint a Capt. In sted of Maj. Marsh in Case he re- 
fuse — also appointed Colo. Kent to manage sd meeting & make proper 
return to New York, signd by the Charman. 

" 6thly. Voted that the sub-committees of the several Towns in this 
County to se the Association Containd in the Late Handbill from N. 
York is Universally subscribed to & the Refusers to sign Proceeded with 
According to sd Handbill." 

The officers mentioned in the above statement from the records were 
not those that were finally chosen and commissioned. Those who 
eventually became captains, first and second lieutenants of the several 
companies, the whole being commanded by Major Joab Hoisington, 
were as follows: Captains, Benjamin Wait, John Strong, Josepli Hatch 
and Abner Seelye; first lieutenants, Elisha Hawley, Eldad Benton, Si- 
mon Stevens, Benjamin Whitney ; second lieutenants, Zebulon Lyons, 
John Barnes, Amos Chamberlain, Jehial Robbins. 

The reader cannot fail to observe, in perusing the pages of this chap- 
ter thus far, that in all the proceedings of the Committees of Safety 
there seems to have been no other recognized authority over this region 
than that of the province of New York. In all their proceedings, both 
civil and military, the committees seem to have asked for and acted 
upon the advice only of New York, notwithstanding the influence of the 
leaders on the other side of the mountaijis, and even after the independ 
ence of Vermont had been declared there was for some time no appar- 



56 History of Windsor County. 

ent recognition of that fact on the part of those who seemed to be the 
controlling spirits or leaders on the east side of the mountains. But, 
notwithstanding that, there was an element of the population, and a 
strong one, too, that was heart and soul in league with the Green Mount- 
ain Boys, in seeking to free the district from any allegiance to New 
York, but this was a quiet yet constantly increasing class, who saw diffi- 
culties in the way of overcoming the sentiments of the opposing people 
by harsh or rude measures. Still in their peculiar way they were grad- 
ually accomplishing their sought- for end. New York knew and felt 
this, and although she made every possible effort, through her adher- 
ents here and emissaries sent for the purpose, to stem the tide of pop- 
ular sentiment was impossible; the new State had been established and 
its permanency was certain from the very first, although it was a long 
time before the Federal government recognized it as a power, and 
equally long before New York finally consented to yield her claims to 
jurisdiction therein. One by one the leaders of the hitherto prevailing 
party, those favorable to New York, dropped from the meetings of the 
committee and allied themselves to the cause of the new State advo- 
cates. This became apparent to the New Yorkers, and they asked the 
committee of Cumberland county the cause of it. The reply is best 
stated by quoting from the report of a committee: "To make a true rep- 
resentation of the broken state of the inhabitants of the county of Cum- 
berland, and assign some reasons why the county committee did not 
proceed agreeable to the resolves of the convention of the State of New 
York in respect to their choosing governor and Delegates to send to 
convention." 

The report says : " We therefore the committee of the county of Cum- 
berland, and others specially appointed by the towns of Weathersfield, 
Westminster, Putney, Brattleborough, Hinsdale, and part of Guilford 
for said purposes, do represent as follows, viz.: That the convention 
held at Windsor on the fourth day of June, instant, for the purpose of 
establishing then (the) new State of Vermont, have taken into their pos- 
session ttie prison of this county, and have strictly forbid all committees 
acting under the authority of the State of New York ; so that it is be- 
come impracticable for- the county committee or any other committee 
to proceed to any public business in this county; and that several pris- 



Internal Dissensions. 57 



oners now in prison in the county, who migrht have been set at liberty, 
agreeable to the resolves of the convention of the State of New York, 
are still kept in prison in the most pitiful circumstances, and are so like 
to continue — and that the public peace is in so far interrupted by the 
proceeding of this convention at Windsor, and those disorderly persons 
who are so warmly engaged in supporting the illegal authority of their 
new State, that it hath already considerably hindered the raising of men 
for the common defense. And we think we have reason to believe that 
if a stop is not speedily put to this spirit of disorder which rages so 
vehemently here that a final period will soon be put to any further pro- 
vision being made in this county for the common defense of America. 

"We further represent that a considerable number of the people 
in this County, who are as warmly engaged in setting up their new 
State, have not any or but little property which they can claim under 
any grant whatever ; and that we really believe that the leaders of the 
people who are for the new State in this county, are pursuing that which 
they esteem their private interest, and prefer that to the public weal of 
America ; and that they are determined to support the authority of 
their new State at all events ; and we really believe that without the 
interposition of the honorable Continental Congress, they will never 
submit to the authority of the State of New York until obliged so to do 
it by the sword. 

" And we do hereby solemnly declare that we entirely disapprove of 
the proceeding of the late convention at Windsor, and of all other per- 
sons whatever acting under authority of said convention ; and that we 
will at all times do our best endeavor to support the legal authority in 
the State of New York in this County." 

This document was duly signed by the few members constituting the 
committee on the 26tli day of June, 1777, and forwarded by messengers 
to the New York convention. 

At the next meeting of the committee but seven towns were repre- 
sented. By this time popular feeling in favor of the new State was largely 
in the ascendency, and those who remained faithful to the New York 
rule were beginning to be looked upon as guilt)' of "enimical " conduct, 
and so at any time liable to the " misfortunes" that overtook that class 
of persons on the west side of the State. They still had, however, sufifi- 



58 History of Windsor County. 

cient courage to continue their meetings, although these were conducted 
with some privacy. The influence of New York was still felt in the 
county, but it was seldom rampant. 

At the meeting held at Westminster, September 3, 1777, this resolu- 
tion was offered : 

"That this committee send some suitable person to the convention or 
legislature of the State of New York, to inform them of the conduct of 
the pretended Council of Safety and pretended Committees of the State 
of Vermont, and take their advice and direction thereon, but there be- 
ing four members against the motion, we could not obtain any vote of 
that nature." 

At this time there were no less than twenty-two towns, and perhaps 
more, entitled to representation in the Cumberland county committee 
meetings, but at the meeting above referred to at Westminster only seven 
towns were represented, and of these four members voted against inform- 
ing New York of the proceedings had bj' the friends of the Green Mount- 
ain Boys. And about this time the subject was receiving some atten- 
tion in town meetings, whether the people should longer act undei' the 
New York authority. On the 20th of May, 1777, the freemen of the 
town of Windsor at the annual meeting voted, "by a great majority," 
that they would not proceed to act according to the orders from the 
State of New York. And the freemen of Townshend, in their instructions 
to Major Joseph Tyler, said: "That you do not act with the County 
Committee of the county of Cumberland agreeable to the new constitu- 
tion of the State of New York, because it is our opinion that we do not 
belong to the jurisdiction of that State," etc. 

Other towns took similar action, of which no record is to be found. 
From all of these it will readily be observed that the influence in favor of 
the new State was rapidly increasing, while the power of the State of New 
York was proportionately diminishing. But it was a considerable time 
further off before the latter was fully wiped out ; in fact, it was not until 
the separate independence of Vermont had been recognized by the 
United States Congress that all antagonism to her Statehood was finally 
extinguished. In the year 1779, when Vermont had practically com- 
pleted her internal organization, and was administering her own affairs, 
as well as possible in face of the New York and Congressional opposi- 



Ethan Allen in Cumberland County. 59 



tion, it became necessary for the Governor and Council to send an armed 
force, commanded by Ethan Allen, to subdue the opposing element ex- 
isting in some of the towns of Cumberland county. That Allen did all 
that was required of him there is no possible doubt, but that he was 
severe as the following letter from Samuel Minott, as chairman of the 
Cumberland County Committee of Safety, to General Clinton, of New 
York, would seem to imply, is a question of considerable doubt. The 
letter only shows the contrary and prejudiced side of the question, and 
is as follows : 

" Sir. — The committee of this county who are now meet for the pur- 
pose of opposing the authority of the State of Vermont, take this oppor- 
tunity to inform your Excellency by express, that Colonel Ethan Allen, 
with a number of Green Mountain Boys, made his appearance in this 
county yesterday, well armed and cquipt, for the purpose of reducing the 
loyal inhabitants of this county to submission to the authority of the 
State of Vermont, and made prisoners of Colonel (Eleazer) Patterson, 
Lieutenant Colonel (John) Sargeant, and all the militia officers except 
one in Brattleboro, with Mr. (Micah) Townsend and a number of other 
persons. They have also taken the militia officers in Putney and West- 
minster with others ; the number of prisoners we cannot ascertain. Col- 
onel Allen declared that he had five hundred Green Mountain Boys with 
him — we are not able to ascertain the number, but believe there is not 
quite so many who are come from the west side of the mountains; they 
are assisted by a number of the inhabitants of this county. Where they 
will carry the prisoners we cannot tell. Colonel Allen treated tlie peo- 
ple here with the most insulting language, assaulted and wounded sev- 
eral persons with iiis sword without the least provocation, and bids defi- 
ance to the State of New York; declares they will establish their State by 
the sword and fight all who attempt to oppose them. Nothing but the 
reluctance the people here have to shedding human blood could hinder 
them from attempting the prisoners' rescue — they had every insult which 
human mind is able to conceive of to prompt them to it. Our situation 
is truly critical and distressing; we therefore most humbly beseech your 
excellency to take the most speedy and efficient measures for our relief; 
otherwise our persons and property must be at the disposal of Ethan 
Allen, which is more to be dreaded than death with all its terrors." 



6o History of Windsor County. 



The truth of the whole matter was that many of the people of Cum- 
berland county were not only covertly but openly opposing the authority 
of Vermont. On the 22d of April previously the board of war had or- 
dered a draft of men to re enforce the military on the frontier, a portion of 
whom were to be drawn from Cumberland county. At that time there 
was a well organized militia in the county, and William Patterson held 
a colonel's commission from New York to command them. This officer 
directed that the Vermont draft of men from his county be resisted, 
whereupon Governor Chittenden sent Allen with a strong armed force to 
arrest the interfering officers. This was promptly done, and those taken 
into custody were indicted, tried, convicted and fined. 

It was probably true that Allen represented his force to be at least all 
that it was, for he was not the man to underestimate his own or his 
State's power and strength; but it is hardly true that he had with him 
five hundred Green Mountain Boys, as that organization at its greatest 
never numbered to exceed three hundred and fifty. It may be, how- 
ever, that the strength of his command was augmented by accessions on 
this side of the mountains, for many did join his force, and that the ag- 
gregate of his following was five luindred. Governor Chittenden or.iered 
Allen to take a force of one hundred men to do the business 

Chairman Minott also says in his letter that the persons and propeity 
of the friends of New York are at the disposal of Allen, "which is more 
to be dreaded than death with all its terrors." These words convey to 
the reader something of the feelings of fear that these New York sym- 
pathizers must have had for the leader of the Green Mountain Ro\-s; and 
it may well be asked : " Would the independence of Vermont ever have 
been an accomplished fact without the bold, determined action such as 
was always displayed by Ethan Allen and his equally brave associates?" 



I 

I 



The Beginning of the Revolution. 6i 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Period of the Revolutionary War — The Cause of the People on the Grants Be- 
comes United — Allen's Exploits at Ticonderoga and on Lake Champlain — Singular Sit- 
uation of Vermont — Military Organizations Formed at the Dorset Convention — Seth 
Warner elected Colonel — The Rangers Organized East of the Mountains — New York 
Authority Prevails — First Convention at Windsor — Battles at Hubbardton and Ben- 
nington^Toryism in Cumberland County —President Chittenden's Proclamation — The 
Council of S-ifety — Effect of Burgoyne's Surrender — Exposed Condition of the Vermont 
Frontier — The Haldiniand Correspondence — Negotiations with Canada -Their Effect 
Upon Vermont and the County — Indian Depredations— Attack Upon Barnard — Burn- 
ing of Royalton. 

A preceding chapter has narrated the leading events of the civil his- 
tory of the district or territory commonly known as the New Hamp- 
shire Grants, and Itas brought the record through that period of its exist- 
ence down to the time of the declaration of independence on the part of 
Vermont, the adoption of a State constitution, and to the time that the 
State under the new dispensation or administration bv tlie Governor and 
Council and the General Assembly was about to commence. It is there- 
fore proper that the present cliapter should be devoted to a record of 
some of the military experiences of the district; and inasmuch as this 
branch of local affairs of the district required as much watchful attention 
on the part of the district leaders and officers as did its civil affairs, the 
chapter becomes an important as well as an interesting one. 

The reader will remember that it was about the time of and soon after 
the unfortunate massacre at Westminster, in the county of Cumberland, 
that the cause of the people of the grants became a united one, and that 
it was then determined by a part of the residents of Cumberland county 
to throw oft' any and all further allegiance to the province of New York. 
The feelings of the settlers were then aroused to such a high pitch of ex- 
citement that the followers of New York then in the vicinity were alarmed 
for their personal safety, although no hostile demonstrations bad been 
made against them. But suddenly there came the news that the intrepid 
Allen, wi'th his then famous band of Green Mountain Boys, had surprised 
and captured Ticonderoga, "/« t/ie name of the Great Jehovah and the 
Continental Congress." This capture occurred on the loth day of May, 



62 History of Windsor County. 

1775, the month following that in which the war of the Revokition was 
actually and earnestly commenced by the battle at Lexington. 

At the time these events occurred the district of New Hampshire 
Grants occupied the somewhat singular position of having neither civil 
nor militarj' government, e.xccpt that furnished by the local town organ- 
izations and the Green Mountain Boys. The latter did not, however, as- 
sume to control or regulate the affairs of settlers on the grants, but did 
aim to defend the entire district against the designing authorities of New 
York as well as against the Tory residents within the limits of the dis- 
trict. Immediately following Allen's achievement at Ticonderoga, Seth 
Warner set out on an expedition against the neighboring British out- 
posts, and succeeded in capturing Crown Point and Skenesborough 
Then followed the joint expedition of the commanders Allen and Arnold, 
which resulted in the capture of the entire British fleet on Lake Cham- 
plain, so that when the Continental Congress was prepared to send an 
army to protect that region of country, August, 1775, the strongholds 
of the lake were already in control of Americans, and no strong oppos- 
ing force of British was stationed south of the Canada line. 

But it soon became necessary to have some kind of civil and military 
government for the settlers nn the grants, and for that purpose the Dor- 
set convention of July 26, 1775, was called; and the result of that con- 
vention was the perfect organization of a regiment of seven companies, 
of which Seth Warner was elected colonel, and Samuel Safiford, major. 
None of the companies, however, of Seth Warnei's regiment were from 
the towns east of the mountains, although it is probable that some of the 
company members may have been from this side. It may have been as 
an explanation of this that the towns east of the mountains had not yet 
received an invitation to join with those of the west side in convention, 
nor were they so invited until the latter part of July, 1776. But a bat- 
talion of militia. Rangers they were called, was already raised in the 
towns east of the mountains, and on the 13th of August a convention was 
held at Thetford for the purpose of nominating the Gloucester county 
quota of its officers. This was done under the authority of New York. 

There was not, however, the greatest possible unanimity of feeling be- 
tween the people east and west of the mountains. In Cumberland and 
Gloucester counties the officers and magistrates were still friendly to the 



Advance of the British. 63 

New York interests, although niany of the people of the towns were pro- 
nounced against that province. The officers were considered as, and in 
fact were, representing New York, and the towns were allowed repre- 
sentation in the congress of that province. But the convention at West- 
minster held in January, 1777, through a sub-committee, of which Eb- 
enezer Hoisington was chairman, requested the persons representing the 
eastern counties in the New York Congress to at once withdraw their 
membership therein. / Colonel Joseph Marsh, Deacon John Sessions and 
Simeon Stevens were the persons upon whom this request was made. 
They were not elected by the people, but were appointed by the Cum- 
berland County Committee of Safety, which was organized and controlled 
in the New York interest. These things being so, it could not be sur- 
prising that the determined settlers west of the mountains had not the 
fullest confidence in those on the east side, at least while this divided 
condition of sentiment and affiliation existed. Still later than the above 
the county of Cumberland was represented in New York in the years 
1779 and 1784. 

It was at the time of the convention at Windsor, in July, 1777, while 
the members were deliberating over the provisions of the constitution, 
that there was received by them the unwelcome news of the evacuation 
of Ticonderoga, and other posts on Lake Champlain, by the Americans, 
and of their occupation and the threatened invasion of Vermont by the 
arni)' of General Burgoyne. Prior to this the convention had been ap- 
prised of Burgoyne's approach upon the forts, but, through what was 
thought to be timely e.xertions, it was hoped that the onward march of 
the British would be checked. In this, however, the people were dis 
appomted; Ticonderoga had fallen and the whole frontier of the new 
State was exposed to the ravages of the British and their savage Indian 
allies. This it was that compelled the convention to so hastily conclude 
their session after having passed the State control into the hands of the 
Council of Safety. 

During the year 1777 the Council of Safety was in almost continuous 
session from and after the middle of August, the greater portion of the 
time at Bennington. The retreat of the American army from Ticonder- 
oga and surrounding posts, the rendezvous and subsequent battle at Hub- 
bardton, and the final reassembling of scattered forces at Manchester, to- 



64 History of Windsor Countv. 

gether with the slow but steady approach of Burgoyne's army down the 
valley of Lake Champlaiii and tlie Hudson River, had the effect of keep- 
ing the entire people of Vermont in a state of constant excitement and 
serious concern for the safety of their lives and property. These stirring 
events in the region also had the effect of alienating many of the settlers 
from tile cause for which Americans wore contending, and, furtiicrmore, 
imposed upon the council and the committees of tlie several towns an 
additional burden in providing defensive measures for the State and keep- 
ing in subjection and punishing Tory offenders. At Bennington there 
had been gathered a large quantity of ammunition and military stores and 
supplies, which fact having come to the knowledge of General Burgoyne, 
he at once set about gaining possession of them, his army being in press- 
ing need of provisions. For this object he sent Colonel Baum with a 
strong force to make the capture. But the council was informed of the 
British commander's intentions, and every possible effort was made to 
meet the expected attack. Not having at command a sufficient force to 
repel an invasion, the States of New Hampshire and Massachusetts were 
called upon to lend a'd to Vermont in her extremity. This appeal met 
witli a generous response, New Hampshire sending General John Stark 
and a strong; force of State militia to aid the distressed people, while Mas- 
sachusetts likewise furnished a well equipped body of men for the same 
cause. Without narrating in detail the important events that followed, 
suffice to say that the combined forces of Americans met the British on 
the i6th of August, 1777, and, after a severe battle of several hours dur- 
ation, routed and put them to flight 

This has always been known as the " Battle of Bennington," although 
it was fought on what was tlien and is now the soil of New York State. 
That Toryism was rampant on the east as well as on the west side of 
the mountains will be seen from the following order addressed to the 
Committee of Safety of Windsor, by President Thomas Chittenden, on 
the 27th of August, 1777 : "Gentlemen. — All such persons as you shall 
have sufficent evidence against on Tryal as to prove them so far Enemies 
to the Liberties of America as to be dangerous persons to go at Large 
you will send to Westminster Goal, and put thcni in close confinement. 
If you send any prisoners to said Goal, you will send a proper Guard_ 
provided it should happen before any prisoners or Guar^ls should be 
sent from this." 



Surrender of Bukgoyne. 65 

During the year 1777, after the adjournment of the Windsor conven- 
tion of July of that year, the Council of Safety was so constantly occu- 
pied with the affairs and occurrences that transpired on the west side of 
the mountains, that they found but very little time to devote to that part 
of the State on the east side, except by the issue of an occasional order; 
so that the administration of affairs in this region was left to the commit- 
tees of safety of the counties and towns, while the military operations of 
the locality were under the direction of the colonels of militia regiments, 
notably the commands of Colonels Peter Olcutt and Joseph Marsh. 

The first session of the General Assembly, and the Governor and 
Council, under the provisions of the State constitution, was commenced 
at Windsor on the 13th of March, 1778, and after the formalities of 
organization were concluded the respective bodies at once proceeded to 
discharge the duties imposed upon them. But most of the business then 
transacted related to the civil branch of government, and needs no recital 
here. The session was ended March 26, 1778. 

Among the acts of Assembly at Windsor was one that provided for 
raising regiments of militia on each side of the mountains. On the east 
side one regiment was to be raised from the towns that e.xtended north 
to the south lines of Tomlinson, Rockingham and Kent; and the second 
regiment was to extend north to the south line of Norwich; and the third 
to the Canada line. 

This organization of militia forces in the new State of Vermont became 
necessary to defend the frontier against possible invasion by the British 
and Indians. After the decisive battle of Bennington, Burgoyne and 
his army lay in camp at Stillwater, opposite Saratoga, awaiting supplies 
and re- enforcements that had been promised him, but which were much 
delayed in arrival; and it became apparent that he must act, and that 
quickly, for his forces were gradually diminishing in number. Here his 
army remained until the 19th of September, when an engagement was 
had with the Americans, but without decisive victory for either side, the 
advantage, however, being in favor of the latter. Again, on the 7th of 
October, the two armies met, and this time the British were badly 
beaten. This was followed, on the I7tli of the same month, by the sur- 
render of Burgoyne's entire army to the Americans. 

This surrender practically ended the war so far as the legion of Ver- 
9 



66 History of Windsor County. 

mont was concerned. However, it was found necessary for the new 
State to maintain a defensive attitude for the protection of her frontiers 
against the hostile Indians in the northern regions and the few British 
troops in the vicinity of Canada. But soon was the new State destined 
to receive immunity from British depredations through the acumen of 
her leaders, for in the year 1780 she entered a period of practical armis- 
tice while the somewhat celebrated "Negotiations with Canada" were 
being carried forward. These proceedings have always been known and 
designated as the " Haldimand Correspondence," and were kept up until 
the war was virtually ended. 

But while the secret negotiations were in their incipient stage, and 
before any actual or constructive armistice had been established, there 
occurred two events of very great importance to the region of Windsor 
county, the only ones on record of their kind in the county during the 
period of the early wars, and those known as the Indian attacks upon 
the towns of Barnard and Royalton, the latter one of the northern tier 
of towns in what afterward became a part of the county of Windsor, and 
the former immediately south of it. During this period Indian inva- 
sions and depredations were not of infrequent occurrence, but prior to 
the events hereafter narrated no incursions are known to have been 
made in this region. 

The plundering and burning of Royalton occurred during the month 
of October of the year 17S0. and seems to have been an expedition en- 
tirely distinct from that which resulted in the capture at Barnard. And 
it seems, too, that the objective point on the last raid was Newbury, 
one of the northeastern towns of the present county of ()range. On this 
occasion not only Indians, but British soldiers as well, comprised the at- 
tacking party, and the chief object of their expedition was to capture an 
officer, Lieutenant Whitcomb, who was alleged to have killed and robbed 
a British officer of some prominence. On journeying toward Newbury 
the attacking party met several hunters, and by the latter was informed 
that the town was well protected by an armed force. This intelligence 
induced them to proceed to Royalton, a place in the interior and less 
strongly protected. They reached Tunbridge on Sunday, the 15th of 
October, where they remained until the next morning, at which time the 
attack was made. Says "Thompson's Vermont": " They commenced 



Attack on Royalton. 6"] 

their depredations at the house of Mr. John Hutchinson, who Hved near 
the hne between Tunbridge and Royalton. After making Mr. Hutch- 
inson and his brother Abijah prisoners, they proceeded to the house of 
Mr. Robert Havens, where they killed Thomas Pemberand Elias Button. 
They then went to the house of Joseph Kneeland, took him and his 
father, and Simeon Belknap, Giles Gibbs and Jonathan Brown. Pro- 
ceeding thence to the house of Mr. Elias Curtis, they made him and 
John Kent and Peter Mason prisoners." 

"Thus far," continues the account, " the business was conducted with 
the greatest silence, and the prisoners were forbid making any outcry 
upon pain of death. They at length arrived at the mouth of the branch. 
White River, where they made a stand, while small parties proceeded 
in different directions to plunder the dwellings and bring in prisoners. 
One party extended its ravages down into Sharon, took two prisoners 
and burnt several houses and barns. Another proceeded up the river, 
made prisoner of David Waller, a lad who lived with General Stevens, 
plundered and set fire to the General's house, and advanced in that di- 
rection about tliree miles, killing the cattle and plundering and setting 
fire to the buildings as they passed." The result of this invasion to the 
Indians was the killing of two and the capture of about twenty-five pris- 
oners, the burning of some forty houses and barns, and the killing of one 
hundred and fifty head of cattle and a still greater number of swine and 
sheep, and that without any loss to the invaders. The news of this un- 
expected and wanton attack having spread through the neighboring set- 
tlements, an armed force was quickly collected to pursue the now retir- 
ing British and Indians. Captain John House commanded the pursuing 
party and succeeded in overtaking the foe, upon whom an attack was at 
once begun ; but the Indians, after having recovered from their tempo- 
rary confusion, sent an aged prisoner to Captain House, informing him 
that if the Indians were attacked every white prisoner in their power 
would be murdered, and that two had already been killed, one to avenge 
the death of an Indian slain by House's first fire, and another because he 
would not march. While House and his party were considering the 
best course to pursue the Indians began a retreat to Randolph, when 
they took another prisoner, and then proceeded to the Winooski River, 
and thence to Canada. The captives, with the exception of one who died 



68 History of Windsor County. 

in Canada, were held until the summer of 1781, and were then released 
and returned to their homes. 

Other towns than tho.se mentioned, botli east and west of the mount- 
ains, likewise suffered from similar Indian depredations, but those above 
mentioned are believed to have been the only ones of that character oc- 
curring in the county of Windsor.' 

It has already been stated in this chapter that upon the final surrender 
of General Burgoyne and the British at Saratoga, the people of Vermont 
were granted comparative immunity from British attacks. That surren- 
der substantially ended the war so far as the locality was concerned, but 
the withdrawal of the American army from the vicinity of the Hudson 
River above Albany left the Vermont frontier at the mercy of an invad- 
ing army that might approach from the region of Lake Champlain and 
the Canadas, except for the defense that could be made by the scattered 
forces of Vermont militia. But, fortunately perhaps, for the people of 
Vermont their unprotected condition at that period worked to their ulti- 
mate advantage. The State had absolutely refused allegiance to New 
York, and the probabilities of her separate existence being soon recog- 
nized by Congress were grieviously in doubt ; therefore, to the British 
leaders, it reasonably appeared that there could be but little interest on 
the part of the people of the new State in the cause for which the other 
States were contending against England. This led to what has been 
variously termed the Haldimand Correspondence and the Negotiations 
with Canada. By these proceedings the astute leaders in Vermont suc- 
ceeded not only in protecting their own frontiers from the ravages of the 
enemy, but also in keeping inactive for several campaigns a British army 
often thousand men; and the agents of Congress and the emissaries of 
Great Britain, both of whom were in Bennington while the subject of 
Vermont's action was being discussed at a session of the Legislature of 
the State, were entirely satisfied with the result of the proceedings, — the 
agents of Congress that Vermont had no intention of returning to alle- 
giance with Great Britian, and the British emissaries that Vermont in- 
tended to return to that allegiance. Hence both were satisfied, and both 

' A more full and particular account of the burning of Royalton will be found in the 
chapter relating to the history of that town, being there compiled from what is known 
as " Steele's Narrative." 



Vermont's Diplomacy. 69 

were thereby deceived. The State never intended to take up arms 
against her sister States, but she did intend to convince Congress of her 
power and, if possible, compel that body to then recognize her independ- 
ence. In this Vermont was but partially successful at that time, for 
Congress did not declare her to be a State until some years later. These 
proceedings, the correspondence and negotiations, were commenced by 
a letter from Colonel Beverly Robinson, an English officer, to Colonel 
Ethan Allen, which bore the date of March 30th, 1780; and they were 
not finally terminated until the spring of 1783. By the latter date the 
war was virtually at an end, although the treaty of peace was not form- 
ally signed until the following fall. By the treaty the power of Great 
Britain in the United States was terminated, and Vermont was at liberty 
to devote her attention to acquiring a separate existence, and was in no 
particular manner compromised by the course pursued by her leaders 
during the closing years of the war; for by that course the United States 
received as much substantial benefit as did Vermont, and many of the 
other States of the Union were sensible enough to admit that as a fact. 



CHAPTER VII. 

The Controversy with New York Resumed— The Situation — Petition to Conoress — 
Its Reception — Governor Clinton's Proclamation —Ethan Allen's Vindication of Ver- 
mont — New Hampshire Towns Seek a Union with Vermont -The Union Eflected — Pro- 
test by New York — Disaffection in Cumberland County — Withdrawal from the Vermont 
Legislature — Threatened Union with New Hampshire — The Union with New Hamp- 
shire Towns Dissolved — Congress .Sends a Committee to Vermont — Unsatisfactory 
Results — Vermont's Appeal to the Candid and Impartial Worlrl — Agents Sent to 
Congress — LTnion with New Hampshire and New York Towns— Congress Takes Favor- 
able Action — General Washington's Letter— Conditions of Vermont's Independence 

The Eastern and Western Unions Dissolved — Compensation Made to New York — Ver- 
mont Admitted to the Union. 

WHEN, on the 4th day of July, 1776, Congress declared and pub- 
lished to the whole world the Independence of the American Col- 
onies, the people then living on the New Hampshire Grants were in a 



70 History of Windsor County. 

decidedly peculiar and embarrassing situation. They had then dis- 
claimed all connection with or allegiance to the State of New York, 
and were then in a condition of almost actual warfare against that State. 
Moreover, all connection with Massachusetts and New Hampshire had 
been severed. What, therefore, was the political character of the district 
comprised by the grants? It seems to have been an isolated and ungov- 
erned territory, not recognized by Congress as liaving an existence sep- 
arate from New York, and left, apparently, to shift for itself or return to 
the allegiance its inhabitants had refused. 

But, however much embarrassment this singular relation, or absence 
of relation, may have produced, it caused no consternation among the 
leaders of this determined people. In fact, the situation opened for them 
an avenue through which some of the more discerning leaders saw a sep- 
arate political existence, in the condition of Statehood, similar to that 
enjoyed by the other States, the results of the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, and why should they not benefit by the opportunity. The war 
was now in progress, and the district of the grants was for the time freed 
from New York oppression, thereby affording the people an opportunity 
to perfect their plans for the future. To this end the Dorset conventions 
followed; and the final result of those, and other later like assemblages, 
was that in January, 1777, at Westminster, the independence of V^er- 
mont (as New Connecticut) was proclaimed to the land. Still later a 
State constitution was adopted and officers chosen in accordance there- 
with. 

This was all very well, but the Congress of States and the State of 
New York failed to ratify or approve of what had been done, and refused 
to recognize Vermont as a State of the Union or as a separate jurisdic- 
tion. And it is the purpose of this chapter briefly to refer to some of the 
leading events that transpired subsequent to the declaration of Vermont's 
independence and down to and including the time of her admission to the 
Union, in the year 179 1. 

The first step taken by the people, through their representatives in con- 
vention, was the "Declaration and Petition of the Inhabitants of the New 
Hampshire Grants, to Congress, announcing the District to be a Free 
and Independent State." The petition set forth: "We humbly pray 
that the said declaration may be received, and the district described 



Vermont's Petition Rejected. 71 

therein be ranked by your honors among the free and hidependent 
American States, and delegates therefrom be admitted to seats in the 
grand Continental Congress; and your petitioners as in duty bound 
shall ever pray." 

This proceeding and the prayer of the petition was violently and indig- 
nantly opposed by the New Yorkers and their representatives in Con- 
gress; and it was this opposition, seconded by that of a few other States, 
that so long kept Vermont out of the Union. Congress had taken due 
notice of the declaration and petition, and had, even before that time, 
become cognizant of the fact that the district desired a separate govern- 
ment, but it was not until the 30th of June, 1777, that that body reached 
a decision concerning the subject, and that, disheartening and unsatis- 
factory to the people of Vermont, was to the effect that the prayer of the 
petitioners "be dismissed." 

The unwelcome news of the determination of Congress became known 
to the people of Vermont just prior to the convention at Windsor, July 
2, 1777; and whatever action may have been contemplated by that body 
was obliged to be postponed on account of the intelligence received con- 
cerning the abandonment of Ticonderoga and the approach of Burgoyne's 
army. This for several months delayed all political controversies, arid 
turned the attention of all the people to measures for the defense of the 
State against the impending British invasion. But when the eventful 
campaigns of the season had ended and the winter had passed, the Coun- 
cil of Safety resumed the affairs of the civil government as though no 
untoward events had occurred. 

During the latter part of February, 1778, Governor Clinton, of New 
York, issued a proclamation, by which, through the apparently peaceful 
and reasonable terms offered, it was hoped that Vermont would cease 
further opposition to New York jurisdiction. But this measure proved 
of no avail. Vermont sought and demanded a separate existence, and 
that alone would pacify her people. In answer to Governor Clinton's 
proclamation there was, in August following, published Ethan Allen's 
celebrated "Vindication of Vermont." 

And the year 1778 also witnessed for the people of Vermont a proceed- 
ing theretofore unknown and one that created considerable comment both 
within and without the borders of the State. This was nothing less than 



72 History of Windsor County. 



a petition to the Legislature on the part of sixteen towns east of the Con- 
n.'cticut River askin;^ to be taken into union with tlie State of Vermont. 
The subject, although it may not have been a surprise to the legislative 
body of the Commonwealth, was, nevertheless, one that occasioned much 
discussion and still more embarrassment. To settle the question the mat- 
ter of the petition was submitted to a vote of the freemen of the several 
towns of the State ; and the result was that the towns, or a majority of 
them, voted in favor of the annexation. This was approved by the 
General Assembly at their meeting in June following, by a vote thirty- 
seven in the affirmative and twelve in the negative. 

Of course this proceeding met with an indignant protest from the gov- 
ernor of New Hampshire and many of the residents of that State; and 
the result was that the governmental authorities of Vermont became in- 
volved in a controversy with New Hampshire on her east side, as well 
as with New York on the west. A number of somewhat pointed letters 
were exchanged, relating to this trouble, between the governors of the 
two States, Vermont and Now Hampshire, but the difficulty was not set- 
tled by tills means. The anne.xation measure progressed well enough 
for a time, but when the Legislature adopted resolutions looking to the 
division of the State into four counties, there seems to have developed 
much opposition on the part of a strong minority. This and other prop- 
ositions created great dissatisfaction, and the feeling became so strong 
that the minority withdrew from the Legislature and announced them- 
selves free from obligation to exercise any office or place, either legisla- 
tive, e.KCCutive or judicial, in the State. 

This action proved not at all conducive to the welfare of tlie State, and 
it now seemed that the union with the New Hampshire towns was an un- 
fortunate one from out of which no great good could come. The matter 
became the subject of special inquiiy and discussion at the Windsor ses- 
sion of the General Assembly in October, 1778, and a special election 
was then directed to be held in the towns in which the representatives 
had declined to act. But the malcontents were not disposed to end their 
proceedings by simply entering a protest and withdrawing from associa- 
tion with the State ; they held a meeting and arranged for a convention 
of delegates representing all the towns in the region of the Connecticut 
River. In accordance with this a meeting was held at Cornish, N. H., 



Controversy with New Hampshire. 73 

and adopted measures by which it was proposed to New Hampshire 
that they mutually agree upon a dividing line between that State and 
the grants; or, that they agree upon a court of commissioners, com- 
posed of members chosen from the three other New England States, to 
hear and determine the matter of the controversy ; or, that the whole 
question be referred to Congress for adjustment. And the fourth or 
final proposition was to the effect that if the controversy could not be 
settled by above named plans, "and in case we can agree with New 
Hampshire upon a plan of government, inclusive of extent of territory, 
that we unite with them, and become with them one entire State, re- 
jecting the arbitrary line drawn on the west bank of Connecticut River, 
by the King of Great Britain, in 1764." 

These proceedings certainly contained nothing comforting for the 
people who were devoted to the Vermont interests, for by them it was 
proposed not only to effect a dissolution of the union with towns east of 
the Connecticut, but there was the posibility that a number of those 
towns west of the river would separate themselves from Vermont and 
form a union with New Hampshire ; and any such dismemberment Ver- 
mont could not afford. But if the latter was at all justified in admitting 
the New Hampshire towns to membership in her own government, the 
retaliatory measures proposed above were equally justifiable. 

But the people of Vermont were by no means insensible of the mis- 
take, and immediately took effective means to remedy it as far as possi- 
ble. The matter came before the next February session of the General 
Assembly, and that body chose a committee to prepare a draft or bill 
relative to dissolving the union with the New Hampshire towns. The 
report of the committee, among other things, says : " And, whereas, 
your committee has just grounds to apprehend that the said sixteen 
towns are, of right, included within the jurisdiction of New Hampshire; 
they are, therefore, of opinion that the said union ought to be consid- 
ered as being null, from the beginning." This report was accepted by 
the Assembly, and followed by a resolution by which the union with the 
New Hampshire towns was declared to be dissolved, and made totally 
void, null and extinct. 

It may be stated, by way of explanation, that the position taken by 
the inhabitants of the New Hampshire towns who sought annexation to 
10 



74 History of Windsor County. 

Vermont was to the effect that they did not consider themselves as 
rightfully belonging to the jurisdiction of New Hampshire, and that the 
authorities thereof had no right to exercise control if the residents of 
the towns opposed it. This position was based upon the fact that the 
early surveys and grants did not include the territory of the towns that 
sought to be set off; and it was upon the questions raised by this matter 
that Governor Chittenden and President Weare conducted their argu- 
ment. The dissolution of the union of course terminated the contro- 
versy with New Hampshire. 

The amicable adjustment of the dispute between Vermont and New 
Hampshire by no means left the former State in a condition of absolute 
contentment, for there was still active her old enemy, the State of New 
York ; and that State seemed at that time to have many warm adher- 
ents east of the mountains, few if any of whom willingly yielded to Ver- 
mont, but who were compelled by force of superior numbers to submit 
to it. But after the termination of the trouble with New Hampshire the 
disaffected inhabitants of Cumberland county were still less inclined 
than previously to submit to Vermont authority. They therefore 
assembled a convention at Brattleboro on the 4th of May, 1779, at 
which were present delegates from nine towns, among them being rep- 
resentatives from Springfield and VVeathersfield of this county, and it 
was then determined to send a statement of their grievances to the gov- 
ernor of New York, in the hope of receiving substantial relief from that 
State. And about the same time there was raised in Cumberland county 
a military association for the purpose of resisting the authority of Ver- 
mont This was an act so hostile in its intent and purpose that Gov- 
ernor Chittenden could not overlook it ; and for the purpose of subdu- 
ing the rebellious subjects he dispatched Colonel Allen to arrest tiie 
offenders, the details of which event is sufficiently referred to in an ear- 
lier chapter. 

However much of affection the .State of New York actually possessed 
for her constantly complaining subjects east of the mountains is uncer- 
tain, but her substantial assistance seemed to be confined to assurances 
of protection and much of what was considered sound advice. In reply 
to the latest petition for relief, that of the Brattleboro convention, 
the governor of New York further assured the faithful of his official pro- 



Controversy with New York. 75 

tection, and followed that by a letter to the president of Congress to the 
effect "that matters were fast approaching a very serious crisis, which 
nothing but the immediate interposition of Congress could possibly pre- 
vent." 

On the 1st of June Congress did take cognizance of the matter of the 
complaint of Governor Clinton, and on the next day chose a committee 
consisting of Messrs. Ellsworth, Edwards, Witherspoon, Atlee and Root, 
to repair to the "New Hampshire Grants, and enquire into the reasons 
why they refuse to continue citizens of the respective States, which, 
heretofore, exercised jurisdiction over said district," etc. But soon after 
this Congress became informed of Allen's expedition to Cumberland 
county, and his arrest of Colonel Patterson and others, which caused 
that body (Congress) to pass another series of resolutions, being further 
instructions to the commission above named. 

In due time a part of the committee (less than a quorum) visited 
Bennington, held several conferences with friends of Vermont and New 
York, but accomplished nothing; then returned to Philadelphia and 
subsequently made a report, but upon that report no immediate action 
was taken. Congress did, however, on the 24th of September follow- 
ing, take action on the matter of the disputes between " the States of 
New Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay (this State now having become in- 
volved) and New York, on the one part, and the people of a district of 
country, called the New Hampshire Grants (not recognizing even the 
name Vermont), on the other," etc.; and rcFolved that, on the 1st day 
of February next (1780) "to hear and examine into the disputes and 
differences relative to jurisdiction between the said three States." These 
resolutions were subsequently amended. 

The authorities of Vermont were of course duly apprised of all that 
was transpiring in Congress, and in the three States named, concerning 
the right to jurisdiction over the territory of their State, and were adopt- 
ing such measures as were deemed necessary to protect their rights and 
position. To this end a committee of " agents," comprising Ethan Allen, 
Jonas Fay, Paul Spooner, Stephen R. Bradley and Moses Robinson, was 
chosen to attend upon Congress, "to vindicate their right to independ- 
ence, at that honorable board." 

During the interval between the time of the appointment of the agents 



76 History of Windsor County. 

and the next -February, the date fixed by Congress, the State of Ver- 
mont was in a most unfortunate and unenviable position, and was, says 
a contemporaneous writer, " literally struggling for existence ; a struggle 
requiring the exercise of no ordinary wisdom and firmness. Happily 
for her, she possessed statesmen whose resources were equal to any 
emergency, and who would have done honor to any age or any country. 
They perfectly understood the ground on which rested the claim of Ver- 
mont to independence, and, even at the most trying periods, they were 
never betrayed into a single measure, evincing, in the slighest degree, a 
disposition to abandon it." 

During this critical state of affairs, on the loth of December, 1779, by 
the direction of the Governor and Council, there was published and 
freely circulated the celebrated "Appeal to the Candid and Impartial 
World," written by Hon. Stephen Row Bradley, one of the agents 
chosen to represent the State at the meeting of Congress. 

When the first of February arrived it seems that Congress was not 
prepared to take any action regarding the differences between the States, 
and an adjournment or postponement was directed until the 2 1st of 
March following. But then, there not being the desired representation 
from nine States, a further postponement was ordered to the 2d of June. 
On this occasion a series of resolutions, condemning the action of Ver- 
mont, were offered, but no decisive action was taken. Again, on the 
9th of June, the matter was further discussed, and the second Tuesday 
in September fixed upon as the time when a final determination should 
be reached. After this several postponements of the hearing were had, 
and it was not until the 27th of September, 1780, that Congress took 
any action whatever, other than to delay matters ; and when reached 
the determination was altogether unsatisfactory, it being stated in a sin- 
gle brief resolution, " That the farther consideration of the subject be 
postponed." 

However anxious the people of Vermont may have been to have the 
difficulties finally adjusted, they received no consideration whatever from 
Congress. And the other States, too, seemed satisfied with delay, for 
by such tactics it was hoped that the Vermonters would tire of their op- 
position. Of course the war was in progress during this period, and 
Congress was busied with other matters that were considered of far 



Proposed Enlargement of Territory. tj 

greater importance. And while the United States were actively engaged 
in aggressive and defensive military operations, the Vermont authorities 
were entering upon their negotiations with Canada, by which they suc- 
ceeded in protecting their State from British invasion, and greatly aided 
the cause of America by keeping inactive a strong army then in Canada. 

Singular as it may appear, and notwithstanding the distressed condi- 
tion of Vermont at this time, there were many people residing in the 
towns east of the Connecticut River who desired to have their territory 
anne.xed to the State of Vermont; and to the accomplishment of this 
end a large convention of delegates representing those towns met in the 
county of Cheshire, and through a committee decided that a union of 
the inhabitants of that territory with those of Vermont to be " indispen- 
sably necessary." The same committee reported in favor of a conven- 
tion to be holden at Charlestown in January following, 1781, at which 
should be present one or more representatives from each town, " to unite 
in such measures as the majority shall judge most conducive to consol- 
idate an union of the grants, and effect a final settlement of the line of 
jurisdiction." (The people of many towns east of the river had always 
claimed to be a part of the grants, and not of the province of New 
Hampshire proper, being situated west of the " Mason line.") 

The convention was held at Charlestown on the i6th of January, 
1 78 1, and that that body was in favor of annexation to Vermont is 
shown by the fact that in February the Legislature of that State received 
a petition for a union of the grants on both sides of the Connecticut 
River. The Vermont Legislature took due notice of this request, and 
appointed a committee to examine and report, recommending such ac- 
tion as was thought best for the State. The committee, on the 14th, 
reported as follows: " Therefore, your committee do recommend, that 
the Legislature of this State do lay a jurisdictional claim to all the land 
situate north of the north line of the State of Massachusetts, and ex- 
tending the same to Hudson's River" etc. These italicized words 
are noticeable from the fact that they indicate an extension westwardly, 
something not contemplated by anything previously stated. The fact 
is, that about the time the petition for the eastern union was received, 
there came another and similar request from several towns of New York 
State east of the Hudson River ; and this annexation being favorably 



78 History of Windsor County. 

considered by the Legislature, the jurisdictional claim was extended in 
that direction as well as the other, but the union with the New York 
towns was not completed until a later date. 

In April an adjourned session of the Legislature was held at Windsor, 
and at the same time a convention of delegates from the towns east of 
the river was in session at Cornish. On canvassing the votes of the 
several towns of Vermont (the question of annexation having been sub- 
mitted to the people) it was found that a very large majority were in 
favor of the union, whereupon the union with the New Hampshire towns 
was effected, and their representatives admitted to seats in the Vermont 
Assembly. 

The towns, now forming a part of Windsor county, that voted in favor 
of the union, were Bethel, Pomfret, Chester, Windsor, Reading, Barn- 
ard, Royalton, Sharon and Norwich ; while those that disapproved of 
the annexation were Woodstock and Hartland. Others from which no 
vote was received were Weathersfield, Cavendish and Hartford. 

After Vermont had completed her union with the New Hampshire 
towns, the public attention was next turned to the petition of the towns 
of New York State, which, likewise, were asking for annexation to the 
State, the very existence of which had been denied by the Federal gov- 
ernment, but which had before this laid claim to jurisdiction over the 
territory on which the petitioners lived l^ut there was not the same 
unanimity of feeling regarding the western union as was shown in favor 
of the eastern, for when the question was put to a vote it carried by a 
majority of but nine, there being forty-eight in the affirmative, and thirty- 
eight opposed to the proposition. Then followed a convention and 
the adoption of articles of union, at Cambridge, after wliich, on the i6th 
of June, 1 78 1, the union was made complete, and the New York towns, 
like those formerly of New Hampshire, became entitled to a representa- 
tion in the legislative hall of Vermont ; and likewise became, for the 
time being, a part of the State of Vermont. 

In relation to the unions just referred to, William Slade very aptly 
remarks: "We cannot forbear pausing, for a moment, to contemplate 
the interesting attitude in which Vermont had now placed herself No 
measures could have better exhibited the peculiar genius of her states- 
men, and none could have more effectually contributed to sustain her 



Enlargement of Territory. 79 

independence, than those we have just recorded. By the unions, thus 
formed, she had added an extent of territory equal, at least, to that over 
which she originally claimed jurisdiction. By this bold and decisive 
policy she had augmented her resources, compelled the respect of her 
enemies, gained upon the confidence of her friends, quieted disaffection 
at home, invited ir^migration, and thus laid the foundation for a large 
and powerful State. 

" But there is another view of the advantages resulting from this 
policy, which produces a still higher conviction of its importance, and 
exhibits a coincidence of events as striking, perhaps, as any which dis- 
tinguishes the early history of this State. We allude to the influence 
produced by this policy upon the negotiations with the enemy in Canada. 
No people were more firmly attached to the cause of American independ- 
ence than the people of Vermont; and none had more successfully con- 
tributed to sustain it; yet, after all their efforts and sacrifices in the 
common cause, they had the mortification to find themselves denied par- 
ticipation in the blessings they had labored to secure. Their claims to 
independence had been treated with indifference, they were threatened 
with dismemberment of their territory and the annihilation of their sov- 
ereignty, and, to crown the whole, were abandoned by the power which 
ought to have protected them, and left to contend, single handed, 
against the common enemy. Much, therefore, as they were attached to 
the cause of their country, they could not fail to perceive that every step 
taken to support it only rendered their condition more hopeless ; and 
that it was of no importance to them that the struggle with a foreign 
enemy should be brought to a successful termination, while they were 
threatened with subjection to a more detested enemy at home." 

After completing her eastern and western unions Vermont again 
turned her attention to Congress, hoping now, in view of her increased 
strength and power, to obtain that boon so long witheld — her independ- 
ence as a State of the Federal Union; but, notwithstanding the fact that 
Congress did, on this application, give some indication of recognition 
of her claims, the people of the State were destined to wait ten more long 
and tedious years before their cherished object was finally accomplished. 
Congress so far relaxed the rigors attending former applications as to re- 
solve that as an indispensable prerequisite to recognizing any independ- 



8o History of Windsor County. 

ence for Vermont the unions with parts of New York and New Hamp- 
shire must be dissolved. But this Vermont was wholly opposed to doing; 
and this unwillingness, coupled with other events occurring about that 
time, had the effect of delaying Congressional recognition for a long time. 
At last Governor Chittenden, in his extremity, addressed General 
Washington concerning the unfortunate condition of affairs, and the 
reply of that distinguished officer contributed as much to a change of 
sentiment on the part of the authorities of Vermont as all other things 
combined. Seeing at last that it would be almost impossible to obtain 
recognition as a State without some relaxation on their part, the govern- 
ment of Vermont reluctantly consented to dissolve the bands that iiad 
united her with parts of New Hampshire and New York ; and this led to 
such action on the part of Congress as made it possible for Vermont to 
become one of the United States. Birt before this could be accomplished 
the State was obliged to relinquish all claim to jurisdiction over the ter- 
ritory of New York that lay west of the established twenty-mile line from 
the Hudson River; and in addition thereto she was compelled to pay to 
the State of New York the sum of thirty thousand dollars, on or before 
the first day of June, 1794. The conditions being complied with, Con- 
gress passed an act by which it was declared that on the 4th day of 
March, 1791, "the said state by the name and style of ' the state of Ver- 
mont,' shall be received and admitted into this Union, as a new and en- 
tire member of the United States of America." 



CHAPTER VHI. 

A Brief Resume on Divisions of the Grants into Counties — Courts Estab- 
lished — County Seat at Chester — Changed to Westminster — Erection of Cumberland 
County by Vermont — Officers appointed — Some Personal Sketches— County Lines De- 
fined — Windsor County Formed — New Hampshire Towns Annexed to this County — 
Locating the County Seat— Woodstock Selected -Windsor Temporarily a Half-Shire 
Town — Judges of the County Court —The First Court-House— Its destruction by Fire — 
The Second Court-House also Burned — The Present County Buildings — Civil List — 
Officers of the Ancient County of Cumberland — Officers of Windsor County. 

THE preceding chapters of this work have been devoted almost wholly 
to a record of the events that pertained more particularly to the 
Commonwealth ot Vermont and the region roundabout, in order that the 



Organization Under the Government of New York. 8i 



reader might have a fair understanding of what occurred during the early 
period of the State's existence, and even before the State had a being of 
any organized kind. This has been deemed essential as a foundation 
for the chapters that related particularly to the history of Windsor 
county, which was not brought into life until the year 17S1. And now, 
that the events that pertained to the military operations during the 
Revolution, and those relating to the controversy with surrounding prov- 
inces and States, have been sufficiently narrated, it is proposed to devote 
the present chapter to the civil or internal policy of the State of Vermont 
with regard to the sub-division of its territory into counties, the erection 
of Windsor county, and then, having eliminated that district from the 
others of the State, to confine all further chapters to the social, civil, 
political and military history of the county. 

But it will be necessary, owing to the singular condition of affairs in 
the region east of the mountains, to make some allusion to the civil or- 
ganization of the counties under the authority and government of New 
York. In fact, during the few years succeeding 1777, the territory now 
embraced by Windsor county had a double existence, the recognized 
State of New York and the independent State of Vermont both having 
a civil organization in the locality, each separate from and in conflict 
with the other. 

A division of the State, or, as it was then known, the district of the 
New Hampshire Grants, into counties, was made by the province of New 
York, on the 3d of July, 1766, by virtue of an act of the Provincial As- 
sembly. By that act all the district of the grants that lay eastward of 
the Green Mountains was erected into a county by the name of Cumber- 
land. This act, however, was annulled by the Royal decree of 1767, 
which was intended to forbid New York from exercising further author- 
ity over the district, at least for the time being, but that province con- 
tinued its policy, notwithstanding the king's order, and in 1768 re- 
passed the act and proceeded again to organize the county. They 
established a Court of Common Pleas and appointed judges for the 
county. For a number of years the courts were held at Chester, one of 
the towns of Windsor county, but there seemed to be an element of the 
population in Chester that strongly favored the new State policy, and, 
as the New York control had erected no county buildings in the town, 
11 



82 History of Windsor County. 



it was deemed expedient to move the seat of justice to Westminster, 
where existed less opposition to New York. This removal to the more 
congenial locality was made during the year 1772. 

In the year 1 770, by an act of the Provincial Assembly of New York, 
passed March 7th, the territory of Cumberland county was divided, and 
the county of Gloucester was formed, comprising the lands lying north 
of the present north line of Windsor county, and the county seat of the 
new sub-division was fixed at Newbury. Thus did the district of land 
east of the mountains remain until the year 1778, after the independence 
of Vermont had been declared ; and from that time forth until the New 
York dominancy became gradually extinguished the people of the terri 
tory now of Windsor county were living under the double and conflict- 
ing authority of the two States. 

In March, 1778, the Governor and Council and the General Assembly 
of Vermont met in session at the meeting-house in Windsor; and among 
the proceedings of that session were those looking to the erection of 
counties and the establishment of such other institutions as were neces- 
sary to complete the civil organization of the districts. On the 17th of 
March the Governor and Council recommended that the Assembly di- 
vide the territorj' of the State into two counties, that portion west of the 
main chain of the mountains to be known as Bennington, and the part 
east to be known as " Unity county." The first request was complied 
with, but the latter was, on the 21st of March, amended or altered by 
the Assembly, the name " Cumberland county" being adopted instead 
of " Unity county." It was also voted at the same time that each county 
have four probate districts ; also that the county elections be held on 
the 4th day of June, 1778. 

On the 26th of March the Council appointed John Hatch, Joshua 
Bax'ley, Ezra Sargeant and Darius Sessions as county surveyors for the 
county of Cumbeilami for the time being; also John Benjamin as 
sheriff, for the time being, which meant until the forthcoming election. 
The shire town of the county of Cumberland was fixed upon as West- 
minster, and judges of its courts were appointed by the Assembly as 
follows: Major John Shepardson, first; Mr. Stephen Tilden, second; 
Hubbel Wells, third; Deacon Hezekiah Thomson, fourth; and Nathaniel 
Robinson, fifth judges for the shire. And on the 17th of June the As- 



Prominent Representatives. 83 

sembly voted to appoint special judges for the several shires, those for 
Cumberland county as follows: John Shepardson, Stephen Tilden, 
Hezekiah Thomson, Colonel Samuel Fletcher and Joshua Webb. 

In October, 1778, after the State election, the Legislature again met 
at Windsor ; and there were present members elected by the towns that 
form a part of Windsor county, as follows: Springfield, Lieutenant Sam- 
uel Scott ; Chester, Major Thomas Chandler ; Weathersfield, Captain 
William Upham ; Windsor, Captain Ebenezer Curtiss and Thomas 
Cooper; Hertferd (Hartland), William Gallop; Woodstock, Captain 
Phineas Williams and Captain John Strong ; Hartford, Stephen Tilden ; 
Pomfret, Captain John Throop ; Barnard, Captain Edmond Hodges; 
Sharon, Benjamin Spaulding ; Royalton, Lieutenant Joseph Parkhurst ; 
Norwich, Abel Curtiss and Captain Joseph Hatch. 

During this same fiscal year the county, now called Windsor, seems 
also to have had a fair representation in the higher body of State officials 
— the Council of Governor Chittenden ; for the records disclose that Pe- 
ter Olcutt of Norwich, Paul Spooner of Hartland, Thomas Murdoch of 
Norwich, and Benjamin Emmons' of Woodstock, were elected council- 
lors, while Joseph Marsh of Hartford was elected lieutenant-governor. 
These persons were chosen to the same ofiices in the preceding March 
election, and their re-election seems to have shown that each possessed 
the entire confidence of his constituency. Concerning these persons it 
is proper that a brief biographical mention be here made- 
Joseph Marsh was born in Lebanon, Conn., January 12, 1726, and 
on the lOth of January, 1750, was married to Dorothy Mason, a de- 
scendant of John Mason, who atone time was major-general of the en- 
tire military force of Connecticut. Mr. Marsh and his family came to 
the New Hampshire Grants in 1772, locating in the town of Hartford, 
where he at once became an active participant in the aff'airs of his town 
and county, and soon began to be looked upon as a leader. The county 
then being under the New York control, Mr. Marsh waschosen as colonel 
of the upper regiment of militia in 1775, and in January of the next 
year was chosen to represent Cumberland county in the New York 



' Benjamin Emmons, of Woodstock, was not elected, but appointed in the stead of 
Elisha Payne, who declined to serve. 

' Condensed from sketches found in the " Governor and Council." 



84 History of Windsor County. 



Provincial Congress. In July, 1777, his regiment came under the juris- 
diction of Vermont. Colonel Marsh was chosen to fill a number of offi- 
ces of responsibility, but his greatest honor was obtained in his election 
to the lieutenant-governorship, in March, 1778, and his re-election in 
October of the same year. Still later he was annually re-elected from 
1787 to 1790. Other prominent offices held by him were: Member 
and chairman of the Eastern Vermout Court of Confiscation ; chairman 
of a committee of safety for a part of Vermont ; representative of the 
town of Hartford in the General Assembly of 1781 and 1782; one of 
the first Council of Censors in 1785 ; and for a period of nine years, from 
1787 to 1795, he was chief judge of the County Court of Windsor county. 

" Colonel Marsh (said Roswell Marsh) went to school but a single 
month, and his advantages from books were limited ; but what he read 
he fully mastered and then held with a tenacious memory. He excelled 
in acquiring knowledge from conversation ; and his own was exceedingly 
interesting. His knowledge, however acquired, was utilized by a close 
logical mind. His temper was equable, and children loved him. In 
politics nothing, save remarks disrespectful to President Washington, 
ever disturbed him, for he was of the pure Washingtonian school, and 
trained his children in it. He was an earnest Christian, but free from 
bigotry. In person he was of large stature and well proportioned — 
broad shouldered, large boned, lean, and of great muscular power; in 
weight over two hundred. His dress was of the Washington pattern — 
small clothes and the triangular hat. He was a bold and graceful horse- 
man, kept a chaise, but never used it for himself alone." Among the 
descendants of Colonel Joseph Marsh may be named the late Hon. 
Charles Marsh, of Woodstock ; the late professor and president, James 
Marsh, of the University of Vermont; the late Dr. Leonard Marsh, of 
Burlington, and Hon. George P. Marsh, of the same city. 

Benjamin Emmons, the councillor from Woodstock, was supposed to 
be originally from Massachusetts, but after the close of the French and 
Indian war several brothers of the family settled in New Hampshire. In 
April, 1772, Benjamin Emmons with his family came to Woodstock, 
and settled in the township. He, too, was an active man in the affairs 
of the region, and held many offices and positions of trust, among them 
the following: Supervisor, chosen at the first town meeting in May, 



Prominent Representatives. 85 

1773 ; member of the Committee of Safety of Cumberland county during 
the existence of that body ; was chosen as lieutenant, under New York, 
in August, 1775, of the upper regiment of the county; chosen by the 
Westminster convention, October 30, 1776, as one of the committee to 
canvass Cumberland and Gloucester counties in the interests of a new 
State ; chosen to the subsequent conventions at Westminster and Wood- 
stock, representing the town of Woodstock ; a member of the Windsor 
convention that framed the constitution of Vermont ; chosen councillor 
in March, 1778, and re-elected in October, serving in that capacity sev- 
eral years; appointed member of the Court of Confiscation in 1778. 
In 1 78 1 Mr. Emmons was appointed assistant judge of the Windsor 
County Court, but in October following declined the office. From 1779 
till 1786 he was annually elected councillor, and in the latter year was 
chosen to represent his town in the General Assembly, serving in that 
capacity eleven years. It was by his efforts that Woodstock was des- 
ignated as the shire town of the county of Windsor. In 1791 Mr. Em- 
mons was a member of the convention which adopted the constitution of 
the United States, and one of the Council of Censors for 1799. His 
public service ended with his last membership in the General Assembly 
in 1803. About the year 1806 Mr. Commons was induced to join his 
children in the then far West, beyond the Mississippi ; and there, after 
a brief residence of but six weeks, he ended his days, then being about 
eighty-six years of age. 

Thomas Murdock and General Peter Olcutt were members of the first 
Council, and both lived in the town of Norwich. The former was a 
member of the Westminster convention of January 15, 1777, and of the 
Windsor convention held in June following. He was councillor and mem- 
ber of the Court of Confiscation in 1778, and until October, 1779; and 
judge of Windsor County Court from 1782 to 1787. He represented 
Norwich in 1780 and 1782. He died in Norwich in 1803. 

General Peter Olcutt, the colleague in the Council of Thomas Mur- 
dock, and likewise his fellow townsman, was another of the eminent men 
of Norwich, and active both in civil and military affairs. In May, 1777, 
he servedNewYork in the capacity of commissioner to receive the prop- 
erty of those who had joined the enemy; and in 1778 he performed 
like services for Vermont as a member of the Court of Confiscation for 



86 History of Windsor County. 

Eastern Vermont; was a member of the convention that adopted the 
State constitution. In 1777 he commanded a regiment in Gloucester 
county; was councillor from the first session until October, 1779; again 
from 1781 to 1790; lieutenant-governor from 1790 to 1793; and judge 
of the Supreme Court from 1782 to 1784. 

For the sketch of Paul Spooner the reader is referred to the closing 
pages of chapter four. 

But these sketches would not be considered complete without some 
mention of the worthy secretary of state and secretary of the Council. 
This was Thomas Chandler, jr., of Chester, concerning whom the "Gov- 
ernor and Council" states: " Thomas Chandler, jr., secretary, seems 
to have filled that station by virtue of his election as Secretary of State, 
by the General Assembly, March 13, 1778. He was the son of Thomas 
Chandler, sr., who was the chief judge of the royal court at Westminster, 
which was captured and overthrown b}' the Whigs immediately after the 
Westminster massacre. Thomas Chandler, jr., was born September 23, 
1740, and came to New Flamstead (now Chester) with his father in 1763. 
In March of that year he was appointed town clerk, and held that office 
until March, 1780. July 16, 1766, he was appointed (by New York) 
assistant justice of the Inferior Court of the Common Pleas for Cumber- 
land county, and he held the office until after the Westminster massacre. 
He was a delegate in the Westminster convention in October, 1776, and 
January, 1777. He was elected to the first General Assembly in March, 
1778, also October, 1778-81, and in 1787. He was elected clerk of the 
first General Assembly (while representative), but abandoned both posts 
to be Secretary of State. He was speaker of the Assembly in October, 
1778-80, resigning in the middle of the session of the last year on ac- 
count of charges affecting his character, for which he brought a libel suit 
and recovered damages. He was judge of the first Supreme Court, 
elected in October, 1778, and of Windsor County Court in 1786." 

Returning from this digression to the narrative of the events of the 
county of Cumberland, it is found that, in pursuance of an act of the 
General Assembly at Bennington in June previous, justices of the peace 
were chosen by many towns of the State, and those for that part of Cum- 
berland that is now Windsor county were as follows : Daniel Heald, for 
Chester; Thomas Cooper, for Windsor; Elias Weld, Hartland; John W. 
Dana, Pomfret; Asa Whitcomb, Barnard; Joshua Hazen, Hartford. 



Boundary Lines Established for Cumberland County. 87 



It was not until the year 1779 that the affairs of the several counties of 
the State began to assume defifinite form. In fact it appears that none of 
the acts of the Assembly for 1778 are found to be in existence. To be 
sure the laws of that year may have been declared to be temporary, but 
no sufficient explanation of their absence from the Assembly Journal is 
to be found among the records. And it is difficult indeed to glean from 
the minutes alone sufficient information to make any reliable statements. 
But in 1779 there seems to have been more method in the manner of 
transacting business, and the laws of that year, and those succeeding as 
well, are preserved in substantial form. 

During this year, at the session of the Legislature at Bennington, in 
February, the General Assembly passed an act establishing the lines 
bounding the two counties of the State ; and that part of the act that de- 
fined the lines of Cumberland county was as follows: "Be it furtlicr en- 
acted, by the authority, aforesaid, that the tract of land in the hereafter 
described limits, as well the lands that are, as those that are not, appro- 
priated, shall be and remain one entire county, and known by the name 
of the county of Cumberland, viz.: Beginning at the southeast corner of 
the county of Bennington, in the north line of the State of the Massa- 
chusetts-Bay ; thence east in said line, to Connecticut River, being the 
south line of this State; thence up said river as it tends, to the south 
line of the Province of Quebec, being the east line of this State; thence 
west in the south line of the Province of Quebec, to the northeast cor- 
ner of the county of Bennington, being the north line of this State; 
thence southerly in the east line of the county of Bennington, to tlie 
southeast corner thereof" 

The east line of Bennington county, mentioned in the foregoing section, 
was particularly described in that part of the act that defined the bound- 
aries of that county: it commenced at a point in the south line of the 
Province of Quebec fifty miles east of the " deepest channel " of Lake 
Champlain, thence southerly to the northeast corner of Worcester, thence 
southerly on the easterly lines of the towns of Worcester, Middlesex and 
Berlin, to the southeast corner thereof; thence on a straight line to the 
northwest corner of Tunbridge ; thence on the westerly line of Tunbridge, 
to the southwest corner thereof; thence in a straight line to the north- 
westerly corner of Bradford; thence in the westerly line of Bradford and 



88 History of Windsor County. 

Bridgewater, to the southwesterly corner thereof; thence southerly in a 
straight line, to the northeast corner of Shrewsbury; thence on tiie east- 
erly line of Shrewsbury, to the southeasterly corner thereof; thence to 
the northeast corner of Wallingford ; thence southerly on the" easterly 
lines of Wallingford, Harwich, Bromley (Peru), Winhall and Stratton, to 
the southeasterly corner of the latter ; thence southerly on the westerly 
line of Somerset, to the southwest corner thereof; thence southerly to 
the northwest corner of Draper ; thence in the west lines of Draper and 
Cumberland, to the north line of the Massachusetts-Bay. Thus were the 
lines of the county of Cumberland for the first time particularly de- 
scribed, and so did they remain until the Legislature of 1781 divided the 
old county, and in its place erected three entirely new ones — Windham, 
Windsor and Orange. During the same year Bennington county was 
also divided, and Rutland county formed. The acts of the Legislature 
by which this division was made are not to be found, although sufficient 
memoranda is preserved to ascertain with reasonable certainty the 
boundary lines of the counties then established. From that time to this 
there has been no material alteration of the boundaries of the county of 
Windsor, on the west side of the Connecticut. 

Preceding chapters have shown that the authorities of Vermont did, 
in the year 1781, extend the jurisdiction of the State so as to include a 
large tract of land on the east side of the Connecticut; and, for the 
proper exercise of her authority over those lands and the towns they 
comprised, it became necessary to either erect them into counties or an- 
nex tliem to the counties already in existence on the west side of the 
river. To this end the Vermont General Assembly, at the session at 
Windsor in April, 1781, passed an act that considerably e.xtended the 
limits of Windsor county, by including within it the New Hampshire 
towns that lay to the eastward, and over which Vermont's jurisdictional 
claim had been declared. The part of the act that referred to these 
towns reads as follows : " Be it further enacted, that all the lands lying 
and being within this State, on the east side of Connecticut river, oppo- 
site to the county of Windsor, and northward of the northerly lines of 
the towns of Claremont, Newport, Unity and Wendal, be, and hereby 
are, for the time being, annexed to the county of Windsor." 

The annexation of this territory was not approved of by all the towns 



County Seat Located. 89 



that belonged to Windsor county as originally laid out, for, no sooner 
had the act that created the county become a law, than the question of 
locating the shire town began to be agitated. Of course, if the conven- 
ience of the greatest number of people should be a moving considera- 
tion in determining upon a site for the seat of justice, then one of the 
centrally located towns must necessarily be selected, and there was, per- 
haps, no town in the whole county that possessed all the essential pre- 
requisites except Woodstock. Its location among the towns of the 
county was not only central, but it was the most easily accessible of any. 
More than this, the town was well supplied with the necessary conven- 
iences that must be found at a county seat. And it was, moreover, one 
of the large towns of the county. 

It is needless to state that the residents of Woodstock were greatly in 
favor of having their town selected for the county seat ; and it is equally 
true that a number of the surrounding towns shared in this sentiment, 
because it was out of the question for any of them to be designated for 
the purpose, and they therefore desired the county buildings to be 
located at a point best suited to their convenience, under the circum- 
stances. So, when the Legislature of Vermont extended her jurisdiction 
over the New Hampshire towns, and proposed to annex them to the 
counties adjoining on the west, there was considerable disturbance in 
the camp of the Woodstock people. By such an annexation, should it 
become permanent, the probabilities of that town being selected as the 
county seat were decidedly remote. This subject of annexation was 
made the order of the day at a meeting of the freemen of Woodstock, 
who voted to petition the Legislature not to have the county lines ex- 
tended across the Connecticut River. But justice to the pioneer resi- 
dents of Woodstock demands that it be stated that that town was not 
in favor of annexing the New Hampshire towns to the State of Ver- 
mont, to say nothing of having them attached to Windsor county. The 
truth of the matter is, that a number of the eastern towns of this State, 
and some on the west as well, were not only opposed to this, but to the 
first union with the towns east of the river. No good results came to 
the State by the first union, and many residents argued seriously against 
the second extension of jurisdiction. Subsequent events demonstrated 
that their reasoning upon the matter was truthful and logical. 
12 



go History of Windsor County. 

Fortunately, however, for the town of Woodstock, the union with the 
New Hampshire towns was dissolved by a resolution of the General 
Assembly of Vermont, passed February 23, 1782, and the people were 
at liberty consistently to press their claims for the county buildings. 
What might or what might not have happened had the union been a 
permanent one is hardly a fair subject for discussion here, but the di'sso- 
lution of the union with the eastern towns certainly gave much encour- 
agement to the hopes and ambitions of the people of Woodstock, and 
correspondingly lessened the chances of the town of Windsor and others 
to the north of it, the claims of which were strongly advocated by able 
and representative men. 

But the one man who, above all others, labored zealously to have 
Woodstock made the shire town of Windsor county, was Benjamin Em- 
mons. He, as earlier pages of this chapter will show, was one of the 
Governor's Council from 1779 till 1786; and being there, was well in- 
formed concerning all that was taking place. He matured and carried 
out his plans successfully, but he did not succeed in accomplishing his 
cherished project until the year 1786, he then being in the Assembly on 
his first term. Mr. Emmons was regularly elected to the Assembly, 
from Woodstock, during that year. On the 14th of October, soon after 
the legislative bodies of the State were organized for business, Hon. 
Nathaniel Niles resigned his membership in the Council, whereupon Mr. 
Emmons was elected in his stead; but, holding the matter of locating 
the county buildings of his county to be of greater importance, he de- 
clined to accept the proffered position. 

The laws passed by the Assembly at the Rutland session of 1786 do 
not contain the act by which Woodstock was designated as the shire 
town of this county; and the only record evidence to be found, showing 
th.it .such an act was passed, is that contained in the proceedings of the 
Governor and Council, on the 27th of October, 1786, which reads as 
follows: "An act establishing Woodstock the Shire Town for the County 
of Windsor having passed the House was read and Concurred." 

As a matter of course courts were held in Windsor county prior to the 
designation of Woodstock as the county seat, most of them, all the reg 
ularly appointed terms, at Windsor, while special terms or sessions were 
held at various places to suit the convenience of the justices or the liti- 



Judges of the Courts. 91 



gating parties. The judges of the courts were chosen in pursuance of an 
act passed at the February session of the General Assembly, held at 
Windsor, in 1781, which act provided that the freemen of the respective 
towns meet at the usual place for holding town meetings, ou the last 
Tuesday of March thereafter, and, after due organization be perfected, 
"give in their ballot for whom they would have for chief judge, for the 
county court." Likewise they were directed to choose four assistant 
judges ; also for a sherift", one judge of probate for each probate district, 
and for two justices of the peace " in each town wherein is one hundred 
taxable inhabitants." As to the successful aspirants for judicial honors 
the records of the Governor and Council say : " The following gentlemen 
were nominated and are hereby appointed for the time being Justices of 
the Peace and Judges of the County Court for the county of Windsor, 
viz. : EHsha Payne, esq., (of Lebanon, N. H.,) Chief Judge; Joseph 
Marsh, esq., Benjamin Emmons, esq.,Beza Woodward, esq., (of Dresden 
now Hanover, N. H.,) and John Weld, esq.. Side Judges. Samuel Chase, 
William Ripley, (of Cornish, N. H.,) Moses Whipple, (of Croydon, N. H.,) 
John Stevens, (of Plainfield, N. H.,) Abel Stevens, (of New Grantham, 
N. H.,) John Wheatley, (of Lebanon, N. H ,) Elihu Hyde, (of Lebanon, 
N. H.,) Aaron Barney, Bezaleel Woodward, (of Dresden, now Hanover, 
N. H.,) and Jonathan Freeman, (of Hanover, N. H.,) Esquires, Justices 
of the Peace for said County." 

It appears, by an act passed during the year 1787, that the county of 
Windsor partook of the character of a two-shire count}', provision being 
made therein for the holding of courts at both Woodstock and Windsor; 
and to the act just referred to was the following contingency: "Provided 
always, and this grant is upon this express condition, that the court- 
house in said Woodstock, and the court-house in said Windsor, shall be 
furnished by the respective towns, free of any expense to said county, 
and furnished with good iron stoves, to the acceptance of the judges of the 
Supreme Court before the next stated term of that court in said county." 
"In 1 79 1," says the authority from which the foregoing paragraph is 
taken, " it was enacted that the act making said two shires should remain 
in force for three years after the passing of the same, after which Wood- 
stock should be and remain as the shire town of said county." 

It was not an unusual or surprising thing, nor was it a condition single 



92 History of Windsor County. 

to this county, that it was required of the town in which was to be located 
the county buildings that the same should be erected without expense 
to the county. The same condition was imposed regarding the erection 
of the county buildings at Manchester, the north shire town of Benning- 
ton county But unlike this county, Bennington has remained a two- 
shire county to the present day, although an effort was made some time 
ago, but without success, to consolidate the shires. In this respect the 
county just named is the only one of its kind in Vermont. 

The first term of the County Court for Windsor county was held at 
Windsor in May, 1781, at which Hon. Elisha Payne presided in the 
capacity of chief judge, while Joseph Marsh and Bezaleel Woodward 
were assistant judges. James Wheelock was appointed clerk of the 
court. 

Briant Brown was the first sheriff of Windsor county, after the act of 
February, 1771, but he resigned the office soon after his election. The 
Council then appointed Captain Ebenezer Brewster to that position. His 
sureties were Colonel Elisha Payne and Major Thomas Murdock. Of 
the subsequent officers of Windsor county mention will be found on the 
closing pages of this chapter. 

The fact that the Windsor half shire of the county was but temporary 
gave very little encouragement to the people of that locality in the build- 
ing of a court-house; and as for that matter the town of Woodstock 
failed to take the prompt action that might naturally be expected on it, 
being selected for a permanent seat of justice of a new county. And 
it was not until the latter part of 1787 that the people began any deci- 
sive work in that direction. In March of that year the Assembly had 
passed an act directing that terms of court should continue to be held at 
Windsor until the town of Woodstock had provided a suitable court- 
house building; but later on in the same year another act directed that 
all writs and processes be made returnable at Woodstock, from which it 
may be inferred that the people were induced to bestir themselves, and 
the building was made ready for occupancy during that year. It is un- 
derstood at all events that the first court-house in Woodstock was built, 
or nearly completed, during the summer and fall of 1787, although it is 
not certain that it was occupied until the following spring. 

This ancient structure was located on what now would be called the 



The First Court-House at Woodstock. 93 



south or perhaps the southeast side of the park, on the site now occupied 
by the large brick residence of Mrs. Allen, a few rods west from the 
Eagle Hotel. It was erected under the supervision of a committee, con- 
sisting of William Perry, Captain Israel Richardson, Elias Thomas and 
others, and on lands that had been donated for the purpose by Captain 
Richardson. A short distance further to the west was located the jail, a 
small, rather unpretentious structure, built partly of wood and part stone, 
and is generally understood to have been the handiwork of Phineas Will- 
iams and John Strong, the former constructing that part commonly 
known as the "dungeon," while to Mr. Strong was credited the carpen- 
ter work. 

Within the walls of this first named primitive structure were the courts 
conducted for the space of something like four years, but on the night 
of October 24.th, 1791, it was destroyed by fire. The fire was believed 
to have been started by a negro, an employee in the family of one of the 
leading physicians of the town. He was arrested and indicted for the 
offense, but on the trial, for want of evidence sufficient to convict, was 
acquitted. 

After the unfortunate and untimely destruction of the first court-house 
provision was at once made for the erection of another, though not on 
the same location. For the new building more land was desired, and 
again was the generosity of Captain Richardson levied upon by Charles 
Marsh, who had been selected as the superintendent of construction. 
But the worthy captain and Agent Marsh fell into a disagreement over 
the extent of lands that the latter thought ought to be donated to the 
public use, whereupon Mr. Marsh made arrangements to have the court- 
house erected on his own lands at a point some distance from the 
" green " or common, where it formerly stood. This threatened removal 
had the effect of overcoming Mr. Richardson's objections, and he do- 
nated the entire tract now covered by " Woodstock Park " to the public 
use, and also furnished the land for the desired buildings, the latter being 
the tract on the north side of the park, on the corner that became known 
in later years as the Philo Hatch property. Here the second court- 
house was erected in 1793 ; but that, too, in course of time fell a victim 
to the fiery element, the result of the carelessness of some enthusiastic 
patriot, who, on the 4th of July, 1854, threw a lighted fire-cracker on 
the shingle roof, which ignited and burned the building to the ground. 



94 History of Windsor County. 

The second building is said to have been as much of an improvement 
on the original as the present one over its predecessor. Its internal ar- 
rangement was peculiar, but none the less convenient. Reaching to a 
considerable heigh tli above the roof on the extreme front was a belfry in 
which was placed a bell of fair size ; the first court-house in the State it 
is claimed to be so provided. In 1836 extensive repairs and alterations 
were made, entailing an expense of two thousand dollars, which was 
paid in part by the town and the balance by voluntary contributions 
from individuals. 

The next, the present court-house building, was erected during the 
years 1854-55, o''' lands purchased from Harriet Myrick, situated a few 
rods east from the Eagle Hotel, and on the soutli side of the park. The 
site was purchased by a fund raised by subscription amounting to twelve 
hundred dollars. For the building the town was taxed to the extent of 
five thousand dollars, which, with the insurance received upon the old 
court-house, together with the other means provided by the county, a 
fund of fourteen thousand dollars was created, with which the structure 
was built. This court-house, it appears, is the joint property of the town 
and county. About the time of its erection the town was in need of a 
hall for such gatherings as were generally assembled each year, and the 
contemplated erection of the new court-house opened to the town a way 
to secure the desired building by joining with the county in its construc- 
tion, sharing the expense, and so arranging the interior as to serve the 
double purpose of a court-house and town hall combined. Upon such 
an understanding the building was erected, the town hall occupying the 
lower floor, while that above is designed for court uses. The building 
is of brick, of good proportions, and substantially constructed, comfort 
and convenience seeming to have been more desirable than architectural 
display; still, the building is by no means devoid of ornamentation, and 
with its adjoining building, the library, as a companion, presents a de- 
cidedly attractive appearance. Its distance from the street is such 
as to admit of a lawn, while the small park between the premises proper 
and the street lends an additional attraction to the whole scene. 

The old jail that stood near the west end of the common served the 
requirements of the county until the year 1797, at which time the Gen- 
eral Assemby ordered another to be built. Accordingly land was pro- 



The Present Court- House. 



95 



cured, the same on which tlie present jail stands ; and here, by the efforts 
of Benjamin Emmons, Jacob Wilder, Colton White and Nathaniel Smith, 
the second county jail was erected, being part of stone and part frame. 
But even this presumably substantial structure was found, after a score 
or so of years, to be unsafe and unsuitable for every use and necessity, 
whereupon Judge Elias Keyes was appointed to erect a stone jail, which 
he did at an expense to the shire of about fifteen thousand dollars ; but 
in 1867, the year in which Woodstock was visited by a sweeping fire, the 
wood part of Judge Keyes's jail was burned. The next year the brick 
Jail was erected. In 1881 some substantial additions were made, since 
which time the building has remained as it at present appears. By rea- 
son of the somewhat unusual arrangement concerning the ownership 
and use of the court-house, the county clerk, judge of probate and other 
county officers are required to have their offices in the building con- 
nected with the jail. Here they have, perhaps, as commodious quarters 
as the court-house would afford if the town hall was not a part of it, but 
the singular arrangement makes the premises somewhat remarkable. 

Now, having made some mention of the events that led to the divis- 
ion of old Cumberland county and the erection of Windsor county from 
a part of it; having noted the events of the time of organizing the last 
named, furnishing the names of its earliest officers in various depart- 
ments of its civil government ; having referred to the acts that estab- 
lished the county seat at Woodstock, and having described briefly the 
several buildings erected for county purposes, it is appropriate that some 
space should be devoted to recording the names of those who have been 
connected with the several offices of the county, as provided by the 
laws of the State, from the time of its organization to the present. But 
as the old county of Cumberland was an C'rganized department of the 
government of two States — New York and Vermont — at the same time 
(but prior to its division in 1781), which States were contending for the 
mastery, it is also proper that a record be made of the officers of Cum- 
berland county under the New York authority as well as under that of 
Vermont. The name " Cumberland," however, became lost to Ver- 
mont when the division was made, but was continued under New York 
for several years thereafter. 



96 History of Windsor County. 



Civil Officers of Cumberland County under New YorkJ 

Dedinms Potestatem Commissioners. — Date of commission, July 17, 
1766, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Lord, Samuel Wells, John Ciiandler. 
April 7, 176S, same appointments renewed. April 14, 1772, Samuel 
Wells, Crean Brush. May 5, 1774, Samuel Gale. May 15, 1777, John 
Sessions, John Stevens. October 24, 1778, Pelatiah Fitch, John Ses- 
sions, James Clay, Micah Townsend. June 5, 1782, Charles Phelps, 
James Clay, Hilkiah Grout. 

Commissioners of the Court. — Date of commission, February 18, 1774, 
Samuel Wells, Crean Brush, Samuel Knight. 

Commissioners to receive property of those who had joined the enemy, 
March 6, 1777, James Clay, Amos Robertson, Israel Smith. 

Commissioner of Forfeiture. — February 25, 1780, John Sergeant. 

Judges of Inferior Court of Common Pleas. — July 16, 1766, and April 
7, 1768, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Lord, Samuel Wells. April 14, 
1772, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Lord, Samuel Wells, Noah Sabin. 
August 18, 1778, Pelatiah Fitch, John Sessions, James Clay. 

Assistant Judges of Inferior Common Pleas. — July 16, 1766, Oliver 
Willard, John Arms, James Rogers, Zedekiah Stone, Benjamin Bellows, 
Thomas Chandler, jr., John Chandler. April 7, 1768, Oliver Willard, 
Thomas Chandler, jr., John Chandler, Samuel Stevens, Nathan Stone, 
William Willard, Thomas Bridgman. April 14, 1772, James Rogers, 
Nathan Stone, William Willard, Stephen Greenleaf, Thomas Chandler, jr., 
Benjamin Butterfield. August 18, 1778. Eleazer Patterson, Hilkiah 
Grout, Stephen Greenleaf. 

Justices of the Oyer and Terminer. — June 5, 17S2, Charles Phelps, 
James Clay, Eleazer Patterson, Hilkiah Grout, Simon Stevens, Elijah 
Prout)-, Michael Gilson. 

Justices of the Peace. — July 16, 1766, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Lord, 
Samuel Wells, Oliver Willard, John Arms, James Rogers, Zedekiah 
Stone, Benjamin Bellows, Thomas Chandler, jr., John Chandler, Will- 
iam Willard, John Church, Thomas Bridgman, Bildad Andross, Israel 
Curtis. April 7, 1768, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Lord, Samuel Wells, 
Oliver Willard, Thomas Chandler, jr., John Chandler, Samuel Stevens, 
Nathan Stone, William Willard, Thomas Bridgman, Bildad Andross, 

'From B. H. Hall's Eastern VerinotU. 



Officials. 



97 



Israel Curtis, Henry Wells, Simon Stevens. April 14, 1772, Thomas 
Chandler, Joseph Lord, Samuel Wells, Noah Sabin, James Rogers, Na- 
than Stone, William Willard, Stephen Greenleaf, Thomas Chandler, jr., 
Benjamin Butterfield, Bildad Andross, Israel Curtis, Simon Stevens, 
Zadock Wright, Samuel Nichols, William Williams, John Bridgman, 
David Loy, Ephraim Ranney, Oliver Lovell, John Bolton, Jonathan 
Burke, Luke Knowlton, John Winchester Dana. June 5, 1782, Charles 
Phelps, James Clay, Eleazer Patterson, Hilkiah Grout, Simon Stevens, 
Elijah Prouty, Michael Gilson, Samuel Bixby, Daniel Shepardson, Hez- 
ekiah Stowell, Bethuel Church, John Pannel, Nathan Fish, Joseph Win- 
chester, Daniel Kathan. 

County > Clerks. — July 16, 1766, to April 7, 1768, John Chandler. 
February 25, 1772, Crean Brush, vice John Chandler, removed. March 
7, 1774, Samuel Gale, vice Crean Brush, resigned. August, 1788, 
Micah Townsend. 

Sheriffs. — July 16, 1766, Nathan Stone, term expired October 14, 
1767. March 31, 1768, John Arms, by appointment. October 13, 
1769, John Arms, served six montiis. April 17, 1770, Daniel Whip- 
ple, by appointment. October 12, 1770, to October 6, 1772, Daniel 
Whipple. October i, 1773, to July 10, 1775, William Patterson. July 
10, 1775, Jesse Burk. May 5, 1777, Paul Spooner, declined. August 
18, 1778, to February 18, 1780, Simeon Edwards. June 5, 1782, Tim- 
othy Phelps. 

Surrogates. — July 16, 1776, to April 14, 1772, Thomas Chandler. 
April 14, 1772, Crean Brush. August 18, 1778, James Clay. 

Attorneys -at- Law. — Solomon Phelps, Micah Townsend, Charles 
Phelps, Samuel Knight. 

Civil Officers of Windsor County. 

State Senators. — Prior to the year 1836 the authority of the Senate 
was vested in the body known by the name of "Governor and Council," 
and senators were previously unknown. But in the year named the 
State constitution was revised, and the office of representative in the 
State Senate created. According to the provisions of the laws as then 
established, the county of Windsor was entitled to four representatives 
in that branch of the Legislature. This was continued for a period of 

13 



98 History ok Windsor County. 

something like fifteen years (1862), when tliiee senators were elected 
from the county, the latter representation being maintained to the pres- 
ent day. 

Again, prior to the year 1870, senators were elected annually, but 
subsequently they have held their offices for a term of two years, thus 
following the sessions of the Legislature. The senators who, since 1835, 
have represented Windsor county, with the )'ears of their respective in- 
cumbency, have been as follows: 1836. — Francis E. Phelps, Samuel W. 
Porter, William Steele, Julius Converse. 1837. — Francis E. Phelps, 
Samuel W. Porter, William Steele, Julius Converse. 1838. — Daniel 
Brown, Ptolemy Edson, William Steele, Julius Converse. 1839. — 
Daniel Brown, Ptolemy Edson, Andrew Tracy, Julius Converse. 1840. 
— Abel Gilson, Barnabas Dean, Walter Palmer, Thomas P. Russell. 
1 841. — Abel Gilson, Barnabas Dean, Walter Palmer, Thomas P. Rus- 
sell. 1842. — Hampden Cutts, John Porter, Salmon F. Dutton, Abner 
Field. 1843 — Hampden Cutts, John Porter, Salmon F. Dutton, Abner 
Field. 1844. — James Barrett, Thomas S. Barrett, Benjamin Billings, 
Justin Morgan. 1845. — James Barrett, Thomas S. Barrett, Benjamin 
Billings, Justin Morgan. 1846 — Artemas Cushman, Harvey Burton, 
Robert B. Cram, Dearborn H. Hilton. 1847. — Artemas Cushman, 
Harvey Burton, Robert B. Cram, Dearborn H. Hilton. 1848 — Oliver 
P. Chandler, Joseph W. Colburn, Solon Danforth, Calvin French. 
1849. — Oliver P. Chandler, Joseph W. Colburn, Solon Danforth, Cal- 
vin French. 1850 — Oliver P. Chandler, Joseph W. Colburn, Daniel 
L. Lyman, Warren Currier. 185 I. — Oliver P. Chandler, Joseph W. 
Colburn, Daniel L Lyman, Warren Currier. 1852. — Warren Currier, 
Daniel L. Lyman, Asa B. Foster, Crosby Miller. 1853. — Carlos 

Coolidge, Benoni Buck, Harvey, D. C. Dennison. 1854. — Carlos 

Coolidge, D C. Dennison, Daniel A. Heald, Norman Williams. 1855. 

— Carhis Coolidge, Norman Williams, Julius Converse, Johnson. 

1856. Johnson, Julius Converse, A P. Hunton, Davis. 

1857. — A. P. Hunton, Davis, Jo. D. Hatch, Charles S. Ray- 
mond. 1858. — Charles S. Raymond, Jo. D. Hatch, Orrin C. French, 
John Wilder. 1859 — Orrin C. French, John Wilder, Daniel Needham, 
Joshua M. Aldricli. i860. — Daniel Needham, Joshua M. Aldrich, 
T. S. Hubbard, h'redcrick C. Robbins. 1861 — T. S, Hubbard, Frederick 



c 



«^^<f^£-S«i*^> 




Governor Carlos Coolidge. 



Officials. 



99 



C. Robbins, Thomas E. Powers, Prosper Merrill. 1862. — Prosper 
Merrill, James A. Pollard, Noah B. Safford, 1863. — James A. Pollard 
Noah B. Safford, Wendell W. Williams. 1864.— Hugh Henry, Wendell 
W. Williams, Clark H. Chapman. 1865. — Clark H. Chapman, Hosea 
Doton, Merrick Gay. 1866. — Hosea Doton, Merrick Gay, Hiram Har- 
low. 1867.— W. H. Walker, F. W. Anderson, Albert Brown. 1868. 
— W. H. Walker, F. W. Anderson, Albert Brown. 1869. — William 
Collamer, A. G. Dewey, William M. Pingry. 1870. — William Collamer 
A. G. Dewey, William M. Pingry. 1872. — Charles M. Lamb, Luther 
Adams, Charles A. Scott. 1874. — James G. Wilson, Joseph C. Parker 
Merritt C. I^dmunds. 1876. — Artemas Cushman, Ervin J. Whitcomb, 
Gilbert A. Davis. 1874. — James G. Wilson, Joseph C. Parker, Merritt 
C. Edmunds. 1876. — Artemas Cushman, Ervin J. Whitcomb, Gilbert 
A. Davis. 1878. — John F. Deane, William C. Danforth, Nelson Gay. 
1880. — Ora Paul, Frederick G. Field, Hugh Henry. 1882. — Justus 
Dartt, James M. Mcintosh, Elam M. Goodwin. 1884. — Norman Paul, 
E. A. Howe, Rollin Amsden. 1886. — Chester Pierce, Henry A- 
Fletcher, D. L. Gushing. 1888.— William E. Johnson, Marsh O. Per- 
kins, Henry J. Parker. 

Comity Clerks. — James Wheelock, 1781-1782 ; Briant Brown, 1782- 
1789; Lewis R. Morris, 1789-1796; Benjamin Swan, 1796-1839; Nor- 
man Williams, 1839-1867; George B. French, 1867-1885; Jay Read 
Pember, the present incumbent. 

Sheriffs. — John Benjamin, 1778-1779 ; Benjamin Wait,' 1779-1781 ; 
Briant Brown, 1781-1786; Ebenezer Brewster (appointed April 18, 
1781, to succeed Briant Brown, resigned); Benjamin Wait, 1786-17S8; 
Paul Brigham, 1788-1790; William Sweetzer, 1790-1796; LuciusHub- 
bard, 1796-1798; William Rice, 1798-1802; William Strong, 1802- 
1810; Paschal P. Enos, 1810-1814; Amos Heald, 1814-1815; Solomon 
W. Burk, 1815-1820; Asaph Fletcher, jr., 1820-1830; Lysander Ray- 
mond, 1830-1834; Daniel Brown, 1834-1837 ; John Pettes, 1837-1839; 
JoelLull, 1839-1842; Zenas F. Hyde, 1842-1844; Gilman Henry, 1844- 
1850; Lorenzo Richmond, 1850-1868 ; Surry W. Stimson, 1868-1880- 
Rollin Amsden, 1880-1884; Gardner J. Wallace, 1884-188S; Wilson 
S. Lovell, 1888, the present sheriff. 

' These two sherifTs wtre officers of Cumberland county under V'ennoni. 

L.ofC. 



loo History of Windsor County. 

State's Attorneys. — Stephen Jacobs, 1786; Amasa Paine, 1796-1802; 
Daniel Buck, 1802-1803 ; Titus Hutchinson, 1803-1813 ; Horace Ever- 
ett, 1813-1818; Asa Aiken, 1818-1820; Jacob Collamer, 1820-1824; 
Isaac N. Cushman, 1824-1827; Wyllys Lyman, 1827-1831; Carlos 
Coolidge, 1831-1836; Oliver P. Cliandler, 1836-1838 ; Edwin Hutchin- 
son, 1838-1840; Henry Closson, 1840-1842; Sewall Fullam, 1842-1844; 
Julius Converse, 1844-1847; Sewall Fullam, 1847-1849; Luther Ad- 
ams, 1849-185 I ; Warren C. French, 1851-1853; Calvin French, 1853- 
1854; James Barrett, 1854-1856; John Ward, 1856-1858; Dudley C. 
Dennison, 1858-1860; William Rounds, 1860-1861 ; Charles P. Marsh 
1861-1865 ; John F. Deane, 1865-1867 ; Samuel E. Pingree, 1867-1869; 
James N. Edminster, 1 869-1 S72; William E. Johnson, 1872-1874 ; Will- 
iam H. Walker, 1874-1876; Norman Paul, 1876-1878 ; Gilbert A. Da- 
vis, 1878-1880; Thomas O. Seaver, 1880-1882; William W. Stickney^ 
1882-1884; James J. Wilson, 1884-1886; William Batchelder, 1886- 
1888; William B. C. Stickney, 1888-1890. 

Jzidgcs of Probate. — Windsor District. Paul Spooner,' 1 778-1 782; 
Ebenezer Curtis, 1782-1786 ; Briant Brown, 1786-1787; Elijah Robin- 
son, 1787-1S02; William Hunter, 1802-1816; Uriel C. Hatch, 1816- 
1823; Jonathan Whipple, 1823-1830; Jabez Proctor, 1830-1834; Nom- 
lass Cobb, 1834-1835; Thomas F. Hammond, 1835-1849; Salmon F. 
Dutton, 1849-1857; Henry Closson, 1857-1 868; William Rounds, 1868- 
1878; William H. Walker, 1878-1884 ; Hugh Henry, 1884, the present 
incumbent. 

Hartford District. John Throop, 1783-1793; Paul Brigham, 1793- 
1796; William Perry, 1796-1800; Paul Brigham, 1800-1801; Oliver 
Gallup, 1 801-1803 ; Jesse Williams, 1803-181 5 ; Benjamin Clapp, 1815- 
1820; Henry C. Denison, 1820-1826; Isaiah Raymond, 1826-1836; 
John S. Marcy, 1836-1841 ; Thomas P. Russell, 1841-1843 : George E. 
Wales, 1843-1848 ; Josiah P. Danforth, 1848-1850; John Porter, 1850- 
1886; Thomas O. Seaver, 1886, present probate judge of the district. 

Present County Officials. — William Rounds and Charles P. Marsh, as- 
sistant judges. Officers of the Court: Jay Read Pember, clerk; Nor- 
man Paul, deputy clerk; Wilson S. Lovell, sheriff; W. B. C. Stickney, 
State's attorney; Lester C. Howe, high bailiff; Jay Read Pember, sten- 

' Appointed as an officer of Cuiiil:)eiland county. 



Officials. joi 



ographer. Deputy sheriffs : Elliott G. White, Cavendish ; VViUiam P. 
Dodge, Chester; Lester C. Howe, Ludlow; Samuel A. Armstrong, 
Norwich; Levi B. Moore, Plymouth; L. G. Coolridge, Reading; Dan- 
iel C. Jones, South Royalton ; Romaine A. Spafford, Springfield ; O. A. 
Randall, White River Junction ; Edward D. Harpin, Woodstock; B. J. 
Mullins, Windsor. County treasurer, Hosea V. French. County audi- 
tor, Luther O. Greene. County commissioner, George O. Henry. Jail 
commissioners, Thomas O. Seaver, Enos R. Jennings, Hosea V. French. 
Road commissioners, Henry Safford, Henry J. Parker, Myron Burnett. 
County examining board, J. G. Sargent, W. H. Sanderson, Miss Jessie 
Benson. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Town Organizations — Not Affected by Vermont's Admission to the Union — Char- 
acter of Town Government — Dates of Organization both by Vermont, New Hampshire 
and New Yorl< — From 1791 to the War of 1812-15 — Events of the War — Peace Re- 
stored — An Era of Prosperity — Increase of Population — Subsequent Decrease — Causes 
of the Decline — Emigration Westward. 

WHEN the State of Vermont was admitted to the Federal Union, 
in 1 79 1, all that had been previously done by the State toward 
erecting and maintaining an independent government was confirmed and 
sanctioned by Congress, while the jurisdiction theretofore attempted to 
be exercised by New York was withdrawn and declared at an end. At 
that time the county of Windsor, and others of the State as well, was 
fairly well organized, the officers of each branch of the local government 
were in the exercise of their functions, and peace and plenty prevailed 
on every hand. 

But the townships of Windsor county, or at least a majority of them, 
were organizations the creation of which antedated that of the State ' 
and that of the county, by a number of years. Between the governor 
of New Hampshire on the one side, and of New York on the other, 
there was but little of the territory of Vermont that had not in some 



102 History of Windsor County. 



manner been granted and chartered. These grants, of course, were con- 
flicting in numerous cases, and the grantees and their successors were 
compelled to pay allegiance to one or the other of the Commonwealths; 
and instances are not wanting in which the settlers of towns surrendered 
their original charter from thj one government, and purchased anew 
from the other. 

Of the several towns that now comprise Windsor county the first to 
be chartered was that now known as Chester, but which under the orig- 
inal grant was named Hamstead. The first grant of this town was 
made February 22, 1754. However, the charter proprietors failed to 
comply with the conditions and requirements of the grant, whereupon 
it was forfeited The second charter of the same territory was made on 
the 3d of November, 1761, to another set of proprietors, and under an- 
other name, the latter being New Flamstead. Under this grant settle- 
ments were made and pioneer improvements commenced. But it 
appears that during the early years of the controversy between New 
York and the Green Mountain Boys, the inhabitants of this town were 
disposed to favor the New York interests, and being imbued with such 
spirit, yielded up or set at nought the New Hampshire charter and pro- 
cured another from the former province. Under this last grant, which 
was made on July 14, 1766, the name of Chester vvas given the town- 
ship, and by that name it has ever since been known. In 1771, under 
the New York authority, an enumeration of the town's inhabitants was 
made, and Chester was found to contain one hundred and fifty-two souls. 

The next grants of townships now of Windsor county under the 
authority of New Hampshire were made on the 4th day of July, 1761, 
by which the towns of Hartford and Norwich were brought into e.xist- 
ence. Then, following, two days later, on July 6th, Governor Went- 
worth made grants of the townships of Salt-ish (now Plymouth), Read- 
ing and Windsor. Pomfret came next, July 8, 1761, and was followed 
on the loth of the same month by Hertferd (Hartland), Woodstock and 
Bridgewater. Barnard was chartered on the 17th of July, 1761; Stock- 
bridge on the 2ist; Sharon on the 17th of August; Springfield and 
Weathcrsfield on the 20th; Ludlow on September i6th; Cavendish on 
October 12th; Andover on October 13th. All of these towns were 
granted during the year 1761 by Governor Benning Wentworth of New 



Various Township Grants. 103 



Hampshire. But not all of these to\yns were organized and continued 
under the authority of the New Hampshire charters, some subsequently, 
like Chester, receiving a new grant from the provincial governor of New 
York. 

And there were other towns, too, that now form a part of this county 
that were organized or granted under still another jurisdiction — that of 
the independent district or State of Vermont, although they were, of 
course, a later-day creation. Bethel was one of the latter class of town- 
ships, being the result of an association, which was formed at Hanover, 
N. H , and which petitioned the Vermont authority for a charter right 
for the purpose of making a settlement on the White River and its 
branches. This petition was made to the Vermont Legislature in 1778, 
and was granted during the month of March of the same year. 

In substantially the same manner was the town of Rochester brought 
into existence, the grant therefor being made on the 30th of July, 1781. 
It contained originally slightly more than twenty- three thousand acres 
of land, but its township area was materially increased by subsequent 
annexations from adjoining towns. 

Royalton was one of tlie townships granted first under the authority 
of New York, on November 13, 1769, but the claimants under that 
charter felt insecure in their possession, and were fearful less the con- 
stantly increasing and arbitrary power of Vermont should deprive them 
of their believed rights, and were consequently induced to apply for a 
new charter under the new State, which was granted to the petitioners 
on December 20, 1781. 

Next in the order of formation came the township of Baltimore; a 
small, triangular tract of land, embracing some three thousand acres, 
which, for the convenience of the residents of that part of the town of 
Cavendish who lived southeast of Hawk's Mountain, was set ofil' into a 
separate sub-division of the county, by an act of the Vermont Legisla- 
ture passed October 19, 1793. This is the smallest by several fold of 
any of the count\''s sub-divisi jns, but none the less a township, organ- 
ized and conducted upon the same truly democratic plan of govern- 
ment so characteristic of all New England towns. 

The same necessity that led to the formation of Baltimore also induced 
the erection of the township of Weston out of the lands that formerly 



I04 History of Windsor County. 



formed a part of Andover and tlie five thousand acre tract known as 
Benton's Gore. The extremely high ridges known as Mount Terrible 
and Markham Mountain extended north and south about through the 
central part of Andover, thus making it exceedingly difficult for the res- 
idents of the western part of that township to hold business communica- 
tion- with the eastern half; and for this reason the western inhabitants 
betook themselves to the State Legislature, asking that their section be 
erected into a separate township. Their prayer was heard, and on the 
26th of October, 1799, the western part of the town, toge her with the 
gore, was erected into a separate town and named Weston. 

The town of West Windsor is the junior of the sub-divisions of the 
county, its separation from the township of Windsor having been effected 
first in 1 8 14, but restored during the next year. Again, in 1848, the 
town of Windsor was divided, and West Windsor set off. The act of the 
Legislature that effected the last division was passed October 26, 1848. 
The causes that led to this separation, the restoration and final division 
will be found in detail in the chapter devoted to the history of the towns 
affected, which need no further allusion in this place. Likewise, in the 
history of the several towns of the county, on subsequent pages, there 
will be found special mention of all the facts relating to the organization, 
settlement, growth and development of each from the time of its charter 
to the present day. 

In the present connection, however, it is proper to furnish to the 
reader the names of the townships of this county which were organized 
under the jurisdiction and control of the province and subsequent State 
of New York ; and this mention, collectively, becomes important from 
the fact that the preceding pages of this chapter have noted the organ- 
ization under the New Hampshire and Vermont authority. The towns 
now forming a part of Windsor county which were chartered or granted 
by the governors of New York, together with the date of each, are as 
follows : 

Bethel. ^ — This town was first chartered or granted to a company of 
men, most of whom were then, or afterwards became, Tories. The date 
of this charter is unknown. 

Cavendish. — This town was chartered by New York June 16, 1772. 



' These statements are made upon the authority of Deming's Catalogue. 



Town Grants from New York. 105 

Chester. — Already mentioned ; chartered by New York July 14, 1766. 

Hai-tland. — Chartered as "Hertferd" by New Hampshire July 10, 
1761 ; but charter confii-mcd by New York to other proprietors July 23, 
1766. 

Plymoitth, formerly Saltash. — Town granted by New York to Ichabod 
Fisher and others May 13, 1772. 

Reading. — Granted by New York March 6, 1772, to Simon Stevens 
and others. 

Royalton. — Chartered by New York November 13, 1769. 

Springfield. — Granted by New York to Gideon Lyman March 16, 
1772. 

Stockbridge. — Granted by New York to William Story and others in 
1761. 

Weathersfield. — Granted, April 8, 1772, to Gideon Lyman and others. 

Windsor. — Granted, July 7, 1766, to David Stone, 2d, and others. 

From what has already been stated in this chapter it will be observed 
that the greater part of the towns of Windsor county were in existence 
a number of years prior to the organization of the county itself. When 
Windsor county was set off by the division of Cumberland county the 
character of the government of the towns was in no manner changed, 
and the only effect of that act was to lessen the territory included within 
the county, and to make its government more convenient for its in- 
habitants and for the State. And by the e.xtinguishment of the New 
York authority and jurisdiction there seems not to have been occasioned 
any material change in any of the towns, and no interests appear to have 
been adversely affected. The people were merely changed from the 
jurisdiction of one State to that of another, and all controversy over the 
rights of States was at once and for all time ended and forgotten. Those 
of the town that were organized and governed under the New York 
charters continued for the time being their distinctive character, and the 
succeeding elections not infrequently found officers chosen under Ver- 
mont that had previously served under New York. 

Such became the situation of affairs in this county, and in others, when 
Vermont was admitted to the Union in 1791. Disagreements and dis- 
putes were alike compromised and dropped as the result of that consum- 
mation, and an interest in the general welfare of the whole people took 
the place of petty strifes and contention among individuals. ■■* 



io6 History of VVinds(jr County. 

With the end attained, the people of the several towns of the county 
entered upon an era of prosperity not before enjoyed in the history of 
the Commonwealth. And the people of the region were fully able to 
appreciate the advantages and blessings of peace and quiet, as for forty 
years prior to that event those who had lived in the State and upon the 
grants had seen nothing but a succession of combats and misfortunes 
and strifes and dissensions, and to them in particular was the peace that 
followed the year 1791 a double blessing. 

But for only one short score of years were the people to be thus fa- 
vored, when America found herself on the verge of another war with 
Great Britain; and again was the farmer to leave the field, the woods- 
man the forest, and the mechanic his shop, and with sword and musket 
again join the ranks in the defense of that independence he had so lately 
fought to gain. During the five years next preceding 1812 the whole 
country was in a state of nominal peace; but throughout these years 
there was gathering in the political horizon that dark cloud which was 
destined to plunge the nation into another foreign war. In 1775, and 
the years following, America fought for independence, and achieved a 
recognition among the powers of the earth. In 18 12 she again engaged 
against the mother country to maintain that independence which in years 
past had been forcibly acquired. 

The events which led to the second war with England were numerous. 
The United States had scrupulously observed the provisions of the 
peace treaty made with Great Britain at the close of the Revolution. 
There had been maintained, too, a strict neutrality during the progress 
of the Napoleonic war with the British kingdom, when perhaps evcrv 
consideration of gratitude shouki have induced a participation in it as 
against the mother country. For several years the aggressive acts of 
the British had been a subject of an.xiety and regret, and feelings of ani 
mosity increased on this side of the Atlantic. The embargo laid by 
Congress on the shipping in America ports was found so injurious to 
commercial interests that it was repealed, and the non- intercourse act 
passed in its stead. In April, 1809, tlie English ambassador in Wash- 
ington opened negotiations for the amicable adjustment of existing diffi- 
culties, and consented to a withdrawal of the obno.Kious "orders in coun- 
cil," so far as the\' affected the United States, on condition that the 



War of 1812. 



107 



non-intercourse act with Great Britain be repealed. This was agreed 
upon, and the President issued a proclamation announcing that, on the 
loth day of June, trade with Great Britain might be resumed; but the 
English government refused to ratify the proceedings and recalled their 
minister, whereupon the President revoked his proclamation and the 
non-intercourse act again became operative. 

Besides the odious acts of the British Parliament, injurious and insult- 
ing in their character, the English officers claimed the right to search 
American vessels, seize all who were suspected of being subjects of the 
king, and force them into their service. Under cover of this claim the 
greatest outrages were perpetrated, and by it many true and loyal per- 
sons were pressed into the service of Great Britain, both against their 
inclination and the well established proof of their identity. 

On the 1 2th of June, 18 12, President James Madison sent a confiden- 
tial communication to Congress, in which he recapitulated the long list 
of British aggressions, and declared it the duty of Congress to consider 
whether the American people should longer passively submit to the ac- 
cummulated wrongs and insults perpetrated by the British, and at the 
same time he cautioned the House to avoid entanglements in the con- 
tests and views of other powers. 

War was formally declared on the 19th day of June, 1812, but the 
measure was not universally sustained throughout all parts of the IVIiddle 
and New England States. The opposing element was embraced in the 
Federal party, its chief ground of opposition being that the country was 
not prepared for war. The Federalists constituted a large and influen- 
tial minority of the political element of Congress, and had a considerable 
following in the several States not in active politics. They asked for 
further negotiations, and met the denunciations made by the ruling party 
(that is, the Democratic and Republican, for it went by both names) 
upon the English government with savage and bitter attacks upon Na- 
poleon, whom they accused the majority witii favoring. 

To say that there was an entire unanimity of sentiment, regarding the 
war measures, in Windsor county would be indeed an error. Both par- 
ties had their advocates, the Federalists being in the minority in the 
county, and generally in the towns. The subject of the war formed the 
uppermost topic of conversation at the usual places of resort, and fac- 



io8 History of Windsor County. 

tional feeling ran high, especially just preceding the fall elections. But 
the battles were fought mainly at the polls, although personal collisions 
were not unknown. Party nominations were made with regard to the 
factional sentiments, those of P'ederalistic tendencies calling theirs the 
Peace Party, and denominating their opponents as Screaming War 
Hawks. The Democrats and Republicans, on the other hand, were in 
favor of the war, and were content to be called the War Party, while for 
their opponents they entertained feelings of supreme contempt, charging 
them with cowardice and being afraid of going to war. 

But this was not all that was done in Windsor county during the short 
but decisive struggle that followed. When the governor and the State 
Legislature called for troops from the counties of Vermont, no locality 
responded more promptly than the men of Windsor county, and all the 
various militia organizations were at once prepared for active operations. 
The events of the war need not be retold here. Men from this county 
were engaged in the battle at Plattsburgh, and other operations in the re- 
gion of Lake Champlain, while still others joined the regular army and 
fought in the battles in the Middle, Southern and Western States. 
Man)' went with the army who never returned to their homes. 

The results of the war are written in the conflicts on Lake Erie, the 
repulse of the invaders on the Delaware, the distressing scenes on tiie 
Chesapeake, the invasion of New York and the attempt to control the 
Hudson River and Lake Champlain. The battle at Plattsburgh, the 
capture of Niagara and Oswego, the burning of Newark, the battles at 
Black Rock and Lundy's Lane and New Orleans, together with the naval 
eno-agements in American waters, were the chief events of the war, and 
were followed by the withdrawal and surrender of the British forces, and 
the final treaty of peace, which was ratified February 17, 18 15. The 
Americans had fought their last battle with a European foe. 

After the close of the second war with England the people entered 
another epoch of peace, an era of unexampled prosperity in the history 
of the State, during which the latent and hitherto undeveloped resources 
of every county were brought to light and utilized to their fullest ex- 
tent. During these years greater progress marked the history of Wind- 
sor, and other counties, than had all others combined. Enterprise 
followed enterprise, manufacture followed manufacture, agricultural 




\ 



^^^^^ 



SP'''* 



y^i 



f^^^y cP^-(^^^ 



Population. 109 



pursuits increased several fold, and all the arts of peace prospered be- 
yond expectation. The population of the several towns increased 
with the constantly growing wealth and progress of their people, the 
maximum of inhabitants of the county being reached in the year 1830, 
as indicated b>- the Federal census of that year. About this time the 
vast extent of western country was being opened and prepared for civ- 
ilized settlement, cultivation and improvement. Western Ohio, Indi- 
ana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and other territorial 
lands, were inviting fields for labor and speculation, and drew largely 
and constantly from the ambitious people of this county and State; in 
fact from all New England, and from New York, New Jersey and Penn- 
sylvania as well. 

Let us Jook for a moment and observe the fluctuations of the aggre- 
gate population of the towns of Windsor county. In 1771, six years 
before Vermont declared her independence, while the district was known 
as the New Hampshire Grants, the province of New York caused to be 
made an enumeration of the inhabitants of the several towns that after- 
ward became a part of Windsor county ; and the gross population as 
shown by that census, ten towns being included by it, was 1,205. 
Twenty years later, in 1791, the first F"ederal census was taken, and the 
county was shown to have a population of 15,740, since which time the 
enumeration made at the beginning of each decade of years has shown 
as follows: In 1800,26,944; 1810, 34,877; 1820,38,233; 1830, 40,- 
625 ; 1840, 40,356; 1850, 38,320; 1860,37,193; 1870, 36,063; and in 
1880, 35,196. 

Vermont is noted for her high and attractive mountains, of which all 
her counties are possessed to a greater or less extent, Windsor forming 
no exception to the rule ; and while these grand hills afford a beautiful 
view to delight the eye of the observer, they have not a specially invit- 
ing aspect to attract the agriculturist. The lands in the valleys and 
on the foot-hills are, or might be with little effort, very fertile, but the 
higher elevations are either unfit for cultivation, or if fit are so difficult 
of access as to make tillage unprofitable. But in the western country 
an altogether different condition of affairs exists. There mechanical 
devices have largely taken the place of "hand " labor, and a more than 
reasonably good return is generally assured the husbandman with a but 



no History of Windsor County. 

comparatively small expenditure of means or muscle. Hence the emi- 
gration to other States which has told so seriously against the popula- 
tion and prospects of this region. Other causes than those mentioned 
may also have helped to contribute to the reduction of the population. 
It is claimed by some authorities that certain legislative restrictions have 
been factors in bringing about this state of things, but however that may 
be, is a subject for discussion not to be debated here. 



CHAPTER X. 
WINU.SOR COUNTY DURING THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 

WHPiN on that eventful morning of April, 1861, Fort Moultrie's 
guns spelled upon the political sky of our country, in letters red 
as blood, the words " Civil War," the lojal sons of Windsor county, 
and of Vermont, breathing a spirit of patriotism as pure as the air of the 
grand hills around them, rushed to the Nation's Capital to uphold the 
honor of the flag, and preserve intact the republic. It was not with 
them a question what battles were to be fought, what graves filled, or 
what altars shivered ; but donning the blue vowed, no matter what the 
cost, that the serpent of secession should find an eternal grave, and 
gasp its last amid shrieking shell and hissing bullet. 

The " mystic chord of memory stretching from every battlefield and 
patriot grave " brings before us, in meteoric brilliancy, the important 
part performed by Windsor county's soldiery in that great struggle. 
Loyal citizens only knew that they were needed, and they hastened to 
respond. They e.xchanged the rippling music of the mountain stream 
for the thunder of the deep-mouthed cannon and the deafening musketry 
volley; they went forth from the roof-tree of home to camp on South- 
ern soil, and stand guard in the pitiless night beneath the sorrowing 
stars; they went out to be shot to death, if need be ; to be fired at by a 
concealed and merciless foe; to struggle in delirium in hospitals, or 



The War of the Rebellion. i i i 

shiver and starve in loathsome pens, with stones for pillows and vermin 
for companions, that the flag might be preserved unsullied. This was 
the spirit that animated the volunteers of Windsor as they sprung into 
the arena where Titans struggled. 

Remembering the beautiful sentiment expressed by Colonel Stuart 
Taylor, it may well be asked : Fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters 
of Windsor county, can you look up to see the morning furrow all the 
orient into gold without thinking what sacred graves it gilds ? Or can 
you watch the slow declining day without wishing it could be always 
sunlight on the silent mounds of Windsor's patriot dead ? Do you ever 
see the spring-time daisy, or the purple violet, but that you think of the 
darling dust which feeds the wild flowers of the Wilderness, of Antietam, 
of Gettysburg, of Spottsylvania, of Petersburg, and other fields where 
loved and lost are sleeping? 

But the martial spirit of Windsor county was not born with the out- 
break of the Rebellion; it was in being in the days wlien the sturdy pio- 
neer woodsman first felled the forest, that prosperous towns migiit spring 
up, agricultural interests be enlarged, and the mechanical arts add to the 
wealth of the progressive inhabitants; it was in existence when the New 
York authorities sought to dispossess the struggling settlers from the 
lands which they had purchased, and to which they were justly entitled 
under the New Hampshire charters ; it existed when Ethan Allen, Seth 
Warner, Remember Baker, Robert Cochran, and other brave patriots 
and their followers organized themselves into the famous band of Green 
Mountain Boys, for the protection of homes as well as rights; it existed 
during the dark days of the Revolution, when the inhabitants and loyal 
people of the State and county found themselves deserted by their sister 
States, and were compelled, almost single-handed, to combat the com- 
mon enemy in a battle for self-preservation; it certainly existed when, 
on the i6th of August, 1777, the British arms received their first decisive 
defeat on the bloody battlefield of Bennington. That martial spirit ex- 
isted during the period of uncertainty, after the Revolution iiad passed, 
when Vermont was seeking admission to the Union, and, being practi 
cally denied by Congress, was compelled to substantially defy the power 
of the Federal government, in order to achieve that much desired inde- 
pendence and statehood for which her people were asking. Had it not 



112 History ok Windsor County. 

b.en for that determined martial spirit, Vermont as a State would never 
liave been known. 

That same determined spirit was inherited by a later generation of 
sons of Vermont, and became patent when, in 1 8 1 2 and the years follow- 
ing, the government of Great Britain again sought to wrest the contrcjl 
of America from the people who held it ; for, despite the opposition of 
the Federalists, and their obstructive measures, the loyal men of the 
county again marched in the defense of their country, and performed 
well their part in driving the invaders from the land, thus preserving in- 
tact our federal institutions. 

Following the second war with England that spirit slept, and the only 
manifestation of its being was shov\n on the grand old days of " general 
training," when the farmer, the mechanic and the woodsman abandoned 
toil, and hied away to che " muster" for a season of jollification, to eat 
Yankee gingerbread and drink new cider, and boast of the prowess of 
the American eagle 

But the record made by the volunteers of Windsor county from the 
first blaze of hostile cannon until secession was buried at Appomattox 
by the surrender of General Lee's sword, forms one of the most brilliant 
of the many grand chapters of its history. To faintly picture their serv- 
ices it will be necessary to refer to the regiments to which they be- 
longed, which forms an unbroken chain of testimony to demonstrate the 
patriotism of the county's soldiery. 

It is not to keep alive sectional animosity that the historian recites the 
acts of a victoiious host. Would the Athenians meeting in the Angora 
listen to a proposition that no m=",n speak of Marathon ? Would Romans 
teach nothing but philosophy, and witldiold (rom a rising generation all 
knowledge of the victory of Scipio over Hannibal, or how Horatius held 
the bridge? It was not Marathon, but the memory of Marathon, which 
fixed the home of civilization in Europe instead of in Asia. It was not 
the surrender at Appoinattox that binds in iron bands the States of this 
Union, but it is the memory of its cost, kept alive in the hearts of the 
people which gave to civilization its grandest onward step, and which 
some future Guizot, in tracing the pathway of human advancement, shall 
declare to the world the fullest enlargement of iiuman liberty. And as 
other generations shall know the record of the services of the sons of 



The First Vermont Regiment. u3 

Windsor county, from 1861 to 1865, it will inspire them to preserve 
sacred the patriotic sentiment of " country first, the citizen afterward." 

The first considerable contribution of Windsor county volunteers for 
service was made in response to the call of President Lincoln for seventy- 
five thousand men, in April, 1861 ; but it was not until the 2d of May 
that the regiment, the First Vermont, was mustered into the United States 
service. To this command the county furnished two companies, B and E, 
known, respectively, as the Woodstock Light Infantry, and the Caven- 
dish Light Infantry, by which names it will be seen that the greater part 
of each was from the town for which it was named, although other towns 
were represented as the company rosters will show. The other towns 
from which the regiment was made up were Brandon, Middlebury, Rut- 
land, Northfield, Bradford, Burlington, St. Albans and Svvanton. 

The First Vermont was under the command of Colonel J. Wolcptt 
Phelps, of Brattleboro; Lieutenant-Colonel Peter T. Washburn, of 
Woodstock ; Major Harry N. Worthen, of Bradford ; Adjutant Hiram 
Stevens, of Enosburg, and others in the several positions, among them 
Drum-Major Thomas R. Clarke, of Chester. 

The regiment left Rutland on the morning of May 9, 1861, under or- 
ders to proceed to Fortress Monroe, Va., at which place it arrived on the 
13th of the same month. For nearly a month after their arrival at this 
place the First was engaged in camp and reconnoissance duty, and it was 
not until the loth of June that the men were actually under fire. This 
was the battle at Great Bethel, the only one with which the command 
stands credited, and that was not a specially severe nor sanguinary en- 
gagement, the fatigue of hard marches and constant exposure having a 
more telling effect upon the men than the battle itself After the affair 
at Bethel the men of the First were kept at garrison duty and marching 
on scouting expeditions, until the 4th of August, when, the term of en- 
listment having expired, they embarked on steamers and voyaged to 
New Haven, arriving at that city two days later, and thence, after hav- 
ing been paid off and mustered out, proceeded to their several homes. 
Of the seven hundred and eighty- two officers and men of the First Ver- 
mont Regiment that went to Virginia, all but five returned to the State ; 
and of those five only one, Dana H. Whitney, of Company B, was the 
Windsor county soldier that was killed, and he between Newport News 
and Hampton, on July 22, 1861. i^ 



114 History of Windsor County. 

Inasmuch as the succeeding pages will make no further account of the 
three months' men, but will furnish the names, by townships, of the vol- 
unteers of the county in subsequent regiments, equal justice seems to 
demand that at least a roll of the members of companies B and E be given. 
Therefore the following list shows the name of each man and the town 
of which he was a resident at the time of enlistment. 

Roster Company B, First Regiment. 

William W. Pelton, captain, Woodstock ; Andrew J. Dike and Solo- 
mon E. Woodward, first lieutenants, and William E. Sweet, George Dim- 
ick and Royal Darby, sergeants, of Woodstock ; Harvey N. Bruce, ser- 
geant, of Pomfret ; Charles O. Thompson, Edwin C. Emmons, Crayton 

A. Woodbury, Norman M. Hoisington, corporals, and George H. Mur- 
dock, musician, of Woodstock. 

Privates from Woodstock. — Edwin R. Carroll, Sylvanus Chamberlain, 
Nathan C. Chaflin, George W. Cobb, Homer Darling, Irving J. Faunce, 
Frederick Fay, Henry H. French, John Gilman, Jesse W. Leonard, Mar- 
tin A. Lucas, Lewis L. INIarsh, Oliver H. McKenzie, jr., Chauncey L. 
Murdock, Reuben M. Parker, Edwin R. Payne, George W. Paul, George 
C. Randall, Chauncey E. Raymond, George L. Raymond, Clifton Rich- 
mond, Edward L Richmond, Franklin B. Rice, Charles J. Taft, Henry 

B. Thompson, Dana H. Whitney, Henry Williamson, Seth J. Winslow. 
From Hartford. — Joseph P. Aiken, Henry P. Hyde, Sumner H. Lincoln, 
Mahlon M. Young. Barnard. — Milton J. Aiken, Henry F. Buckman, 
Orlando C. Smith. Plymouth. — Michael H. Barker, James Brown, Daniel 
P. Cilley, Orville M. Hudson, Luther F. Moore. Mount Hoi ley. '^ — Henry 
H. Bishop. Ludloiv. — Henry P. Bixb)-, John M. Buckley, Henry C 
Cleveland, George Levey, John B. Pollard. Hartlaiid. — Horace Brad 
ley. Fairfield, Me.'^ — Selden Conner. Bridgcwater. — Myron M. Dim 
ick, John Y. Raistrick, W. Wallace Southgate, Edwin Weeden. Povifret. 
— Henry H. Harding, Edwin B. Maxhani, Ora Paul jr., Richard A 
Seaver. Stockbridgc — Albeit B Kimball, Hiram A Kimball. Roch- 
ester. — Edgar B. Leonard. Acton, Mass.^ — George W. Mason. Bethel _ 
— George W Packard. Reading. — Edwin Spear. Sherburne.'^ — Wil- 
ton G. Wood. 

' Out of county. 




•^■%i?<;-^rm»i«r 




The First Vermont Regiment. 115 

Roster Company E, First Regiment. 

Oscar S. Tuttle, captain, Asaph Clark, first lieutenant, Salmon But- 
ton, second lieutenant, of Cavendish. George B. French, Cavendish, 
William H. Thompson, Chester, Geo. M, R. Howard, Cavendish, Ben- 
oni B. Fullam, Ludlow, sergeants. Nathan G. B. Witherell, Cavendish, 
Charles Boutin, Windham, Henry C. Williams, Springfield, Lowell B. 
Payne, Cavendish, corporals. Isaac T. Chase, Andover, Geo. C. Max- 
field, Chester, musicians. 

Privates from Cavendisli. — Oliver H. Blanchard, William W. Carey, 
Fremont C. Conant, Nelson W. Emery, Samuel Fitch, Jason E. Free- 
man, William H. Ingleston, George S. Miller, Charles A. Shepard, Will- 
iam J. Sperry, George T. Spaulding, Edmund Stone, Alick Stearns, 
George D. Taylor, Isaac H. Weston, Jonathan B. Witherell. From 
Springfield.— ]7s.miis H. Allen, Albert W. Allen, William H. Blodgett, 
Albert S. Clapp, Ezra M. De Camp, Roswell W. Frost, Benjamin S. 
Kendrick, Luke Kendall, William H. PerWns, Charles Wheeler. 
Weathersfield. — Henry Allen, John Hart, Allen D. Russell. Chester. — 
Perry S. Bridges, Edward M. Carlisle, Martin Chapman, James F. Cor- 
lis, Riley Deming, Alphonso S. Field, Ira G. Hazelton, Charles A.Mar- 
shall, Jerold E. Marsdale, Gardner H. Porter, Ransom W. Rand, Henry 
E. Smith, George S. Spring, Benjamin M. Ware, John E. Willey. Lud- 
low. — Joseph Barber, Leonard P. Bingham, Charles W. Bishop, William 
H. H. Buckley, Enos M. Gould, Henry E. Lawrence, Orris Pier, Frank 
D. Sargent. Andover. — Ira E. Chase, James W. Larkin, Charles W. 
Larkin. From out of county. — Orrin S. Adams, Troy, N. H., Sewell 
Barker, Grafton, John Conlin, Rutland, Edward L. Hazelton, Hebron, 
N. H., George S. Orr, Moses E. Orr, Pawlet, William Scholar, Middle- 
ton, William F. Williams, Winchendon, Mass. 

If the reader will but glance at the succeeding pages of the present 
chapter, especially at the roster of commissioned officers, it will at once 
be seen that there was scarcely a branch of the military service in which 
there were not some representatives from Windsor county. Most of the 
volunteers, enlisted in the companies and regiments subsequent to the 
First Vermont, were for three years' service, while not a few were among 
what was known as the nine months' men. Some, however, were en- 



ii6 History of Windsor County. 

listed for one year. Taking these subsequent commands in the order of 
organization, it is proposed to make a brief mention of each, showing 
their formation, tlie localities in which the companies in whole or in part 
were reunited, and the battles in which they participated. 

The Second Regiment. 

There were comparatively few recruits from Windsor county in this 
command, it having been raised during the latter part of May and the 
early part of June, 1861, while the men of the First were away at the 
front. Those of the Second from this locality were scattered through 
three companies, C, E, and I, the second named having the strongest 
representation. None of the field and staff officers seem to have been 
from this county. The regiment was placed under command of Colonel 
Henry Whiting of St. Clair, iVlich., but a native of New York State, and 
a graduate of the United States Military Academy. Upon the resigna- 
tion of Colonel Whiting, in 1863, James H. Walbridge, formerly captain 
of Company A, was promoted to the command of the regiment. The 
otiier original and leading field officers of the Second were Lieutenant- 
Colonel George J. Stannard, Major Charles H. Joyce, and Adjutant 
Guilford S. Ladd. The principal company officers from Windsor county 
were Captain Orville Bixby and Captain Charles C. Morey, both of Roy- 
alton, who successively commanded Company E; Captain Volney S. 
Fullam of Ludlow, and Captain Daniel S. White of Cavendish, of Com- 
pany I. Captain Charles C. Morey was formerly first lieutenant of Com- 
pany C. 

During the fall of 1861 the Second was formed with other State regi- 
ments into what became known as the famous Vermont Brigade, com- 
posed of the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and, finally, the Sixth Infantry 
Regiments. After that organization was effected the record history of 
the Second was that of the brigade, commencing with tlie battle of Lee's 
Mills and continuing through the years 1862, '63, '64, and to the 6tli of 
April, 1865. But before the Vermont Brigade was organized the Second 
was engaged at Bull Run, on the 2 1st of July, 1861. The regiment was 
mustered into service June 20, 1861, and mustered out July 15, 1S65. 

Official List of Engagements. — Bull Run, July 21, 1861 ; Lee's Mills, 
April 16, 1862; Williamsburg, May 5 ; Golding's Farm, June 26; Sav- 



The Second and Third Vermont Regiments. 117 

age Station, June 29; White Oak Swamp, June 30 to July 2 ; Cramp- 
ton's Gap, September 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, 
December 13 ; Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863 ; Salem Heights, May 4; 
Fredericksburg, June 5 ; Gettysburg, July 3 ; Funkstown, July 10; Rap- 
pahannock Station, November 7; Wilderness, May 5 to 10, 1864; 
Spottsylvania, May 10 to 18; Cold Harbor, June i to 12; Petersburg, 
June 18; Charlestown, August 21; Opequan, September 13; Winchester, 
September 19; Fisher's Hill, September 21—22; Mount Jackson, Sep- 
tember 24; Cedar Creek, October 19; Petersburg, March 25 and April 
2, 1865 ; Sailor's Run, April 6, 1865. A total of twenty-eight distinct 
engagements. 

The Third Regiment. 

The Third Regiment of Vermont Volunteeis was raised about the 
same time as was its immediate predecessor, but was not mustered into 
service until six weeks later. The author of "Vermont in the Civil War " 
credits to Windsor county two companies, or parts of two, from the 
towns of Springfield and Hartford. Just how the companies were 
made up will be seen by reference to the town enrollments, but there 
was but one company, G, in the entire regiment that had no officers 
from this county, while all the others seem to have been pretty fairly 
represented. The roster of commissioned officers shows that not only 
Springfield and Hartford contributed to the strength of the regiment, 
but Pomfret, Cavendish, Royalton, Bethel and VVeathersfield as well, 
with some representation from other towns. 

In the organization of the Third this county seems not to have been 
forgotten, and it is a somewhat noticeable fact that among the officers, 
field, staff and line, there appears the names of a number from Windsor 
county who have filled distinguished places in county. State and national 
affairs. And it is also noticeable that comparatively few of the repre- 
sentatives from this county were commissioned in their respective offices 
or positions on the field and staff at the time of organization, but were 
subsequently raised thereto by promotion, generally for meritorious serv- 
ices. Wheelock G. Veazey, then of Springfield, now generally known 
as Judge Veazey, was commissioned captain of Company A, May 21, 
1 86 1, but on the loth of August was promoted major, and three days 



ii8 History ok Windsor County. 

later to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Afterward, September i6, 1862, 
he was promoted to the colonelcy of the Sixteenth Vermont Volunteer 
Militia. Likewise Thomas O. Seaver, now Judge Seaver of Woodstock, 
was captain of Company F, by commission dated May 24, 1861, and 
was promoted major August 13, 1861, lieutenant-colonel September 
27, 1862, and colonel Januarj' 15, 1863. Horace W. Floyd, ofSpring- 
field, entered the service as second-lieutenant in Company A, and by a 
series of promotions, in recognition of meritorious services, was advanced 
to the rank of colonel, his commission as such bearing date June 4, 
1865. Samuel E. Pingree, of Hartford, was first a lieutenant in Com- 
pany F, but the muster-out found him commissioned colonel. The 
name of Redfield Proctor is known to every patriotic Vermonter. He 
was the first regimental quartermaster of the Third, but was promoted 
in September to major of the Fifth Vermont. Quartermaster Proctor 
entered the service as a resident of Cavendish. 

Ten days after the Third was mustered into service it was encamped 
on Georgetown Heights, six miles from Washington, where for the first 
time the men saw their regimental commander, William F. Smith, for- 
merly and then an ofiicer of the United States army. 

The experiences and vicissitudes of the field and camp- life of the 
Third need no recital here. The regiment formed a part of the Ver- 
mont Brigade, the First, and its record is written substantially in the his- 
tory of that organization. Still, the Third was engaged in many moves 
and expeditions in which the brigade had no part. A good proportion 
of the men veteranized, and those who did not were mustered out of 
service July 27, 1864. Those that were veterans, with recruits, were 
then consolidated into six companies. The regiment proper was mus- 
tered out of service July 1 1, 1865. 

The Third Vermont stands credited with having participated in twenty- 
eight engagements, as follows : Lewisville, September 11, 1861 ; Lee's 
Mills, April 16, 1862 ; Williamsburg, May 5 ; Golding's Farm, June 26 ; 
Savage Station, June 29; White Oak Swamp, June 30 to July 2; 
Crampton's Gap, September 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericks- 
burg, December 13; Marye's Heights, May 3, 1S63; Salem Heights, 
May 4; Fredericksburg, June 5 ; Gettysburg, July 3 ; Funkstown, July 
10; Rappahannock Station, November 7; Wilderness, Mays to 10, 



The Fourth Vermont Regiment. i 19 

1864; Spottsylvania, May 10 to 18; Cold Harbor, June i to 12; Peters- 
burg, June 18; Ream's Station, June 29; Washington, July 1 1 ; Charles- 
town, August 21; Opequan, September 13; Winchester, September 
19 ; Fisher's Hill, September 21-22 ; Cedar Creek, October 19 ; Peters- 
burg, March 25 and 27, and April 2, 1865. 

The Fourth Regiment. 

The Windsor county contribution to this command was, like that of 
the Third, scattered through the several companies that composed it, there 
being scarcely a single company in which some one at least of the 
county's towns was not represented. But there seems not to have been 
so great a county representation on the field and staff" in the Fourth as 
was the case in theThird ; neither is it probable that the county furnished 
as many men to this regiment as to the former. On the field and staff 
was Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen M. Pingree of Stockbridge, who was 
formerly first lieutenant of Company E, but who by several promotions 
was elevated to the rank named, his commission bearing date April 30, 
1864. George B. French of Cavendish was first lieutenant of Com 
pany C, but when mustered out lie was adjutant of the regiment. Henry 
W. Spafford of Weathersfield enlisted as regimental commissary ser- 
geant, but was mustered out as quartermaster. Dr. Samuel J. Allen, of 
Hartford, was commissioned surgeon August 15, 1861, and served as 
such until September 30, 1864. 

The Fourth was mustered into the United States service September 
21, 1 86 1, with Colonel Edwin H. Stoughton commanding; Harry N. 
Worthen, lieutenant colonel; John C. Tyler, major; and Charles B. 
Stoughton, adjutant. None of the Windsor county contingent figured 
as original members of the field and staff, e.xcept Surgeon Allen. This 
regiment was raised during the early fall of 1861, in response to Governor 
Fairbanks'scall for two regiments in addition to those already at the front, 
in respect to which call the governor's proclamation, according to Ben- 
edict, says: "The events of the 21st instant (meaning the disastrous 
result of Bull Run battle, July 21st), and the retreat of the United States 
army from the field near Manassas Junction, demonstrated the neces- 
sity of a greatly increased national force, and although no formal requi- 
sition has been made upon me by the secretary of war, nor any appor- 



I20 History of Windsor County. 



tionment of troops as the quota for this State communicated, yet the 
events referred to indicate clearly the necessity of exercising the discre- 
tionary power conferred on me by the aforesaid act for raising and or- 
ganizing additional regiments. Orders will therefore be issued immedi- 
ately to the adjutant aud inspector-general for enlisting the Fourth and 
Fifth regiments of volunteers for three years or during the war, to be 
tendered to the general government as soon as may be practicable to 
arm, equip and descipline the troops for service." 

These, then, were the circumstances under which the Fourth was re- 
cruited ; and with such promptness was the request of the governor com- 
plied with, that within thirty days from the time both the Fourth and 
Fifth Regiments were raised and ready for arms and equipments. Im- 
mediately after the muster-in the Fourth left their rendezvous at Brattle- 
boro and proceeded to the national capital, where they arrived on the 
evening of September 23d. Four days later the men were marched to 
Chain Bridge, and there joined the preceding Vermont regiments. From 
that time forth the service of the Fourth was exceedingly active, as will 
be seen from the appended list of engagements. The muster record of 
the Fourth Regiment states thus: "Mustered into service September 21, 
1 86 1. Original members, not veterans, mustered out September 30, 
1864 First, Second and Third Companies of Sharpshooters trans- 
ferred to Fourth Regiment February 25, 1865. Veterans, recruits and 
troops transferred from the Sharpshooters consolidated into eight com- 
panies February 25, 1865. Recruits for one year and recruits whose 
term of service would expire previous to October 1st, 1865, mustered out 
of service June 19, 1865. Remainder of regiment mustered out of serv- 
ice July 13, 1865." 

Ofificial list of engagements : Total, twenty-six. Lee's Mills, April 16, 
1862 ; Williamsburg, May 5 ; Golding's Farm, June 26 ; Savage Station 
June 29 ; White Oak Sv\ amp, June 30 to July 2; Crampton's Gap, Sep- 
tember 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, December 13- 
Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863 ; Salem Heights, May 4; Fredericksburg, 
June 5 ; Gettysburg, July 3 ; Funkstown, July 10; Rappahannock Sta- 
tion, November 7 ; Wilderness, May 5 to 10, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 
lo to 18; Cold Harbor, June i to 12; Petersburg, June 18 ; Weldon 
Railroad, June 23; Charlestown, August 21 ; Opequan, September 13- 



The Fifth and Sixth Vermont Regiments. 121 

Winchester, September 19; Fisher's Hill, September 21-22; Cedar 
Creek, October 19; Petersburg, March 25, 27 and April 2, 1865. 

The Fifth Regiment. 

The contingent of Windsor soldiery in this command was so exceed- 
ing small as to need but slight mention in this chapter. The regiment 
may be considered as having been the companion of the Fourth, as it 
was raised at the same time and under the same call, though mainly 
from a distant section of the State. It was mustered into service Sep- 
tember 16, 1 86 1. Redfield Proctor of Cavendish was appointed major, 
September 25, 1861, while MjTon S. Dudley of Chester, who enlisted 
as private in Company E, November 28, 1863, was ultimately advanced 
to the rank of captain of Company K. Whatever of troops were in the 
various companies of this regiment will be found by reference to the 
town rolls. 

The Sixth Regiment. 

The Sixth Regiment of Vermont Volunteers was raised during the 
last half of the month of September, 1861, in pursuance of a request 
made upon Governor Fairbanks by the war department, and received 
by that officer on the same day that the Fifth was mustered into serv- 
ice. It would seem that having already at the front four complete reg- 
iments, all recruited within a very few months of each other, some diffi- 
culty might be encountered in at once preparing for the field another 
thousand men, but such was not the case. Immediately upon receipt 
of the request Governor Fairbanks caused recruiting offices to be estab- 
lished in various sections of the State for the purpose of organizing the 
Sixth Regiment. In this county recruiting stations were made at Nor- 
wich, Royalton and Woodstock, while there was perhaps a dozen simi 
lar offices in other counties throughout the State. The result of this 
effort was the enlistment of nearly enough men for a full regiment within 
the space of twelve days, and the lacking number was obtained very 
soon thereafter. The men were rendezvoused at Montpelier, where the 
regimental organization was perfected. On the isth it was mustered 
into service, and four days later took its departure for Washington, 
where it lay in camp until the 24th of October, and then marched to 

16 



122 History of Windsor County. 

Camp Griffin. Here it was attached to the First Vermont Brigade, the 
new accession completing the strength of that celebrated military or- 
ganization. 

The contribution of Windsor county to the numerical strength of the 
Sixth seems to have been recognized by the selection of Oscar S. Tuttlc 
of Cavendish as major. Major Tuttle was subsequently promoted lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and lastly, on December i8, 1862, to the command of 
the regiment. Also, Sumner H. Lincoln of Hartford, who was ap- 
pointed adjutant in February, 1863, was advanced from rank to rank 
until in June, 1865, when he, in turn, was commissioned as colonel. 
William J. Sperry of Cavendish enlisted as private in Company E, but 
June 4, 1865, found him possessed of a commission as lieutenant-col- 
onel. Hiram S. English of Woodstock, too, was enlisted as private in 
Company C, in August, 1862, and he was several times promoted, un- 
til he became adjutant of the regiment. Alonzo Webster of Windsor 
was appointed chaplain on October 3, 1863. 

The towns generally of the county contributed to the regiment, no 
full company, it is understood, being raised in any one town ; and in 
the same manner were the men assigned, not to a single company, but 
scattered through several as the squads were reported or as necessity 
required. 

On the i6th of October, 1861, the Sixth was mustered into service. 
Original members, not veterans, were mustered out October 28, 1864. 
Veterans and recruits were consolidated into six companies, October 16, 

1864. Recruits for one year, and recruits whose term of service would 
expire previous to October i, 1865, were mustered out June 19, 1865. 
The remainder of the regiment was mustered out of service June 26, 

1 865. A total of twenty-five battles are credited to the Sixth Regiment, 
being those between and inclusive of Lee's Mills, in April, 1862, and 
Petersburg, on the 2d of April, 1865. See preceding list. 

The Seventh Regiment. 

Company G, of Cavendish, and Company H, of Woodstock, com- 
prised the Windsor county contingent of the Seventh Vermont. The 
command was raised in pursuance of an act of the State Legislature 
that authorized the governor to recruit two regiments, one to become a 



The Seventh Vermont Regiment. 123 

part of the division that General Butler was then forming, and the other 
" to serve in the army of the United States until the expiration of three 
years from the first day of June, A. D. 1861." Under this latter pro- 
vision the Seventh was organized, but the crafty Butler soon obtained 
from the war department an assignment of the regiment to his division, 
an arrangement not entirely satisfactory to the men of the command ; 
but, notwithstanding that, the murmurs of dissatisfaction were not loud 
nor long. The men, of course, would have preferred joining with the 
other State regiments in the Army of the Potomac, but circumstances 
took them in another direction. 

The Seventh Regiment was mustered into service on the 12th of Feb- 
ruary, 1862 ; and on the loth of March, following, left the rendezvous 
at Rutland and proceeded to New York city, where the officers were 
given a public reception. On the 14th the regiment was embarked on 
two transports and at once began a voyage — a long and tedious one — 
to their destination, Ship Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, at which place 
the last arriving steamer landed its passengers on the loth of April. 
Here the men of the Seventh found themselves in company with the 
Eighth Vermont, which had been organized and sent to this point, ar- 
riving a day or two earlier than the first division of their own regiment. 
In due time the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, that organ- 
ization being composed of the Seventh and Eighth Vermont, the Ninth, 
Tenth and Thirteenth Connecticut, the Eighth New Hampshire, Seventh 
and Eighth Maine, Fourth Massachusetts Battery, First and Second 
Vermont Batteries and a company of the Second Massachusetts Cav- 
alry. The First Brigade was commanded by General Phelps. 

From the early part of summer, in the year 1862, until the muster- 
out of the regiment, the men of the Seventh were actively engaged in 
this southeastern country ; and when not occupied in field duty every 
exertion was found necessary to counteract the evil influences of the 
climate and the poor quality of provisions with which they were mea- 
gerly supplied. The battles in which the regiment participated will be 
found in the official list appended to this sketch, but they faintly tell of 
the constant dangers and hardships to which the men were exposed. 

In the organization of the regiment George T. Roberts, of Rutland, 
was appointed colonel, while Volney S. Fullam, of Ludlow, was given 



124 History of Windsor County. 



the lieutenant-colonelcy, the latter being the only field officer with which 
Windsor county was honored. The companies which were recruited in 
the county, G and H, were officered respectively by Salmon Dutton, of 
Cavendish, and Mahlon M. Young, of Hartford, captains; George 
M. R. Howard, of Cavendish, and Henry H. French, of Woodstock, first 
lieutenants; Leonard P. Bingham, of Ludlow,' and George H. Kelley, 
of Barnard, second lieutenants. Of course as the regiment continued in 
service changes were made in the company officers, but the above shows 
the arrangement of officers at the company organization. 

List of engagements: Siege of Vicksburg, June and July, 1862; 
Baton Rouge, August 5th; Gonzales Station, Jaly 15, 1864; Spanish 
Fort, March 27 to April 11, 1865 ; Whistler, April 13, 1865. 

The Eighth Regiment. 

The Windsor county contingent in this command was quite small ; 
still it was recognized by the elevation of Henry F. Dutton, of Ludlow, 
to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, in December, 1863. He had formerly 
been captain of Company H. During the latter part of the regiment's 
service Henry M. Pollard, also of Ludlow, was promoted to the rank of 
major, having previously been first lieutenant and then captain of Com- 
pany L Samuel W. Shattuck, of Norwich, was drafted July 15, 1863, 
and was appointed adjutant October 20, 1863. This was the entire rep- 
resentation of the county on the field and staff. The company officers 
and privates were mainly in Companies H and I, although others had a 
few members from the county. Company H was re- organized as a 
Ludlow organization. The regiment was mustered into service Feb- 
ruary 18, 1862, and mustered out June 28, 1865. It was attached to 
that branch of the army that operated in the southwest, being a part of 
General Phelps's brigade, to which the Seventh Vermont was also at 
tached. The official list of engagements of the Eighth Vermont was as 
follows: Gotten, January 14, 1863; Bisland, April 12, 1863; Siege of 
Port Hudson, May 25 to July 9, 1864; Winchester, September 9, 1864; 
Fisher's Hill, September 21-22, 1864; Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864: 
Newton, November 11, 1864. 

To the Ninth Vermont Regiment of volunteer infantry the towns of 
Cavendish and Weathersfield made a small contribution of men, while 



The Eighth and Tenth Vermont Regiments. 125 

Ludlow and Pomfret are also credited with a slight representation. 
None of tliem, however, furnished a sufficient number to deserve much 
remark in this chapter. Those that were from the county were mainly 
in Company D, with a few in Company H. Charles Jarvis, of Weathers- 
field, was major of the regiment by commission dated May 24, 1863. 
He died of wounds received while on scout near Cedar Point, N. C, De- 
cember I, 1863. Lucius Dickinson, of Cavendish, was chaplain of the 
Ninth from July, 1862, to June 13, 1865. 

The Tenth Regiment. 

In the composition of the Tenth it has been generally understood that 
Company H was an organization of the town of Ludlow ; and this im- 
pression has been formed from the fact that the company was recruited 
in that town. It appears, however, that comparatively few of the mem- 
bers of the company were residents of the town, for Windsor furnished 
over twenty, Weathersfield twelve, Springfield eighteen, and other towns 
less members, while Ludlow furnished only sixteen. Lucius T. Hunt, of 
Ludlow, organized the company in that town, but he received his men 
from wherever they happened to come. Other towns than those men- 
tioned also had men in Captain Hunt's company, and still others, like- 
wise residents of the county, were in other companies. 

The Tenth Regiment was mustered into the United States service Sep- 
tember I, 1862, and on the 6th of the same month left Brattleboro for 
Washington, at which city it arrived on the 8th. Within a week from 
that time the Tenth was actively engaged in the operations between Ed- 
ward's Eerry and Muddy Run, being there brigaded with regiments from 
Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and under command at that 
time of General Currier Grover. The regiment was marched about from 
place to place for a considerable time, doing various duties, but it was 
not until the fall of 1863 that it participated in any set engagement, for 
which it was then reasonably well prepared. From that time forth until 
the final muster-out June 29, 1865, the Tenth took part in the following 
battles: Orange Grove, November 27, 1863 ; Wilderness, May 5 to 10, 
1864; Spottsylvania, May loth to 18th; Tolopotomy, May 31st; Cold 
Harbor, June ist to 12th; Weldon Railroad, June 22-23d ; Monocacy, 
July 9th; Winchester, September 19th; Eisher's Hill, September 



126 HiSTOuY OF Windsor County. 

2i-22d; Cedar Creek, October 19th; Petersburg, March 25, 1865 ; Pe- 
tersburg, April 2d; Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865. 

First Artillery — Eleventh Vermont Regiment. 

Company H, of Royalton, Captain James D. Rich, was the main 
Windsor county contribution to the formation of the Eleventh Regiment, 
although the county furnished other men to the command who were in 
companies other than H. The Eleventh was the largest regiment sent 
to the front by the State of Vermont, the original members, officers and 
men, numbering 1,315; and this aggregate was swelled by accessions 
from all sources to a total of 2,320. 

The regiment was raised at the same time as was the Tenth, and was 
mustered into service on the 1st of September, 1862, and on the 7th left 
Brattleboro for Washington, arriving at the last named city on the even- 
ing of the 9th, going into camp after one night's rest on Capitol Hill, 
On the 27th the regiment was divided into detachments among the forts 
on the line of the northern defenses. Company H being ordered to I<"ort 
Slocuni. 

One of the most noticeable events in connection with the early history 
of the Eleventh was the change made in the character of the duties re- 
quired to be performed by its members. It was recruited under the ex- 
pectation of being an infanrry regiment, but, by an order of the secretary 
of war, on the loth of December, 1862, the regiment was made a heavy 
artillery regiment, its official designation being "First Artillery, Eleventh 
Vermont Volunteers." The department of war also authorized that the 
number of companies be increased to twelve, and that each, both old and 
new, be increased to one hundred and fifty men. This change and ad- 
dition required some time to accomplish, but as the winter was approach- 
ing, no service was really lost by the delay. The regiment was not 
entirely filled until the expiration of several months. In February its 
membership reached 1,835, '^he greatest number attained at any one time. 
The Eleventh remained in the defenses of the capital until the early part 
of May, 1864, when it was ordered to the front, to join the Army of the 
Potomac, where they were to meet with and fight beside their old breth- 
ren of Vermont, the First Brigade. From this time until the regiment 
was finally mustered out, August 26, 1865, the men were constantly in 



First Artillery and Twelfth Regiment. 127 

active service. Tiieir battles, however, ended with the last Petersburg, 
April 2, 1865. Official list of battles: Spottsylvania, May 15 to 18, 
1864; Cold Harbor, June 1st to 12th; Petersburg, June i8th; Weldon 
Railroad, June 23d; Washington, July iith; Charlestown, August 21st; 
Gilbert's Ford, September 13th; Opequan, September 19th; Fisher's 
Hill, September 21-22; Cedar Creek, October 19th; Petersburg, 
March 25 and 27th, and April 2, 1865. 

The following list shows the names of the members of Company H, 
the Windsor county company, who were captured and died, with the 
place of their death, in the enemy's hands. All who are here named 
were captured by the Confederates in the disastrous affair of Weldon 
Railroad on the 23d of June, 1864. Sergeant George Day died at An- 
dersonville ; Henry K. Barrett, Charleston ; Wilmoth Ayres, in prison ; 
John H. Bruce, Andersonville ; Carlos R Bugbee, Goldsboro ; Horace S. 
Button, Florence; Arthur M. French, James B. Goodrick, in prison; 
Pembroke S. Grover, Crowell M. Knowles, Andersonville ; Harvey J. 
Lyman, Florence ; George L. Morse, in prison ; Samuel F. Parker, Flo- 
rence ; Carlos A. Stowell, in prison ; Edwin W. Weston, in prison ; Levi 
F. Wilder, Andersonville ; Corporal William E. Willard, in Charleston ; 
Samuel P. Woodward, Andersonville; Edward M. Ailes, Florence; John 
Brown, Andersonville; Heman Dole, in prison; Eli Faneuf, Charles W. 
Gleason, John Graves, jr., David Johnson, Curtis W. Ruscoe and James 
A. Stone, Andersonville; Carroll V. Kenyon, Goldsboro; Edward F. 
Smith, Danville ; Jared Blanchard, jr., supposed dead ; Carlos C. Hinck- 
ley, supposed dead ; Charles Morey. 

The Twelfth Regiment — (Nine Months). 

This regiment, as well as those that followed it, was a part of the en- 
rolled militia-men of the State of Vermont. It was organized for active 
service early in the fall of 1862, and was mustered in on the 4th of Octo- 
ber of the same year. Two of the companies were from Windsor county, 
A and B, known as the West Windsor Guards, Charles L. Savage, cap- 
tain, and the Woodstock Light Infantry, Ora Paul, jr., captain. 

On the 25th of September the regiment went into camp at Brattle- 
boro, where the men were thoroughly drilled preparatory to active serv- 
ice. On the 7th of October it left camp and proceeded to Washington, 



128 History ok Windsor County. 

where it arrived a few days later, and was soon afterwards attaclied to 
Casey's division of the Reserve Army Corps for the defense of W'ashing- 
ton. Here the Eleventh remained for about three weeks, when, on the 
30th October, the other Vermont regiments — Thirteenth, Fourteenth, 
Fifteenth and Sixteenth — having arrived, all were united and formed into 
the Second Vermont Brigade. 

The Sixteenth Regiment — (Nine Months). 

This rei^iment was organized almost wholly from the enrolled militia 
of Windsor and Windham counties. It had, by far, a stronger contingent 
of this county's men than any command that was recruited in the vicinity 
prior to its organization. The companies of the county in the Sixteenth 
were as follows: Company A, of Bethel, Henry A. Eaton, captain; Com- 
pany C, of Ludlow, Asa G. Foster, captain ; Company E, of Springfield) 
Alvin C. Mason, captain ; Company G, of Barnard, Harvey N. Bruce, 
captain ; Company H, of Felchville, Joseph C. Saw yer, ca ptain ; Com- 
pany K, of Chester, Samuel Hutchinson, captain. The regiment was 
mustered into service on the 23d of October, 1862, having field and stafif 
officers as follows: Colonel, Wheelock G. Veazey, Springfield; lieuten- 
ant-colonel, Charles Cummings, Brattleboro ; major, William Rounds 
Chester; adjutant, Jabez D. Bridgman, Rockingham; quartermaster, 
James D. Henry, Royalton ; surgeon, Castanus B. Park, jr., Grafton- 
assistant surgeon, George Spafford, Windham ; chaplain, Rev. Alonzo 
Webster, Windsor. 

The Sixteenth Regiment was mustered into service on October 23 
1862, and on the next day left its rendezvous for Washington, arriving 
there on the 27th. It was very soon afterward formed with the other 
nine months Vermont regiments into the Second Brigade. The brigade 
was then attached to Casey's division of the Reserve Corps. On the 30th 
of October the brigade broke camp at Capitol Hill and marched to occupy 
the position formerly held by General Sickel's brigade on the road to 
Mount Vernon, and in this vicinity it remained during the following 
month. Here preparations for the winter were made, and "Camp Ver- 
mont " established, but before all was completed marching orders were 
received by which part of the brigade — the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and 
Fifteenth Regiments — were sent to the vicinity of Union Mills, to picket 



The Sixteenth Vermont Regiment. 129 



the line of the Occoqiian and Bull Run road, from which the last detach- 
ment did not return until the 5th of December. On the i ith the brigade 
was ordered to occupy Sigel's vacated position near Fairfax Court House, 
to which place they marched on the I2th. 

The only important event that occurred here during the winter was the 
movement made by the Confederate cavalry commanded by General 
Stuart, that crafty officer hoping to find some unguarded or unprepared 
post upon which to make an attack. As his forces approached they were 
fired upon by the brigade, and when he withdrew beyond range the ar- 
tillery opened fire upon them. The enemy, however, did not make an 
attack, nor remain in the neighborhood very long. During the latter part 
of January, 1863, the Second Brigade occupied the quarters vacated by 
General Slocum's Corps at Fairfax Station. On the 2d of February the 
troops on the defenses of the capital were organized into the Twenty- 
second Army Corps, under command of Major- General Heintzleman, and 
to this command the brigade was attached, still forming, however, a part 
of Casey's division. The events that occurred in this vicinity during the 
balance of the winter were occasionally interesting, but of no special im- 
portance. During the latter part of March, the Twelfth, Thirteenth and 
Fourteenth Regiments were stationed at Wolf Run Shoals, while the Fif- 
teenth and Sixteenth were sent to Union Mills. On the 20th of April 
General George J. Stannard succeeded to the command of the brigade. 

Onthe25thof June General Stannard concentrated his brigade at Union 
Mills, under orders to follow the main army on the famous northward 
march that ended in the battle at Gettysburg. This order meant several 
days of severe marching, but it was accomplished, the brigade covering 
a distance of one hundred and twenty miles in six days, and reaching 
Emmitsburg, near the Pennsylvania line, on the evening of June 30. In 
the arrangement and disposition of the forces massed about Gettysburg, 
the Second Brigade was attached to the Third Division of the First Corps, 
the division commander being Brigadier- General Thomas A. Rowley. In 
an engagement so terrific and long continued as that at Gettysburg, it 
would seem impossible that any one division or brigade could perform 
a service so signal as to draw to itself the attention and commendation of 
the commanders of the whole army engaged, yet such appears to have 
been the case on the part of a portion of the Second Vermont Brigade. 

17 



I30 History of Windsor County. 



This special performance that at once made famous this body of men was 

the flank movement in the rear of Pickett's charging division of Confed- 
erates, just at the proper moment, neither too soon or too late, which 
had the effect of checking that impetuous charge, and finally turning the 
possibility of defeat into a glorious victory for the Union arms. This 
was the only engagement of any importance in which the Sixteenth Reg- 
iment participated, but in the short space of its duration the regiment 
and the brigade to which it belonged made a record more enviable than 
that achieved by some others in all their service of years. Four days 
after the battle three regiments of the brigade, among them the Six- 
teenth, left Middletown and marched to South Mountain; thence through 
Boonesboro, at the latter place in plain hearing of the battle then pro- 
gressing at Funkstown. On the I2th Funkstovvn was passed, not two 
hours previously having been in possession of the enemy, and the regi- 
ment then halted and formed near Hagarstown. Here, or not far from 
this place, a detachment of one hundred and fifty men from the Sixteenth 
Regiment did the last fighting of the brigade. 

Then began the homeward march, although the term of enlistment had 
not quite expired. On the 20th of July New York was reached, and 
Brattleboro one day later. The regiments that comprised the Second 
Brigade were mustered out in the following order: The Twelfth, July 14; 
the Thirteenth, July 21 ; the Fourteenth, July 30; the Fifteenth, 
August 5; and the Sixteenth, August lO, 1863. 

The Seventeenth Regiment. 

This regiment was recruited geneialh' in the State, as many towns be- 
ing represented in its composition, probably, as could be found in any 
two previous regiments. The greater part of the Windsor county con- 
tribution to its strength was in Company D, which was commanded by 
Captain Henry A. Eaton, of Rochester, but other companies had among 
their members men from this shire. The regiment was mustered into 
service, by companies, during the early months of 1864, and at Ale.xan- 
dria, ivhere it arrived April 22, was assigned to the Second Brigade of 
the Second Division of the Ninth Corps, the latter being under the com- 
mand of General Ambrose E. Burnside. 

The field seivice of the Seventeenth commenced early in May, 1864, 



Seventeenth Regiment and First Vermont Cavalry. 131 

and ended with the last Petersburg battle, April 2, 1865. During this 
comparatively brief time the regiment took part in thirteen distinct en- 
gagements, several of which covered a number of days, and many of 
which were among the most sanguinary of the war. They were as fol- 
lows : Wilderness, May 6 to 9, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 12 to 15; 
Spottsylvania, May 18; North Anna, May 25-26; Tolopotomy, May 
31; Bethesda Church, June 3; Cold Harbor, June 7-8; Petersburg, 
June 17; Petersburg Mine, July 30; Weldon Railroad, August 21; 
Poplar Spring Church, September 30; Hatcher's Run, October 27 and 
28; Petersburg, April 2, 1865. 

The First Vermont Cavalry. 

This somewhat famous organization was the only one of its kind 
raised in Vermont during the war; moreover it was the largest com- 
mand sent out of the State in that time, numbering as it did, from first 
to last, 2,297 oflficers and men. This cavalry regiment was not recruited 
under the authority of the State, for the laws made no provision for 
such an organization. So when its originator, Lemuel B. Piatt, proposed 
to Governor Fairbanks to raise a regiment of cavalry the latter was com- 
pelled to decline. Mr. Piatt then turned to the general government 
and obtained the desired permission. This was at a time when the gov- 
ernor was recruiting infantry regiments, and it was thought that Mr. 
Piatt might meet with some difficulty in accomplishing his task, but 
events proved to the contrary. Within forty-two days his regiment 
was full. It was mustered into service November 19, 1861. Windsor 
county representatives were scattered through several companies, but 
Company E had much the stronger contingent, in fact was considered 
a Windsor county company. Samuel P. Rundlett, of Royalton, was its 
first captain; Andrew J. Grover, of Hartford, first lieutenant ; and John 
C. Holmes, of Springfield, second lieutenant. When their term of en- 
listment e.xpired many of the men became veterans, and thus served 
throughout the war. The First Cavalry took to the field about the mid- 
dle of December, 1861, but did not engage mucli in active service until 
the succeeding spring. From April 16, 1862, until the muster-out, 
however, there was no more busily occupied regiment in the service. 
Seventy-three engagements stand to their credit, commencing with 



132 History of Windsor County. 

Mount Jackson, April i6, 1862, and ending with Lee's surrender at Ap- 
pomattox Court House, on the 9th of April, 1865. 

In Other Commands. 

Among the regiments of Vermont soldiers to which the county of 
Windsor contributed recruits were those known as the United States 
Sharpshooters. These were not raised under the direct authority of 
the State, but of the United States government, the authority therefore 
being conferred upon Hiram Berdan, of New York. Of the eight States 
in which men for this special branch of the service were recruited, Ver- 
mont furnished a greater number than any other, being one-si.Kth of the 
gross number enlisted. The recruiting station in the vicinity of this 
county was located at Randolph, and of course the efforts of the officers 
in obtaining men naturally drew some recruits from this county. The 
county, however, had no original field or line officers, but Henry E. 
Kinsman, of Royalton, was raised from private in Company F through 
several grades, and was eventually commissioned first lieutenant, in the 
First Regiment. In the Second Regiment William F. Tilson, of Bethel, 
was, in 1864, promoted to the second lieutenancy of Company E, and 
Curtis Abbott, of the same town, to the rank of first lieutenant in Com- 
pany H. Such of the county's men as were privates in either of these 
or other companies will be found in the town rolls of volunteers on later 
pages. 

In the Second, also the Third Battery of Light Artillery, the county 
was represented by recruits, mainly from the northern towns, Norwich 
and Rochester, perhaps, furnishing the largest number, while other 
towns sent a less number. In the Second, Charles H. Dyer, of Roch- 
ester, was at one time first lieutenant, having been promoted from a 
lower grade. In the Third Battery, John H. Wright, of Norwich, was 
second lieutenant and promoted first lieutenant. In the same command 
John W. Marsh was enlisted as private, and subsequently commissioned 
second lieutenant. These batteries also had privates from the county, 
as will be shown by reference to the town rolls. 

The command known as the Frontier Cavalry also seems to have had 
at least two commissioned officers from Windsor county. These were 
George B. French, of Cavendish, captain of the Second Company, and 
Francis G. Clark, of Chester, a first lieutenant in the same command. 



Roster of Commissioned Officers. 133 

Roster of Commissioned Officers. 

The following is a complete roster of the field and staff and commis- 
sioned company officers that enlisted as residents of the several towns of 
Windsor county; and is arranged with reference to regiment members, 
the three months' men being first. The same order is followed as is found 
in the adjutant and inspector-general's report, from which the following 
is compiled. 

First Regiment, Three Months' Men. — Peter T. Washburn, lieutenant- 
colonel ; commisssioned April 26, 1861 ; mustered out of service August 
16, 1 86 1. William W. Pelton, captain Company B; commissioned April 
27, 1861 ; mustered out of service August 15, 1861. Oscar S. Tuttle, 
captain Company E; mustered out of service August 15, 1861. An- 
drew J. Dike, first lieutenant company B; resigned June 18, 1861. 
Solomon E. Woodward, first lieutenant Company B ; promoted from 
second lieutenant; mustered out August 15, 1861. Asaph Clark, first 
lieutenant Company E ; mustered out of service August 15, 1861. Will- 
iam Sweet, second lieutenant Company. B ; promoted from first sergeant 
June 19, 1861 ; mustered out August 15, 1861. Salmon Dutton, second 
lieutenant Company E ; mustered out August 15, 1861. 

Second Regiment, Three Years' Service. — Augustus A. Atwood, assist- 
ant surgeon ; resigned June 25, 1863. Orville Bixby, captain Company 
E ; commissioned second lieutenant May 26, 1861; promoted first lieu- 
tenant January 11, 1862; captain August 24, 1862; killed in action at 
Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. Charles C. Morey, captain Company E ; 
private Company E April 22, 1861 ; promoted corporal June 20, 1861; 
sergeant February 10, 1862 ; first sergeant December 27, 1862 ; re en- 
listed January 31, 1864; first lieutenant Company C June 20, 1864- 
promoted captain December 24, 1864; killed in action before Peters- 
burg, Va., April 2, 1865. Volney S. Fullam, captain Company I May 
22, 1861 ; promoted lieutenant- colonel Seventh Vermont Volunteers 
January 18, 1862. Daniel S. White, captain Company I ; private May 
7, 1861 ; sergeant June 20, 1861; first sergeant February 9, 1862 ; sec- 
ond lieutenant January 8, 1863 ; captain January 26, 1863 ; resigned and 
honorably discharged October 24, 1864, for wounds received at Wilder- 
ness, May 5, 1864. Sherman W. Parkhurst, first lieutenant Company 



134 History of Windsor County. 



I; resigned November 9, 1861. Harrison Dewey, second lieutenant 
Company E; enlisted private April 22, 1861 ; first sergeant June 20, 
1861 ; dismissed from the service October 4, 1862, for absence without 
leave. George S. Adams, second lieutenant Company E ; private April 
22, 1861 ; corporal August 28, 1862; re-enlisted December 21, 1863; 
sergeant October 18, 1864; first sergeant February 7, 1865 ; mustered 
out as first sergeant July 15, 1865. Isaac N. Wadleigh, second lieuten- 
ant Company I; resigned December 14, 1861. Albert A. May, second 
lieutenant Company I ; private Company I May 7, 1861 ; corporal Au- 
gust 18, 1S62; re enlisted December 21, 1863; wounded May 5, 1864; 
sergeant January 20, 1865; first sergeant February 15, 1865 ; mustered 
out July 15, 1865. 

Third Regiment. — Thomas O. Seaver, colonel ; captain Company F 
May 24, 1861 ; major August 13, 1861 ; lieutenant-colonel September 
27, 1862; colonel January 15, 1863; mustered out of service July 27, 
1864. Horace W. Floyd, colonel ; second lieutenant Company A May 
21, 1 86 1 ; first lieutenant Company F August 13, 1861 ; transferred to 
Company A December i, 1861^ captain Company C September 22, 
1862; wounded June 21, 1864 ; major August 4, 1864; lieutenant-colo- 
nel October 18, 1864; brevet-colonel October 19, 1864, for gallantry 
and good conduct before Richmond and in Shenandoah Valley ; colonel 
June 4, 1865; mustered out of service July 11, 1865. Wheelock G. 
Veazey, lieutenant-colonel August 13, 1861; captain Company A May 
21, 1861 ; promoted major August 10,1861 ; promoted colonel Sixteenth 
Vermont Volunteer Militia September 27, 1862. Samuel E. Pingree, 
lieutenant- colonel ; first lieutenant Company F May 24, 1861 ; captain 
August 13, 1861 ; wounded severely April 16, 1862 ; major September 
27, 1862 ; lieutenant-colonel January 15, 1863 ; mustered out July 27, 
1864. Redfield Proctor, quartermaster ; commissioned June 19, 1861 • 
promoted major Fifth Vermont Volunteers September 25, 1S61. Fred- 
erick Grain, quartermaster ; first lieutenant Company A May 24, 1861 ; 
quartermaster September 25, i86i ; mustered out of service July 27, 
1864. Daniel A. Mack, chaplain January 1 1, 1862 ; mustered out July 
27, 1864. Luke B. Fairbanks, captain Company C; enlisted private May 
10, 1861 ; promoted corporal July 16, 1861 ; wounded April 16, 1862; 
re-enlisted December 21, 1863; first lieutenant Company H June 26, 



Roster of Commissioned Officers. 135 

1864; mustered out of service July 1 1, 1865. Thomas F. Leonard, cap- 
tain Company I; private Company F May 10, 1861 ; promoted corporal; 
to sergeant ; re-enlisted December 21, 1863; wounded July 10, 1863, 
May 6, 1864, and May 12, 1864; promoted second lieutenant Company 
C August 4, 1864; first lieutenant February 25, 1865; captain Com- 
pany I May 10, 1865 ; mustered out of service July 1 1, 1865. Leonard 
E. Bennett, captain Company K: private Company A May 21, 1861 ; 
first sergeant July 16, 1861 ; captain Company K August 16, 1861 ; 
wounded June 29, 1862; resigned November 26, 1862. Horace French, 
captain Company K; private Company F May 10, 1861 ; sergeant July 
16, 1861 ; first sergeant; second lieutenant Company F January 15, 
1863 ; transferred to Company B by reason of consolidation of regiment 
July 24, 1864; captain Company K March 26, 1865 ; mustered out of 
service July 1 1, 1865. Frank E. Rew, first lieutenant Company B; pri- 
vate Company F May 10, 1861 ; sergeant July 16, 1861 ; quartermaster- 
sergeant July I, 1862; second lieutenant Company E November 10, 
1862; first lieutenant Company B January 15, 1863; mustered out of 
service July 27, 1864. Orasmus B. Robinson, first lieutenant Company 
B ; private Company A June i, 1861 ; corporal November i, 1861 ; ser- 
geant Novemberj, 1863 ; re-enlisted December 21, 1863; sergeant-ma- 
jor July 24, 1864; wounded September 19, 1864; second lieutenant 
Company A October 18, 1864; first lieutenant Company B February 
25, 1865 ; mustered out of service July 1 1, 1865. Edwin M. Noyes, first 
lieutenant Company C; second lieutenant May 23, 1861 ; first lieutenant 
November 7, 1861 ; died August 31, 1862. Gardner C. Hawkins, first 
lieutenant Company E ; private Company P" January 28, 1864; trans- 
ferred to Company I July 25, 1864; second lieutenant Company I 
October 18, 1864; first lieutenant Company E February 25, 1865 ; dis- 
charged June 2, 1865, for wounds at Petersburg, April 2, 1865. Ed- 
ward A. Chandler, first lieutenant Company F; second lieutenant May 
24, 1861 ; first lieutenant December 5, 1861 ; wounded severely April 
16, 1862; mustered out of service July 27, 1864. Hubbard M. Phillips, 
first lieutenant Company H; private Company A June I, 1861; sergeant 
July 16, i86i ; first lieutenant August 13, 1861 ; second lieutenant Com- 
pany E January 15, 1863 ; on detached service from June 20, 1863, to 
March 31, 1864; first lieutenant Company H July 21, 1863; mustered 



136 History of Windsor County. 



out of service July 27, 1864. John R. Seaver, second lieutenant Com- 
pany A; private Company F May 10, 1861 ; regimental commissary- 
sergeant July 13, 1862; second lieutenant Company A September 22 
1862 ; resigned February 14, 1863. Willis W. Wood, second lieutenant 
Company A; private June i, 1861 ; corporal November 7, 1863; re- 
enlisted December 21, 1863; sergeant May 14, 1864; wounded August 
21, 1864; first sergeant May 9, 1865 ; second lieutenant May 10, 1865 ; 
mustered out July II, 1865. Edmund E. Cushman, second lieutenant 
Company B ; private Company A July 2, 1861 ; corporal April i, 1863; 
re-enlisted December 21, 1863 ; sergeant May 14, 1864; first sergeant 
August 31, 1864; wounded October ig, 1864; second lieutenant Com- 
pany B March 28, 1865 ; mustered out of service July 1 1, 1865. Louis A. 
Pierce, second lieutenant Company D ; private Company A June i, 
1861 ; sergeant July 16, 1861; second lieutenant Company D October 
13, 1862; honorably discharged April 13, 1863, for disability. PhilipV. 
Thomas, second lieutenant Company F ; private Company F Maj' 10, 
1861 ; first sergeant July 16, 1861; second lieutenant December 16, 
1861 ; resigned October 18, 1862. Daniel B. Veazey, second lieutenant 
Company I ; private Company A June 20, 1861 ; second lieutenant 
Company I November i, 1863 ; mustered out July 27, 1864. Abram J. 
Locke, second lieutenant Company K ; private Company F October 14, 
1861 ; corporal June i, 1863; re-enlisted December 21, 1863; sergeant 
August 27, 1864; sergeant-major November 13, 1864; wounded May 

5, 1864, and April 2, 1865 ; second lieutenant Company K June i, 
1865 ; mustered out of service July 11, 1865. 

Foiirtli Regiment. — Stephen M. Pingree, lieutenant-colonel; first lieu- 
tenant Company E September 6, 1861; captain Company K April 21, 
1862; major November 5, 1862; lieutenant-colonel April 30, 1864; 
mustered out of service July 13, 1865. George B. French, adjutant; 
first lieutenant Company C September 3, 1861 ; promoted adjutant July 
17, 1862; wounded May 5, 1864; mustered out of service September 30, 
1S64. Henry W. Spafford, quartermaster; enlisted as regimental com- 
missary-sergeant October 25, 1864; promoted quartermaster November 

6, 1864; mustered out of service July 13, 1865. Samuel J Allen, sur- 
geon ; commissioned August 15, 1861; mustered out of service Septem- 
ber 30, 1864; Joseph P. Aikens, captain Company A; private Company 



Roster of Commissioned Officers. 137 

D August 28, 1861; promoted corporal; sergeant; first sergeant Janu- 
ary I, 1863; re-enlisted December 15, 1863; first lieutenant Company 
C May 5, 1864; captain Company A August 9, [864; wounded Octo- 
ber 19, 1864; honorably discharged March 8, 1865, for wounds. James 
H. Piatt, jr., captain Company B; commissioned August 30, 1861; pris- 
oner May 30, 1864; paroled and mustered out of service November 21, 

1864. Henry B. Atherton, captain Company C; commissioned Septem- 
ber 3, 1861 ; resigned August 12, 1862. Henry L. Terry, captain Com- 
pany E; commissioned September 6, 1861 ; discharged September 22, 
1862, for disability. William C. Tracy, captain Company G; second lieu • 
tenant Company K September 14, 1861; first lieutenant Company H No- 
vember 5, 1862; captain Company G May 5, 1864; wounded same day; 
killed in action before Petersburg, Va., June 23, 1864. Daniel Lillie 
captain Company I ; second lieutenant Company E September 6, 1861 ; 
first lieutenant April 21, 1862 ; captain Company I August i, 1862 ; died 
June 6, 1864, at Washington, D. C, of wounds received at Wilderness, 
May 6, 1864. Francis B. Gove, captain Company K ; commis- 
sioned September 14, 1861 ; resigned April 13, 1862. George P. Spauld- 
ing, first lieutenant Company B; private Company C August 20, 1861 i 
sergeant September 21, 1861 ; first sergeant; re- enlisted December 15, 
1863 ; second lieutenant Company K May 5, 1864 ; prisoner from June 
20, 1864, to December 2, 1864; transferred to Company E ; first lieu- 
tenant Company B June 4, 1865; mustered out as second lieutenant 
Company E July 13, 1865. Harlan P. Page, first lieutenant Company 
C; private Company E August 23, 1861 ; corporal September 21, 1861 ; 
sergeant May 18, 1862; first sergeant February 22, 1864; re-enlisted 
March 28, 1864; first lieutenant January 21, 1865; resigned May 9, 

1865. Daniel D Wheeler, first lieutenant Company D ; commissioned 
April 21, 1862; transferred to Company G March 20, 1862 (see below). 
Thomas Ensworth, jr., first lieutenant Company D ; private Company K 
September 2, 1861; first sergeant September 21, 1861 ; second lieutenant 
Company C June 25, 1862 ; wounded May 4, 1863 ; first lieutenant Oc- 
tober 20, 1863; died of wounds May 7, 1864. Charles A. Read, first 
lieutenant Company F ; private Company C August 19, 1861 ; sergeant 
September 21, 1861 ; sergeant-major March i, 1862; first lieutenant 
July 17, 1862 ; resigned January 2, 1863. Daniel D. Wheeler, first lieu- 

18 



138 History of Windsor County. 



tenant Company G; second lieutenant Company C September 3, 1861 ; 
first lieutenant Company D April 21, 1862; transferred to Company G 
January 18, 1863; promoted captain and A. A. G. U. S. Volunteers 
June 30, 1864. Curtis Abbott, first lieutenant Company H ; private 
Company H Second U. S. S. S. November 12, 1861 ; corporal Decem- 
ber I, 1862; re-enlisted December 21, 1863; wounded May, 1864; 
first sergeant November i, 1864; first lieutenant Company H, U. S. S. S., 
January 22, 1865 ; transferred to Company H Fourth Regiment Febru- 
ary 25, 1865; mustered out of service July 13, 1865. Ransom W. Towle, 
second lieutenant Company A ; private Company E August 24, 1861 ; 
sergeant September 21, 1861 ; wounded June 29, 1862; second lieu 
tenant Company A May 17, 1864; died of wounds received at Win- 
chester, Va., September 19, 1864. Lafayette Richardson, second 
lieutenant Company C; private Company E August 28, 1861 ; sergeant 
September 21, 1861 ; first sergeant February 9, 1863 ; second lieutenant 
Company C October 20, 1863 ; re-enlisted December 15, 1863 ; honor- 
ably discharged for wounds received at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. 
James Drury, second lieutenant Company D ; private Company C Au- 
gust 26, 1861 ; corporal October 27, 1863 ; re-enlisted December 15, 
1863; sergeant June 18, 1864; second lieutenant Company D June 4, 
1865 ; mustered out as sergeant July 26, 1865. William F. Tilson, sec- 
ond lieutenant Company G ; private Company E Second U. S. S. S. 
November 5, 1861 ; sergeant January 3, 1863; re-enlisted December 
21, 1863; wounded May 6, 1864; first sergeant; second lieutenant 
January 22, 1865 ; transferred to Company G Fourth Vermont Volun- 
teers February 25, 1865 ; discharged September 8, 1865, for wounds 
received April 2, 1865, at Petersburg, Va. 

Fifth Regiment — Redfield Proctor, major; quartermaster Third Ver 
mont Volunteers June 19, 1861 ; commissioned adjutant P"ifth Volun- 
teers September 25, 1861 ; resigned July i i, 1862. Myron S. Dudley, 
captain Company K ; private Company E November 28, 1863 ; wounded 
May 5, 1864; sergeant July i, 1864; first lieutenant Company E Sep- 
tember 15, 1864; captain Company K November 10, 1864; mustered 
out June 29, 1865. 

Sixth Regiment. — Oscar S. Tuttle, colonel; major September 25. 
1861 ; lieutenant-colonel September 19, 1862; colonel December 18, 



Roster of Commissioned Officers. 139 

1862; resigned March 18, 1863. Sumner H. Lincoln, colonel; private 
Company B September 17, 1861 ; corporal October 15, 1861 ; adjutant 
February 3, 1863; wounded May 5 and September 19, 1865; major 
October 21, 1864; lieutenant-colonel January 7, 1865 ; colonel June 4, 
1865; mustered out of service as lieutenant-colonel June 26, 1865. 
William J. Sperry, lieutenant-colonel ; private Company E September 
26, 1861 ; sergeant October 15, 1861 ; second lieutenant August 21, 
1862 ; first lieutenant March 3, 1863 ; captain Company ^C August 8, 
1864; major January 7, 1865; brevet lieutenant-colonel April 2, 1865, 
for gallantry in assault on Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865; lieutenant- 
colonel June 4, 1865; mustered out of service June 26, 1865. Hiram 
S. English, adjutant; private Company C August 14, 1862; promoted 
corporal; wounded May 4, 1863; sergeant May 20, 1864; first lieuten- 
ant Company C October 29, 1864; adjutant November 12, 1864; mus- 
tered out June 19, 1865. Alonzo Webster, chaplain ; commissioned 
October 3, 1863; mustered out of service October 28, 1864. Alonzo 
B. Hutchinson, captain Company B; commissioned October 5, 1861 ; 
honorably discharged July 23, 1863, for wounds received in action at 
Bank's Ford, Virginia, May 4, 1863. Jesse C. Spaulding, captain Com- 
pany C; commissioned October 7, 1861 ; resigned January 10, 1863. 
Thomas R. Clark, captain Company E ; first lieutenant October 19, 
1 861 ; captain March 3, 1863 ; mustered out of service October 28, 1864. 
George C. Randall, captain Company F; first lieutenant Company C 
October 7, 1861 ; captain Company F August 21, 1862; killed in action 
at Wilderness, Virginia, May 5, 1864. William W. Carey, first lieuten- 
ant Company F; private Company E September 26, 1861; corporal 
October 15, 1861 ; wounded April 16, 1862; sergeant-major January i, 
1863; first lieutenant Company F May 15, 1864; mustered out Octo- 
ber 28, 1864. Benoni B. Fuilam, first lieutenant Company G ; sergeant- 
major October 15, 1861 ; first lieutenant June 14, 1862; resigned Oc- 
tober 25, 1862. Hiram A. Kimball, second lieutenant Company C ; 
commissioned October 7, 1861 ; resigned July 1 1, 1862. John Y. Rais- 
trick, second lieutenant Company C; private September 23, 1861 ; ser- 
geant October 15, 1861 ; first sergeant November 20, 1861 ; second 
lieutenant August 21, 1862; wounded June 6, 1863 ; resigned April 21, 
1864. Herman L. Small, second lieutenant Company C; private Octo- 



I40 History of Windsor County. 

berg, 1861 ; corporal November 20, 1861 ; sergeant; re-enlisted De- 
cember 15, 1863; first sergeant October I, 1864; second lieutenant 
April 22, 1865; mustered out June 26, 1865. John M. Buckley, sec- 
ond lieutenant Company E; private September 24, 1861 ; sergeant 
October 15, 1861 ; first sergeant October 31, 1861 ; wounded April 16, 
1862; second lieutenant March 3, 1863; resigned August 31, 1863. 

Seventh Regiment. — Volney S. Fullam, lieutenant-colonel ; commis- 
sioned January 19, 1862 ; captain Company I, Second Vermont Volun- 
teers, May 22, 1861 ; resigned August 6, 1862. Salmon Dutton, cap- 
tain Company G; commissioned January 31, 1862; mustered out of 
service May 31, 1865. Mahlon M. Young, captain Company H; com- 
missioned February 3, 1862; tcilled at Marianna, Fla., September 27, 
1864. George M. R. Howard, first lieutenant Company G; commis- 
sioned January 31, 1862; resigned September 6, 1862. Leonard P. 
Bingham, first lieutenant Company G ; second lieutenant January 31, 
1862; first lieutenant September 24, 1862; resigned July 30, 1863. 
Milton L. Gilbert, first lieutenant Company G ; private November 20, 
1861 ; sergeant February 12, 1862 ; second lieutenant March i, 1863; 
first lieutenant October 22, 1763 ; resigned July 7, 1865. Edward L. 
Hazelton, first lieutenant Company G; private November 30, 1861 ; 
sergeant February 12, 1862; first sergeant October 26, 1863; re- 
enlisted February 17, 1864; first lieutenant July 13, 1865 ; mustered 
out March 14, 1866. Henry H. French, first lieutenant Company H; 
commissioned February 3, 1862 ; died of disease at Fensacola, Fla., 
January 20, 1863. Edwin R. Payne, first lieutenant Company H ; pri- 
vate December 2, 1861 ; sergeant February 12, 1862; first sergeant 
October 7, 1862; second lieutenant March i, 1863; first lieutenant 
December 21, 1863; resigned April 29, 1864. James W. Larkin, sec- 
ond lieutenant Company G; private November 30, 1861 ; corporal 
February 12, 1862; re-enlisted February 25, 1864; sergeant June 25, 
1864; first sergeant September 12, 1865 ; second lieutenant March i, 
1866; mustered out as first sergeant March 14, 1866. George H. Kel- 
ley, second lieutenant Company H; commissioned February 3, 1862 ; 
resigned January 27, 1863. Peter F. Riley, second lieutenant Company 
H; private November 26, 1861 ; corporal February 12, 1862; sergeant 
October 23, 1862 ; re-enlisted February 14, 1864; first sergeant Feb- 



Roster of Commissioned Officers. 141 

ruary 12, 1865; second lieutenant March i, 1866; mustered out as first 
sergeant March 14, 1866. 

Eighth Regiment. — Henry Y . Dutton, lieutenant-colonel ; captain 
Company H January 17, 1862; major June 12, 1863; lieutenant- colo- 
nel December 28, 1864; honorably discharged November 16, 1864, 
for wounds received in action at Winchester, Va., September 19, 1864. 
Henry M. Pollard, major; first lieutenant Company I July 12, 1863; 
captain November 7, 1863; major April 6, 1865 ; mustered out of serv- 
ice June 28, 1865. Samuel W. Shattuck, adjutant ; drafted July 15, 
1863; appointed adjutant October 20, 1863; wounded October 19, 
1864; mustered out of service June 28, 1865. Edward F. Gould, first 
lieutenant Company D; private January 3, 1862; sergeant February 
18, 1862; re-enlisted January 5, 1864; first sergeant April 22, 1864; 
first lieutenant July 26, 1864; mustered out of service, June 28, 1865. 
Kilburn Day, first lieutenant Company E ; commissioned January i, 
1862; resigned December 11, 1862. Newell H. Hibbard, second lieu- 
tenant Compau)' E ; private September 30, 1861 ; corporal February 
18, 1862; re-enlisted January 5, 1864; sergeant February 23, 1864; 
first sergeant June 8, 1864; second lieutenant February 23, 1865 ; re- 
signed June 12, 1865. 

Ninth Regiment. — Charles Jarvis, major; captain Company D June 
25, 1862; major May 24, 1863; died December i, 1863, of wounds re- 
ceived while on scout near Cedar Point, N. C, December I, 1863. Lucius 
C. Dickinson, chaplain; commissioned July 2, 1862; mustered out of 
service June 13, 1865 Asaph Clark, Company D; first lieutenant June 
25, 1862; captain May 25, 1863; mustered out of service June 13, 1865. 
James T. Gorham, captain Company H ; sergeant-major July 9, 1862 ; 
first lieutenant March 13, 1863; captain June 4, 1864; mustered out 
June 13, 1865. Charles W. Haskell, first lieutenant Company D ; private 
May 27, 1862 ; first sergeant July 9, 1862 ; second lieutenant November 
17, 1862; first lieutenant May 25, 1863 ; mustered out June 13, 1865. 
Justus Dartt, second lieutenant Company D ; commissioned June 25, 
1862; resigned November 13, 1862. Asa H. Snow, second lieutenant 
Company D; private June 17, 1862; corporal July 9, 1862; sergeant 
December 4, 1862 ; second lieutenant May 25, 1863 ; resigned Decem- 
ber 11,1 864. 



142 History of Windsor County. 

Tenth Regiment. — Lucius T. Hunt, major ; captain Company H Au- 
gust 8, 1862; wounded June 3, 1864; major November 2, 1864; hon- 
orably discharged as captain December i, 1864, for disabihty. Henry 
G. Stiles, captain Company E ; private company H August 6, 1862; 
first sergeant September i, 1862 ; sergeant major March 24, 1864; sec- 
ond lieutenant Company G June 6, 1864 ; prisoner fi-om June i to No- 
vember I, 1864 ; first lieutenant Company E February 9, 1865 ; captain 
May II, 1865 ; mustered out of service June 29, 1865. Solomon E. Per- 
ham, captain Company H ; second lieutenant August 8, 1862; first lieu- 
tenant January 19, 1863; captain November 2, 1864; mustered out of 
service June 22, 1865. Ezekiel T. Johnson, first lieutenant Company E ; 
private company H August 6, 1862; corporal September i, 1862; ser- 
geant December 28, 1862; wounded July 9, 1864; first sergeant ; sec- 
ond lieutenant Company E December 19, 1864; first lieutenant Com- 
pany G March 22, 1865 ; transferred to Company E May 20, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out as first sergeant Companv H June 22, 1865. Jerome C. Dow, 
first lieutenant Company H; commissioned August 8, 1862; resigned 
June 5, 1863. Artemas H. Wheeler, first lieutenant Company H ; private 
August 7, 1862; sergeant September i, 1862; first sergeant April 3, 
1864; second lieutenant Company D December 19, 1864; first lieuten- 
ant Company H March 22, 1865 ; mustered out of service June 29, 1865. 

Elevetith Regiment {1st Regt. Heavy Artillcr}'). — Joseph L. Harring- 
ton, assistant-surgeon ; commissioned March 4, 1865 ; enlisted private 
Company I Fourth Vermont Volunteers September 14, i 864 ; transferred 
to Company F February 25, 1865; mustered out August 25, 1865. Ar- 
thur Little, chaplain ; commissioned March 20, 1863 ; mustered out of 
service June 24, 1865. George A. Bailey, captain Companj' B ; drafted 
July 22, 1863 ; entered service as second lieutenant Company M Novem- 
ber 2, 1863 ; promoted first lieutenant September 2, 1864; brevet cap- 
tain April 2, 1865, for gallantry in the assault of Petersburg; captain 
Company K May 13, 1865; transferred toCompanyB June 24,1865; mus- 
tered out August 25, 1865. James D. Rich, captain Company H ; com- 
missioned August 13, 1862 ; resigned July 30, 1863. George G. Tilden, 
captain Company H ; private August 6, 1862; sergeant September i, 
1862; second lieutenant September 5, 1862; first lieutenant August 11, 
1863 ; captain Company K December 2, 1864 ; transferred to Company 



Roster of Commissioned Officers. 143 

H February 20, 1865; brevet major April 2, 1865 ; mustered out of serv- 
ice June 24, 1865. Jabez R. Maxham, first lieutenant Company H ; pri- 
vate August 6, 1862 ; first sergeant September i, 1862; second lieuten- 
ant August II, 1863; first lieutenant December 28, 1863; wounded 
slightlyjune 1,1864; honorably discharged August 7, 1864, for disability. 
Edwin J. McWain, first lieutenant Cornpany H ; private August 6, 1862 ; 
corporal September I, 1862; sergeant September 6, 1S62 ; second lieuten- 
ant December 2S, 1863 ; prisoner from June 23, 1864, to March 12,1865; 
promoted first lieutenant December 2, 1864; honorably discharged May 
15, 1865, as second lieutenant. Eli R. Hart, first lieutenant Company 
M; private August 7, 1862; sergeant September i, 1862; first sergeant 
October 23, 1863 ; second lieutenant Company H December 28, 1863 ; 
wounded June i, 1864; first lieutenant May 13, 1865 ; mustered out as 
second lieutenant Company H June 24, 1865. Edward Blaisdell, second 
lieutenant Company H ; private August 7, 1862 ; corporal December 12, 
1862; sergeant May 22, 1863; first sergeant January 22, 1864; second 
lieutenant May 13, 1865 ; mustered out as first sergeant June 24, 1865. 
Charles D. Stafford, second lieutenant Company H ; private August 8, 
1862; corporal June 15, 1864; commissioned quartermaster sergeant 
September 28, 1864; second lieutenant May 13, 1865 ; mustered out as 
quartermaster- sergeant June 24, 1865. 

Tivelftli Regiment {Nine Months Men). — Charles L. Savage, captain 
Company A ; commissioned December i, 1861 ; mustered out of serv- 
ice July 14, 1863. Ora Paul, jr., captain Company B ; commissioned 
July 19, 1862 ; mustered out of service July 14, 1863. George E. 
Dimick, captain Company I; commissioned January 23, 1863; second 
lieutenant Company B July 19, 1862; first lieutenant December 4. 
1862; mustered out of service July 14, 1863. Winslow W. Wait, first 
lieutenant Company A; commissioned July 12, 1862; mustered out of 
service July 14, 1863. George L. Raymond, first lieutenant Company 
B; commissioned July 19, 1862; resigned November 24, 1862 Ed- 
win C. Emmons, first lieutenant Company B ; private August 19, 1862; 
first sergeant October 4, 1862; second lieutenant December 4, 1862; 
first lieutenant January 24, 1863; mustered out of service July 14, 
1863. Benjamin Warren, jr., second lieutenant Company A; commis- 
sioned August 12, 1862; discharged for disability January 17, 1863. 



144 History of Windsor County. 

Stephea F. Hammond, second lieutenant Company A ; private August 
19, 1862; first sergeant October 4, 1S62; second lieutenant January 

25, 1863; mustered out of service Jul\- 14, 1863. Crayton A. Wood- 
bury, second lieutenant Company B; private August 19, 1862 ; sergeant 
October 4, 1862; first sergeant December 4, 1862; second lieutenant 
January 24, 1863 ; mustered out July 14, 1863. 

Fifteenth Regiment {Nine Months' Service). — Redfield Proctor, colo- 
nel ; commissioned September 26, 1862; mustered out of service Au- 
gust 5, 1863. 

Sixteenth Regiment {Nine Months' Serviee). — Wheelock G. Veazey, 
colonel ; commissioned September 27, 1862 ; captain Company A Third 
Vermont Volunteers May 21, 1861 ; major August 10. 1861 ; lieutenant- 
colonel August 13, 1861; mustered out of service August 10, 1863. 
William Rounds, major; comissioned September 27, 1862; mustered 
out of service August 10, 1863. Harland O. Peabody, adjutant ; private 
Company C August 29, 1862 ; first sergeant October 23, 1862 ; second 
lieutenant October 23, 1862 ; first lieutenant Company H December 31, 
1862; adjutant April i, 1863; mustered out of service August 10, 
1863. James G. Henry, quartermaster ; commissioned September 29, 
1862; mustered out August 10, 1863. Aloiizo Webster, chaplain; 
commissioned October 16, 186^ ; mustered out of service August 10, 
1863. Henry A. Eaton, captain Company A; commissioned August 

26, 1862; wounded severely July 3, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa ; mustered 
out August 10, 1863. Asa B. Foster, captain Company C; commis- 
sioned October 23, 1862; wounded July 3, 1863; mustered out of service 
August 10, 1863. y\lvin C. Mason, captain Company E ; commissioned 
September I, 1862; mustered out August 10, 1863. Harvey N. Bruce, 
captain Company G; commissioned September 4, 1862; mustered out 
August 10, 1862. Joseph C. Sawyer, captain Company H; commissioned 
September 18, 1862; resigned December 26, 1862. Elmer D. Keyes, 
captain Company H ; first lieutenant September i8, 1862; captain De- 
cember 31, 1862; mustered out of service August 10, 1862. Samuel 
Hutchinson, captain Company K; commissioned October i, 1862 ; re- 
signed January 3, 1863. William Danforth, captain Company K; sec- 
ond lieutenant October i, 1862; promoted captain January 16, 1863; 
mustered out of service August 10, 1863. Daniel M. Clough, first lieu- 







A^ (/ QJ y}^-^^^z..e^ 



Roster of Commissioned Ofucers. 145 

tenant Company A; commissioned August 26, 1862; mustered out 
August 10, 1863. Luther F. Moore, first lieutenant Company C ; com- 
missioned October 23, 1862; mustered out August 10, 1863. Joseph 
SpafFord, first lieutenant Company E ; commissioned September i , 1 862 ; 
mustered out August 10, 1863. Benjamin C. Dutton, fiirst lieutenant 
Company G; commissioned September 4, 1862; wounded July 3, 1863; 
mustered out of service August 10, 1863. Warren E. Williams, first 
lieutenant Company H; second lieutenant Company E September i, 
1862 ; promoted first lieutenant April 2, 1863 ; mustered out August 
10, 1863. Francis G. Clark, first lieutenant Company I; second lieu- 
tenant Company G September 4, 1862; first lieutenant Company I 
April I, 1863; mustered out August 10, 1863. Lewis Graham, first 
lieutenant Company K; commissioned October i, 1862; resigned 
March 12, 1863. Joseph W. Waldo, second lieutenant Company A • 
commissioned August 26, 1862; resigned March 12, 1863. James Tar- 
bell, second lieutenant Company A ; private September 15, 1862; ser- 
geant January 16, 1863; second lieutenant March 16, 1863; wounded 
July 3, 1863; mustered out August 10, 1863. Adin H Whitmore, 
second lieutenant Company C ; sergeant-major October 23, 1862; sec- 
ond lieutenant December 31, 1862; resigned March 27, 1863. Henry 
A. Fletcher, second lieutenant Company C; private August 29, 1862 ; 
first sergeant October 23, 1862; sergeant-major March 9, 1863; second 
lieutenant April 2, 1863; mustered out August 10, 1863. George M. 
Clark, second lieutenant Company D; private September i, 1862; ser- 
geant October 23, 1862; second lieutenant December 31, 1862; trans- 
ferred to Company E April 2, 1863. Gardner Cox, second lieutenant 
Company G; private September 4. 1862; first sergeant October 23, 
1862; second lieutenant, April 2, 1863 ; mustered out August 10, 1863. 
John C. Sanborn, second lieutenant Company H ; commissioned Sep- 
tember 18, 1862; resigned December 26, 1862. Jason E. Freeman, 
second lieutenant Company H; private Companj' K September 15, 1862; 
second lieutenant Company H December 31, 1862; mustered out Au- 
gust 10, 1863. Hugh Henry, second lieutenant Company I ; regimental 
quartermaster-sergeant October 23, 1862; second lieutenant May 12, 
1863; mustered out of service August ID, 1863. George O. Hawkins, 
second lieutenant Company K ; private September 10, 1862; first ser- 

19 



146 History ok Windsor County. 

geant October 23, 1862; second lieutenant January 16, 1863; mustered 
out August 10, 1863. 

Seventeenth Regiment. — Henry A. Eaton, lieutenant-colonel ; captain 
Company D March 4, 1864; major August 12, 1864; lieutenant-colo- 
nel November i, 1864; killed in action before Petersburg, Va., Septem- 
ber 30, 1864. Ptolemy O'Meara Edson, surgeon; assistant surgeon 
First Cavalry November 5, 1861 ; surgeon Seventeenth Regiment 
March 16, 1864; mustered out of service February 27, 1865. Benja- 
min F. Giddings, Company B; private Company G March 7, 1864; 
first sergeant April 12, 1864; wounded June 3, 1864; first lieutenant 
Company B August 24, 1864; captain November i, 1864; mustered 
out of service July 14, 1865. VVorthington Pierce, captain Company 
D; second lieutenant March 4, 1864; first lieutenant August 22, 1864; 
prisoner from July 30, 1864, to March 30, 1865 ; captain November i, 
1864; resigned and honorably discharged as second lieutenant June 16, 
1865. Gardner VV. Gibson, first lieutenant Company D ; commissioned 
March 4, 1864; died in General Hospital, Washington, D. C, June 14, 
1864, of wounds received in action June 8, 1864. Leonard P. Bingham, 
first Heutenant Company G ; commissioned April 12, 1864; killed in 
action before Petersburg, Va , July 30, 1864. Henry B. Needham first 
lieutenant Company H; commissioned May 19, 1864; died August 6, 
1864, of wounds received in action July 30, 1864. Almeron C. Inman, 
first lieutenant Company K ; private Company D December 30, 1863; 
corporal March 4, 1864; sergeant July 30, 1S64; first sergeant; 
wounded September 30, 1864; first lieutenant June 26, 1865; mus- 
tered out of service as first sergeant Company D July 14, 1865. George 
E. Austin, second lieutenant Company D ; private Companj" 1*" Feb- 
ruary 8, 1864; transferred to Company D May i, 1864; corporal No- 
vember 5, 1864; sergeant May 9, 1865 ; second lieutenant Jul)' 10, 
1865 ; mustered out as sergeant Company D July 14, 1865. George 
W. Kingsbury, second lieutenant Company F; commissioned April 9, 
1864; wounded on picket Ma)' 15, 1864; honorably discharged Octo- 
ber 5, 1864, for wounds. 

First Regiment United States Sharpshooters — Henry E. Kinsman, 
first lieutenant Company F; private August 20, 1861 ; first sergeant 
September 13, 1861 ; second lieutenant May 15, 1863 ; first lieutenant 
November 5, 1863 ; mustered out September 13, 1864. 



Roster of Commissioned Officers. 147 

Second Regiment United States Sharpshooters. — William F. Tilson, 
second lieutenant Company E; commissioned November 12, 1864; 
transferred to Company G Fourth Vermont Volunteers February 25, 
1865. Curtis Abbott, first lieutenant Company H ; commissioned Jan- 
uary 22, 1865 ; transferred to Company H Fourth Vermont Volunteers 
February 25, 1865. 

Second Battery Light Artillery. — Charles H. Dyer, fiist lieutenant ; 
private December 11, 1861; sergeant December 16, 1861 ; sergeant- 
major May 30, 1862; second lieutenant November i, 1862; wounded 
August 3, 1863; first lieutenant October 12, 1863; mustered out of 
service July 31, 1865. 

Third Battery Light Artillery. — John H. Wright, first lieutenant ; pri- 
vate Company B Sixth Vermont Volunteers September 7, 1861 ; first 
sergeant October 15, 1861 ; re-enlisted January 5, 1864; second lieuten- 
ant Third Battery January 2, 1864; first lieutenant July 26, 1864; re- 
signed and honorably discharged as second lieutenant May 29, 1865. 
JohnW. Marsh, second lieutenant ; private November 4, 1863 ; sergeant 
January i, 1864; wounded August 19, 1864; first sergeant May i, 1865- 
second lieutenant June 13, 1865 ; mustered out as first sergeant June 
IS, 1865. 

First Regiment of Cavalry. — Andrew J. Grover, major ; first lieuten- 
ant Company E October 16, 1861 ; captain Company A February i 
1863; wounded May 5, 1864; major July 7, 1864; mustered out of 
service November 18, 1864. Ptolemy O'Meara Edson, assistant sur- 
geon ; commissioned November 5, 1861 ; promoted surgeon Seventeenth 
Vermont Volunteers April i, 1864 Samuel P, Rundlett, captain Com- 
pany E; commissioned October 16, 1861 ; resigned March 17, 1863. 
Oliver T. Cushman, captain Company E ; private October 12, 1861 ; 
sergeant November 19, 1861 ; second lieutenant April 10, 1862 ; first 
lieutenant February i, 1863; captain March 17, 1863; wounded July 
6, 1863; killed in action at Salem Church, Va , June 3, 1864. Alexan- 
der B. Chandler, captain Company E ; private September 19, 1861 ; 
first sergeant November 19, 1861 ; second lieutenant March 17, 1863 ; 
fiist lieutenant June 4, 1864; mustered out June 21, 1865. Rosalvo A. 
Howard, first lieutenant Company H ; private Company F September 
I7i 1861 ; re-enlisted January 28, 1864; transferred to Company Hand 



148 History of Windsor County. 



promoted first sergeant November 19, 1864; to first lieutenant April 
14, 1865 ; mustered out June 21, 1865. Richard A. Seaver, second 
lieutenant Company E ; private October i, 1861 ; sergeant November 
19, 1861 ; first sergeant; second lieutenant June 4, 1864; mustered 
out of service November 18, 1864. Charles N. Jones, second lieuten- 
ant Company E ; private September 23, 1861 ; commissioned quarter- 
master-sergeant November 19, 1861 ; re- enlisted December 28, 1863 • 
second lieutenant April 14, 1865 ; mustered out as quartermaster-ser- 
geant Company E June 21, 1865. 

Frontier Cavalry. — George B. French, captain Second Company ■ 
commissioned January ID, 1865 ; mustered out June 27, 1865. Francis 
G. Clark, first lieutenant Second Company; commissioned January 10, 
1865 ; mustered out June 27, 1865. 

Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 

The following roll of Windsor county soldiers is taken from the reports 
of the adjutant and inspector-general of Vermont. The town arrange- 
ment adopted by the compiler of that work is used here, as is also the 
other systems of classification. The names are arranged alphabetically. 
The figure and letter following each name indicate the regiment and 
company to which the person belonged. 

Town of Andovcr. — Volunteers for three years credited prior to the call 
of October 17, 1863 : — George W. Baldwin, 7 G, Byron C. Butterfield, 2 I, 
Ira C. Chase, 3 A, Isaac T. Chase, 6 E, Henry A. Comstock, 2 I, Azro 
B. Diggins, 9 D, George O. Dodge, 7 G, Wesley M. Dodge, 7 G, Ebene- 
zer Farnsworth, 4 K, John French, 9 D, Ashbel K. Gould, 4 K, Homer 
D. Hesselton, 9 D, Rosalo A. Howard, Cav. F, Henry Hutchins, 4 7, 
Charles H. Larkins, 7 G, James H Larkin, 7 G, James W. Larkin, 7 G, 
Henry A. Lovejoy, 2 I, Vernon A. Marsh, 2 I, Harland O. Peabody, 
2 I, Daniel P. Perkins, 2 I, Olin A. Pettengill, 3 A, Erastus Sargent, 10 H, 
Hollis W. Sheldon, 4 K, Charles B. Taylor, 9 D. Credits under call of 
October 17, 1863, and subsequent calls; volunteers for three years: — 
Julius Cunningham, Cav. F, Philo F. Fuller, 5 E, Samuel S.' Hall, 10 H, 
Justus Hesselton, Cav. F, Henry M. Marsh, 1 1 G, Warren K. Spaulding, 
Cav. F, Cyrus S. Tuttle, Cav. F, Norman E. Tuttle, Cav. F. Volunteers 
re-enlisted : — Charles W. Bishop, Cav. E, Henry C. Cleveland, 6 E, 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 149 

Henry A. Comstock, 2 I, George R. Crosby, Cav. F, George O. Dodge, 
7 G, Wesley M. Dodge, 7 G, Benjamin F. Dwinell, 6 E, Hiram and 
Major Gould, Cav. E, George W. Haskell and William C. Joyce, Cav. 
F, Charles H. and James W. Larkin, 7 G, Simeon L Parkhurst, 2 I, 
Orris Pier, 6 E, John A. Thvving and Theodore Witt, Cav. F. Volun- 
teers for nine months, Sixteenth Regiment, Company C : — Edward O. 
Carlton, Lorenzo G. Coolidge, Nathaniel P. Dodge, Daniel C. Gould, 
Richard C. Green, George C. Hesselton, Henry M. Marsh, Harland O. 
Peabody, Abram Rowell, Joel R. Spaulding. Drafted and paid commu- 
tation : — George P. Lincoln, Byron Stickney. Procured substitute: — 
William W. Pettigrew. Entered service : — John S. Marsh. 

To-wn of Baltimore ^ — Volunteers for three years enlisted previous to 
call of October 17, 1863: — Sidney F. Remis, Moses C. Rumrill. Vol- 
unteers for three years under and subsequent to call of October 17, 
1863 : — George E. Bemis, Martin V. Bemis. Volunteers for one year: — 
Jerry Febbor, Newell Wolcott. Volunteers for nine months: — Lowell 
R. Bemis, William M. Holden. In United States Navy: — John A. 
Landgris. 

Town of Barnard. — Volunteers for three years credited prior to call 
of October 17, 1863: — Austin V. and Edgar Adams, 4 E, Joseph P. 
Aikens, 4 D, Milton J. Allen, 4 E, Franklin D. Angell, 1 1 H, Sylvester 
A. Angell, 7 C, Samuel A. C. Atwood, 4 E, Eleazer W. Bartholomew, 
4 E, James Biannan, 3 F, Henry F. Buckman, Cav. E, Lyman S. 
Buckman and Lucien C. Bullard, 4 E, James K. P. Carlin, Thomas Car- 
lin, 3 F, Willard S. Caswell, 9 G, Benjamin F. Chamberlain, 11 H, 
George Chase, 4 E, Leander Corbell, 6 C, Josiah C. Dickey, 7 H, Gil- 
man Dale, Adelbert F. Gates, George M. Goff, 4 E, George W. Good- 
win, 9 L George A. Inman, 4 E, Edward Kelly, George H. Kelly, 
7 H, Albert A. Kendall, Cav. E, Nathaniel Leavitt, Daniel Lillie, Asa- 
hel H. Merick, George H. Merick, 4 E, Joseph Merick, 3 F, Andrew H. 
Norton, 3 K, Albert C. Packard, Philander R. Packard, 2 S-S E, Harlan 
P. Page, 4 E, Charles B. Perkins, 7 H, Benjamin A. Rand, 4 E, Ed- 
ward O. and Forest E. Richmond, Cav. E, Peter F. Riley, 7 H, Mar- 
cella T. Russell, 1 1 H, Francis Stone, 9 I, Le Roy F. Stone, Edward 
Sweet, 4 E, Damon W. Townsend, 7 B, Charles Tupper, 4 E, James H. 
Turner, 11 H, Charles W. Walcott, 4 E, Alvin L. Walker, 2 S-S E, 



150 History of Windsor County. 

Eldred W. Waterman, 4 E. Volunteers under call of October 17, 1863, 
and subsequent calls : — Willis C. Adams, 1 1 H, Charles C. and Milton 
J. Aikens, 3 Bat., James M. Barnes, li H, Ira Bean, Robert H. Brown, 

3 Bat., Mason P. and Oscar F. Burke, 8 E, Daniel M., James C, and 
Joseph E. Chamberlain, 3 Bat., Walter C. Clark, 9 I, Clark C. Cook, 

4 E, Simon P. Dean, 6 C, Thomas Fisher, 17 D, John Gleason, 10 -, 
Orwell N. Harrington, 3 Bat., William Hutchinson. 6 C, George H. 
Kelly, 3 Bat., Noah Lathrop, 17 H, Martin C. Lazelle, Azro D. Mirick, 

3 Bat., Henry B. Needham, 17 H, Alfred E. Rand, 3 Bat., John Russell, 
jr., 1 1 H, Josiah G. White, 9 D. Volunteers for one year : — George C. 
Aikens, F"ranklin D. Angell, Cav. -, Hammond B. and Parker I. At- 
wood, 2 F Cav., Edward H. Bowman, Cav. — , Edwin R. and Oscar F. 
Campbell, Daniel Coughlin, Alexander Crowell, Emery S. Harrison, 
James Griffin, Augustus J. Harlow, William P. Henry, John Kelley, 
Cav. -, Hiram J. Luce, 9-, Ira McCullum, Cav. -, James K. Pangborn, 
9 -, Loren W. Pangborn, Cav. -, William L. Stevens, 9 -, Leroy F. 
Stone, Cav. -, Joseph J. Winslow, 9 -, Eben M. Wilson, Henry A. 
Wood, 2 F Cav. Volunteers re-enlisted: — James Brannan, 3 F, Lyman 
S. Buckman, 4 E, Josiah C. Dickey, 7 H, Gilman Gale, Carlton Green, 

4 E, Horace Hall, Albert A. Kendall, Cav. ¥^, Harlan P. Page, 4 E, 
Charles B. Perkins, 7 H, William H. Pond, Cav. E, Peter F. Riley, 7 H. 
Charles B. Sisson, Cav. E. In United States Navy: — Charles H. Al- 
drich, Leopold Diedering, Patrick Hayden, Thomas Kelle\', Lewis J. 
Lull, John Mahoney, Daniel Sweeney. Volunteers for nine months: — 
Austin Abbott, 16 H, Charles C. Aikens, Cyrus H. Aikens, Charles R. 
Ashley, 16 H, George A. Atwood, 12 B, Frank J. Bowman, Robert H. 
Brown, 16 G, Monroe H. Bryant, - A, Alzo Buckman, - H, Chester 
Cady, Edwin R. Campbell, Oscar F". Campbell, Henry R. and Joseph 
E. Chamberlain, Gardner Co.x, William H. Crowell, William H. Dan- 
forth, Charles W. Graves, 16 G, William P. Henry, 16 H, Lucian H. 
Kieth, Munrcie N. Kendall, Albert Leavitt, L. Dudley Leavitt, George 
A. and W. Leroy Lillie, Ellis N. Parkhurst, 16 G, Frank Perkins, 16 H, 
Anthony C. Ray, Loress Topliff, Lucian V. Tupper, Lorenzo Wheelock, 
Joseph J. Winslow, 16 G, Henry A. Wood, 12 B. Entered service: — 
Alfred E. Lucas, William W. Mirick, Benjamin A. Rand. 

Town of Bethel. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to call 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 151 

of October 17, 1863 : — Albert and Azro Abbott, 4 E, Calvin B. Ab- 
bott, 8 B, Curtis Abbott, 2 S-S H, Channing Axdell, 6 F, Archibald 
Baker, 4 E, Frank Bullard, 6 C, Lewis S. Bundy, 4 D, Patrick Carney, 
1 1 H, Constantine Cliadwick, 1 1 H, Albert W. Chapman, 6 F, Zolva W. 
Chase, 8 E, Amariah C. Crane, 4 E, Kilburn Day, 8 E, Seymour G, 
Drurj', 6 C, FrankUn B. Dunton, 7 G, Azro Dustin, 3 E, George M. D. 
Dustin,2 E, Timothy Dustin, First Bat, Ezra H. Emory, 8 E, Alfred D. 
and Charles Fairbanks, 2 S-S E, John and Luke Fairbanks, 3 F, Curtis 
O. Fisher and James S. Freeland, 4 E, Levi P. French, 6 C, Daniel 
Granger, 6 F, John Granger, 6 F, William Greenleaf, 2 H, Carlton 
Green, 4 E, Newell H. Hebard, S E.Byrm Houghton, 2 -SS H, Charles 
N. Jones and Orvis F. Kimball, Cav. E, Robert B. Lillie, 4 E, William 
Magivney and Frederick H. Marks, 1 1 H, Orville Moore, 2 E, Henry 
E. Moshier, 2 S-S E, George W. Packard, 8 G, Charles L. Page, 4 E, 
Arthur and Granville Pearson, 2 E, Abel H. Putnam, 3 F, Alonzo D. 
Ralph, 4 E, Daniel A. Rogers, 6 F, Eugene Rogers, 8 E, James D. 
Rich, 1 1 H, Harry and Lyman P. Rowe, 4 E, Daniel H. Ryan, Cav. E, 
Collamer G. Stevens, 8 E, John Spaulding, jr., 3 F, Albert and Irwin 
Spooner, 4 E, Ernest B. Stuart, 9 I, William F. Tilson, 2 S-S E, James 
B. Tinkham, 2 E, Andrew W. Turner, 9 F, Benjamin F. Webster, 1 1 H, 
George Wedgwood, 8 E, Don C. Wilson, 3 F, Thomas R. and Wallace 

E, Williams, 2 E, William Young, 4 K, Volunteers under call of Octo- 
ber, 1863, and subsequent calls : — Church G. Ballcu, Horace Bannister, 
8 - Lewis B. Bates, 8 E, William L. Dean, 3 Bat., William A. Dun- 
ham, 8 F, Tracey S. Durkee, 2 S-S E, Freeman Fifield, 9 F, William 
H. Fisher, 17 D, Roswell Freeman, 4 C, Levi P. French, 6 C, Almon C. 
Goodell, 8 K, John Granger, 8 G, Henry H. Grow, 8 E, Charles H. 
Hardy, 6 C, Henry C. Harlow, 17 D, William Huse, 9 H, Almeron C. 
Inman, 17 D, Nathaniel C. Lynds,8 D, H. Marshall Merrill, 8 E, Henry 
H. Miner, 8 D, William Newell, 8 E, John Pettis, 11 B, John Rice, 10 

F, Loren M. Rice, 10 F, James D. Rich, 8 C, Nehemiah W. Rindge, 9 

G, William H. Rollins, 9 E, Horatio N. Scott, 17 D, Ferd. Wheeler, 11 
F, Don L. Willis, 17 D, Thomas Flynn, Cav. F, Joseph Lynch, 11 -, 
John Mack and Thomas O'Donald, Cav. -, George S. Thomas, Cav. F. 
Volunteers for one year: — Albert E. Abbott, Edwin E. Austin, Ed- 
ward P. Barnes, Azro B. Bowen, Alonzo E Chadwick, Dennis Coto, 



152 History of Windsor County. 

Jolin H. Harrington, John Lynch, Charles W. Petty, Birney I. Pratt, 

J.imes M. Preston, Leroy J Sargent, Edward Tatero, Edwin F. Thresher, 
Lewis W. Turner, George H. Whitney, Paschal D. Whittaker. Vet- 
erans: — Calvin B. Abbott, Curtis Abbott, Charles Blackburn, Luke B. 
Fairbanks, Levi B. Goddard, Newell H Hibbard, Charles N. Jones, 
John Morse, Henry E. Mosier, George A. Parker, Daniel H. R}-an, 
John Spauldiiig. Nine months' men, Sixteenth Regiment: — D<iniel 
Abbott, James H. Abbott, Wesley E. Baker, Albert G. Barnes. Samuel 
Barrett, jr., John Hean, Lorenzo D. Bowen, Eugene M. Brooks, Abel 
Ryan, Lorenzo Burnham, Amos B. Chamberlain, Dexter L. Chatfield, 
Daniel M. Clough, Solomon A. Cross, Henry S. Drury, George S. Em- 
ery, Ira Emery, jr., Lyman S. Emery, Henry W. Flint, Eastman Gee, 
William H. Gee, George E. Green, Ransom S. Hubbard, Henry W. 
Howard, Norman W. Lillie, Patrick Marr, John R. Martin, Nelson Mc- 
Pherson, Marcus A. Moody, Charles A, Neff, Nathan Noyes, WilHam 
H. H. Perkins, Jonathan M. Rich, Rufus S. Rogers, William J. Rogers, 
Charles Russell, Stillman B. Smith, Alonzo H. Spooner, David Torrey, 
Andrew J. Washburn, James L. Washburn, Samuel B. Young. En- 
tered service: — William N. Abbott. Merick G. Page, James G. Tink- 
ham. Entered United States Navy: — Nathan Allen, Joseph H. Cary, 
Francis Donnt-ll)-, James Ford, William Garvin, Thomas Miller, Will- 
iam Pye, Edward Ouinn,jr. 

Town of Bridgeivater. — Volunteers for three years credited previous 
to call of October 17, 1863; Second Sharpshooters, Company E: — 
Edward Atwood, Henry K. Blanchartl, George A. Clay, Tilton Cutts, 
James C. Daggett, Horace L. Hathorn, William A. Hathorn, Wallace 
E. Robinson, Davi d B. S awyer. Edwin A. Sawyer, Addison V. Spicer. 
Third Sharpshooters : — Albert S. Healy, Wilmoth Ayers, 1 1 H, George 
S. Bridge, 5 I, Edwin Briggs, Sjlvester F. Briggs, Stephen A. Capron, 
4 A, Charles S. Cilley, 9 D, John Dickey, 4 K, John Dugueze, 9 D, 
Samuel F. Dunbar, 4 A, Daniel Harrington, 9 D, Don A. Howard, 4 
A, Frank P. Ivers, 4 D, David Jessmer, 6 I, Jacob D. Johnson, 3 A, 
Truman R. Lewis, 6 C, William Luce, 7 H, Isaiah T. Maxham, 6 C, 
Seth O. Perkins, 4 D, John Y. Raistrick, 6 C, Joseph Robinson, 6 C, 
Charles B. Sisson, Cav. E, Charles A Smith, 7 H, Anson Snow, 4 H, 
Harvey J. Sprague, 10 G, Jesse D. Stevens, 2 recruited, Asa W. Stowell 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 153 



and Justin A. Taylor, 4 D, Robert Thompson, 6 C, Rufus B. Tucker, 9 
D, Elihu E. Wilder, 7 H, Levi F. Wilder, 11 H, Josiah P. Wiliard, 6 C, 
Luther W. Wilson, 11 H, William Woodward, 6 C, Bczaleel Wood, 3 A. 
Volunteers under call of October 17, 1863, and subsequent calls, for 
three years: — Jerry Barry, Cav., Herman Belding, 9 E, Francis Boyle, 
Cav., Daniel Brackett, Cav., Charles F. and Lorenzo F. Brainard, 9 E, 
Charles L. Brown, 1 1 G, George Brown, 10 -, George T. Clark, 9 E, 
John Clark, Cav. -, Marvin T. Clark, 9 E, George W. Davis, 10—, John 
Dugueze, 11 H, Henry Ettinger, Bat., James Finn, Cav.-, John C. 
Fuller, 54 Mass., William Gillin, Cav. -, Hollis K. Hoyt,9 E, George M. 
Hubbard, II G, Daniel Huse, 3 F, William D. Huse, 3 F, Richard Mc- 
Crea, 3 -, Nathaniel B. Pettengill, 9 E, Michael Reynolds, 3 -, Daniel O. 
Robinson, 11 H, Charles F. Rowell, 11 H, James E. Sawyer, 11 H, 
Joseph Smith, 10 -, Edward Williams, Cav., Newell E. Woods, 11 H. 
Veterans: — Samuel N. Hastings, John McGowan. Volunteers for one 
year : — Franz Buckhardt, Marshall A. Dimmick, George W. Robbins, 
Alden A. Spaulding, Carl Therin, Vilroy Wilson. Volunteers for nine 
months, Twelfth and Sixteenth Regiments: — Erasto F. Atwood, Orison 
A. Bartlett, George A. Chedel, Joseph C. Cilley, Charles F. Clark, Francis 
G. Clark, Harrison Conger, Seymour Conger, Andrew J. Ellis', Benj. F. 
French, Abel Gates, Lunus Hathorn, Herman Howes, Forest H. Ken- 
nedy, Charles A, Jasper H. and Oren Perkins, George G. Pratt, Daniel, 
Ezra J., and Wallace E. Robinson, Elisha F. Sanderson, Cornelius Scott, 
George Tuttle, Pliney F. Vorse, John C. Weatherby, Charles M. Wood. 
In United States Navy: — James M. Donald, Charles Lynch. Thomas 
McGrath, John O'Brien, Owen A. Riley, Charles Shumway, Charles F. 
Sinclair, Michael Sweeney. 

Toivn of Cavendish. — Second Regiment : — Amos C. Spaulding, C, 
Charles M. Walker, I, Daniel S. White, I. Third Regiment: — Jesse 
Adams, F, Abram J. Locke, F, Redfield Proctor, quartermaster, John 
R. Seaver, F, Chas. A. Frost, F, Ozias King, E. Fourth Regiment: — 
Henry B. Atherton, C, David Bruin, C, Freeman C. Conant, C, Henry 
G. Fillebrown, C, George B. French, C, Hiram E. Hardy, C, Joseph 
Hickory, H, Collins L. Piper, C, Michael Shannon, K, Ceylon P. Smith, 
C, Horace S. Smith, C, George P. Spaulding, C, Charles Stockdale, C> 
Samuel Thompson (P. M.), Henry Tulliper, C, Nelson Tulliper, C, 
20 



154 History of Windsor County. 

Daniel D. Wheeler, Henry P. White, C, William Whitlow, C, Zacheus 
Blood, C, Henry Rock, C, James Drury, C, Michael Eagan, C, John B. 
Kenny, C Sixth Regiment : — William W. Cary, E, Luther and Nathan 
Graves, C, Edward Kingston, C, Orrin J. Lockwood, C, Charles Luther, 
C, Nicholas Smith, C, Jesse C. Spaulding, C, Joseph W. Sperry, E, 
George D. Taylor, E, Oscar S. Tuttle, major, Hiram J. Wallace, C, 
William H. Ingleston, E Seventh Regiment: — Sylvanus S. Barnard, 
G, John H. Carlton, G, James Dumpy, G, Solomon Dutton, G, Milton 
L. Gilbert, G, Edward L. Hazelton, G, George M. R. Howard, G, Peter 
O'Connor, G, Sherman Parkhurst, I, Otto Rimely, G, Charles H. Spaul- 
ding, G, Charles A. Sperry, G, Lucian A. Wilson, G, Nahum Bemis, G, 
William P. Brown, G, George W. and William H. Ellis, G, John S. 
Fitch, G, Ransom G. Fuller, G, Hial W. Holdeii, G, Lowell B. Payne, 
G, Joseph Richards, G, Levi Rock, G, Austin J. Wilson, G, Seneca A. 
Wilson, B, Ward D. Wilson, G, Charles L. Adam.s, G, Newell J. Ellis, 
G, Henry C. Fletcher, E, Horace J. Fuller, G, Lucius A. Hesselton, G, 
Myron D. Hicks, A, Chancellor Page, G, Henry D. Pierce, G, Elbridge 
Reed, G, George Smith, A, Joseph P. Tarbell, G, Henry M. H. Thomas, 
A, F"rederick I'. Walker, G, George J. Wallace, G. Ninth Regiment: — 
Asaph Clark, D, Lucius C. Dickenson, Chap., William H. Snell, D, 
William W. Spaulding, D, George Strong, D. Tenth Regiment: — John 
Smith, H, James H. Webster, H. Eleventh Regiment: — John McNulty, 
G, William H. Webster, F, Wesley G. Sheldon, L, Wellington Yates, L. 
Sixteenth Regiment, Companies C, I, and K: — Joseph Ashley, Horace 
G. Atwootl, Warren Bailey, Isaac E. Barnard, Henry H. Bemis, James 
Bemis, Marlow Bingham, Zacheus Blood, John Cary, Henry H. Car- 
lisle, Melvin O. Chapman, Amos F. Grain, William B. Davis, Thomas 
W. Demary, Edward B. Ellis, William H. Ellis, Henry A. Fletcher, 
Lyman D. Foster, Jason E. Freeman, Orlow W. Fulliam, Ramson R. 
Fuller, Samuel A Fuller, Hial W. Holden, Charles H. Elbridge, G., 
George C. and Walter W. Kingston, Chester and John Langwoithy, Fd- 
ward F. Morgan, Charles Rice, Charles C. Spaulding, Matthew Stew.irt. 
Owen B Tufts, Frederick A. Wait, Jonathan B. Witherill, Lucian Wol- 
cott. Seventeenth Regiment : — John P. W. Barnard, G, William Clu- 
cas, G, Chester Langworthy, G, Edward McCormick, G, Alexander, 
Samuel and Matthew Stewart, G, Merritt D. White, G, Henry M., Isaac 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 155 

M. and Martin M. Windsor, G. Sharpshooters: — Merrill Bailey, Charles 
S. Bond, Alfonzo L. Field, Benjamin F. Giddings, Allen P. Miller, 
George S. Miller, Samuel J. Williams, Lyman D. Foster, Sanford Lang- 
worthy, Allen P. Miller. Cavalrymen : — Edmund Stone, Nathan G. B. 
Witherell, John O. French, George C. Kingston, Josiah T. Lyon 
Charles C. Spaulding, James A. White, Patrick Cronan, John Lang- 
worthy. Artillerymen : — Freeman C. Conant, James L. Harrington, 
Albert B. Adams. Volunteers found on later roll : — George L. Bur- 
bank, Albert S. Earl, George B. French, Henry Hardy, John L. Hem- 
enway, Horace E. Needham, Abel Ray, jr., Charles Sperry, Josiah D. 
Thompson, Joshua Upham, William H. Upton, William Whitlow. 

Tozvu of Chester. — A roll of the volunteers of Chester under the "calls," 
without regard to regiment or company. Volunteers for three years 
previous to call of October 17, 1863 : — Nathaniel O. Abbott, Elmer L. 
Adams, John S. Adams, Lorenzo Atwood, John C. Balch, PLthan A. 
Bailey, Sewell Barker, John L. Bemis, James E. Bolles, Charles W. 
Bridges, Perry S. Bridges, Ambrose O. Bryant, Lewis A. Bryant, 
Ara M. Carlisle, Edwin M. Carlisle, Martin V. Chapman, Warren H. 
Chapman, Ira E. Chase, Martin Church, Warner Church, Harvey O. 
Clark, Thomas R. Clark, James F. CoUis, Amos G. Cook, Henry S. 
Cook, Jesse Cook, Joseph Cook, Stephen F. Cook, Ezra S. Dean, 
Ezra M. De Camp, Augustus A. Deming, Riley Deming, James Drury, 
Frederick E. Duncan, Albert S. Earl, Alfred S. Earl, Ptolemy O. Ed- 
son, Abner W. Field, John P. Field, Joseph W. Fletcher, Lucius C. 
Fletcher, Otis F. Fletcher, Martin W. French, Albert W. Gibson, Will- 
iam O. Gibson, Willard Gilson, Horace J. Glynn, Justinian C. Glynn, 
Norman L. Gowing, Edmund Grady, Hiland H. Hadley, George W. 
Harris, George E. Hazelton, James B. Herron, William J. Hulett, Al- 
bert Jefts, Byron J efts, Daniel S. Johnson, Xenophon E. Lockwood, 
Gerald D. Marsdale, Charles A. Marshall, John L. Marshall, Myron E. 
Marshall, George C. Maxfield, Fletcher W. Miller, James Miller, Will- 
iam A. Miller, Norman A. Morris, Annis C. Noyes, Lewis O. Pierce, 
Gardner H. Porter, Ransom W. Rand, Alonzo H. Rice, Warren Rich- 
ardson, Dexter S. Roberts, Rawson .Sherwin, Crean A. Smith, Ambrose 
A. Stiles, Augustus B. Strong, Walter S. Tarbell, Wyman S. Walker 
Benjamin M. Ware, Wilber F. Ware, Dana R. Ward, B. Frank Weedon, 



156 History of Windsor County. 

William O. Wilbur, James D. Witherell. Under and subsequent to call of 
October 17, 1863 : — Horace G. Atwood, John Bajoin, William F. Barnes, 
John P. Bliss, Robert Boyd, Jeff. L. Brimmer, John M. Buckley, Elisha 
Collins, Robert Cowan, Homer A. Dudley, Myron S. Dudley, Ptolemy 
O. Edson, George W. Field, Jonas Garlack, 1 liland H. Hadley, David E- 
Howard, James W. Johnson, Orlando D. Johnson, Luke Kelley, George 
W. Kingsbury, Walter W. Kingston, John Kingsley, Preston S. Knapp, 
Frank Ladam, John H. Lord, Michael Lynch, Edward A. Marsh, Nathan 
Parker, William Powers, Silas J. Smith, Alexis Snow, Cassius M. Stick- 
ney. Nelson Stone, Michael Sullivan, Eugene A. Thompson, George E. 
Watkins, Bradlej' L. W'heeler, Edward C. Whitney, John E. Willey, Davis 
Williams, William Woodworth, Edward Young. Volunteers for one 
year: — Edward C. Adams, Lorenzo Atwood, Orrin Beard, Rodney L. 
Benson, Laurin A. Bolles, Azro D. Bradish, Adoniran J. Chandler, Daniel 
B. Chandler, Harlan W. Chandler, Francis G. Clark, William J. Clark, 
M. Johnson Conant, Palmetus F. Cook, William H. H. Crane, Henry A. 
Currier, Norman W. Earl, Francis G. Fassett, Charles H. Hewitt, Frank 
J. Kelley, William W. Marsh, Patrick Murphy. Clarence L. Ranville, Al- 
bert E. Reed, Warren W. Richardson, Putnam J. Thompson, Charles J. 
Tarbell, Webster W. Ward, Sidney E. Weston. Volunteers for nine 
months: — Albertus Archer, Irving B. Baldwin, Orrin Beard, Warren 
Beard, Artemas A. Blood, Harlan W. Chandler, Joel B. Clark, Elisha 
Collins, Palamedus F. Cook, William H. H. Crane, Charles C. Darby, lU- 
mer_ H. Dudley, Norman W. Earl, Theodore A. Edwards, Oliver Ellis, 
Andrew J. Farrar, Francis G. Fassett, Frederick J. F'itch, James A. Gould. 
William O. Gould, Almon M. Gould, Hiland H. Hadley, Hiram F. Hall, 
Henry Hardy, Thomas W. Heald, Hugh Henry, Albert S. Holbrook, 
Daniel P. Kingsbury, George W. Kingsbury, Henry W. Knight, Gideon 
E. Lee, John J. Miner, Henry A. A. Muzzy, Joseph S. Olney, George W. 
Paine, Joseph Piper, 2d, Arvin E. Pond, Edwin S. Reed, William Rounds, 
James O. Smith, George L. Spring, Charles J. Tarbell, Renselaer Tar- 
bell, Foster E. Taylor, Alvin L. Thompson, Putnam J. Thompson, Will- 
iam M. Tyrrell, Wesley L. Ware, Warren C. Williams, William Williains, 
Lyman G. Wood. In United States Navy : — Timothy Driscoll, Robert 
Emerson, Patrick J. Hasson, Michael O'Brien, John N, Young. 

Town of Hartford. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 157 

call of October 17, 1863: — Nathan A. Abbott, Cyrus A. Adams, Will- 
iam W. Bailey, Albert and Harvey Bartholomew, George F. Bemis, Ed- 
ward Blaisdell, Oliver Buell, Joseph Caraway, Charles Carlin, Benjamin 
R. Clark, Oliver Clement, Robert Courser, George A. and Timothy C. 
Curtis, John Cuthbert, Henry H. Daniels, Henry Davidson, Levi Dem- 
mon, jr., William H. Downer, Henry S. Drake, Horace S. Dutton, Will- 
iam A. Field, Arthur M. and Horace French, Francis Gallagher, James 
Gallup, James R. Oilman, Isaac Gorman, John F. Greenwood, George 
W. Hardy, Eli R. Hart, John S. Harvey, Charles H. Hill, Lyman Hunt, 
Charles, Edward W. and George Kibbee, Crowell M. Knowles, Sumner 
H. Lincoln, Edward Lyman, Thomas McHugh, IVToses Messier, Alvin N. 
Niles, Joseph C. Miner, French Morrill, Andrew H. Norton, Joseph W. 
Norton, Robert Orr, Samuel F. Parker, James H. Piatt, jr., Oscar and 
Sidney E. Pierce, Samuel E. Pingree, Charles C. Powers, Edward C. 
Richards, Lucian A. Rider, Daniel M. Robinson, Samuel Robinson, Will- 
iam H. Rock, Leonard P. Rowland, Delancy Sharp, James M. Sleeper, 
Martin V. Sleeper, Portus B. and Stillman N. Smith, Leander Spaul- 
ding, William Stafford, Henry B. Strong, Peter Terrill, Philip V. Thomas, 
Valorus Thurston, Edward Trask, Engedi B. LJdall, Henry M. Washburn, 
Charles H. Webb, Bartholomew and James Welch, Edwin W. Weston, 
Nelson W. Whitcomb, Willis A. Whitcomb, Henry K. White, William 
E. Willard, Alexis Wright, Mahlon M. Young. Volunteers under and 
subsequent to call of October 17, 1863 : — Abraham Austin, David C. and 
James M. Babcock, William Baker, Charles H. Beach, Franklin H. and 
Kingsbury Boyd, William Brown, James Burdett, Oscar F. Burdick, Ben- 
jamin Chauvain, Chester Z. Cook, Francis Dew, Lewis Douse, Eli Faneuf, 
George E. Fogg, Joseph Foisia, Solomon B. Franklin, George B. Frost. 
Joseph Granger, Abram Hagar, Joseph Ham, Jeno C. Hammer, Leslie 
Hammond, Hial Hill, Thomas S. Hodsdon, William B. Hoyt, John Hunt, 
Mackson B. Lawrence, George W. Loud, George N. Mitchell, Alonzo D. 
Moses, Felix Rice, John Robinson, John O'Shea, Patrick Sheehe, Jason 
Smith, Obed Stanhope, Dexter P. Waterman, Franklin O. Willard, Lewis 
T. Wills, Warren W. Wrisley. Volunteers for one year: — Lyman Ar- 
nold, Horace Badger, Thomas Brackett, Nathan Brown, Patrick Burns, 
Robert Cuthbert, jr., Charles Dean, Lawrence Edwards, Dostie Fan- 
euf, jr., Milo H. Glidden, Franklin Holt, Albert N. Kibble, Albert J. 



iS8 HisTOKV OF Windsor Countv. 

Kimball, William H. McKinlay, Donald McLeod, Francis Monroe, Levi 
C. and William O. Pitkin, Malcolm H. Pollaid, Carlos S. and William B. 
Porter, Henry J. StartwcU, Warren Streeter, George Swineburn, George 
H. Tamblin, John. Thomas, Wallace B Warren, John Williams. Veter- 
ans: — George F. Bemis, Edward R. Caswell, Timothy C. Curtis, Calvin 
Dyke, Marshall P. Felch, Edward F. Gould, Thomas McHugh, Lucian 
A. Rider, Stillman N. Smith, William Stafford, Peter Terrell. Volun- 
teers for nine months : — Isaac W. Abbott, Alamandcr L. Ball, Reuben 
N. Barron, Frank Blaisdell, George B. Brockway, Charles Brooks, Will- 
iam Brothers, Nathan Brown, Charles G. Cargill, John Carlisle, Charles 
E. Case, Cyrenius W. Dana, Joseph R. Davis, William H. Downing, I5en- 
jamin C. Dutton, Richard Fisher, Charles S. Gardener, James M. Gil- 
bert, Loren D. Goss, Lyman O. Gunn, John Hall, Albert E., Harper, 
and William Hazen, Henry F, Hathaway, Orange T. Hoisington, Alan- 
son H. Johnson, Albert N. Kibbee, Cyrus W. Morse. James NeAvton, 
Francis A. R. Packard, Chris. C Pease, Charles Pierce, Amasa H. Pills- 
bury, Calvin Porter, Daniel W. Roberts, George Russ, Jasper H. Savage, 
Joseph C. Sawyer, Frank Saxey, Charles J. Sleeper, Lorenzo C. Thurs- 
ton, David N. Winslow, John Q. Woods. (Entered service: — Joseph 
Bean, Byron Hunt.) In United States Navy : — John Cane, Peter Cole, 
Aionzo B. Davis, James Davis, Dennis W. Downing, Joseph Hippolite, 
Jerry Lee, Alex. McDonald, James McGinniss, John O'Donnell, John 
J. H. Schmalfeldt, Samuel H. Smith, Theodore H. Smith, John Wiiite, 
Henry Williams. 

Tozv9t of Hartland. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to 
call of October 17, 1863 :— Charles N. Allen, Roderick Bagley, Frederick 
Blaisdell, George H. Burrows, Charles C. Cleveland, George Colby, 
Charles E. Colston, 2d, Clarence E. and Oliver T. Cushmaii. Judah W. 
Dana, Hiram N. Davis, Aionzo Douglas, James P'allon, James French, 
Peter Green, Henry Holt, Charles Humphrey, Ira E. and James P. 
Hutchinson, Samuel H Jones, Edgar H. Leonard, Thomas F. Leonard, 
Allen P. Messer, Charles W. and Daniel Patch. Perry Lamphire, William 
H. Petrle, Frederick Remington, Austin O. Rickard, Benjamin R. Rick- 
ard, Benjamin Rogers, George C. Rumrill, John Sabine, Elbridge G. 
Thompson, Louis O. Vaughn, Zina Walker, Charles C. Warren, John H. 
Willard, Seneca Young. Volunteers under and subsequent to call of Oc- 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 159 

tober 17, 1863 : — David Barber, Dana Boyd, Alnieron Burnham, Henry 
Clark, Daniel M. Clough, John Cook, John A. Cutler, Harry Durphey, 
William H. Durphey, David A. Elkins, Josiah Elkins, jr., William R. 
Elkins, Charles D. Fairbanks, John Flynn, Robert Gannon, Ira A Had- 
dock, Francis D. Hale, Austin Hazzard, Benjamin C. Hill, Stephen S. 
Huntley, George J. Hurley, Joseph Jones, Moses M. La Fayette, James 
Mack, George Martin, Henry May, Joseph Mayo, John McCartliy, Syl- 
vester O. Merc, James Murphy, Andrew Nichols, Henry Park, Benjamin 
F. Rickard, Horace and Roger Sargent, George E. Startwell, Heaton B. 
Skinner, John E. and Richard Smith, Elisha S. S()aulding, John J. Tem- 
ple, Henry Tilden, Patrick Tobin, Ransom C. White, David Wright. 
Volunteers for one year : — Corneliu-^, Cyrus R. and Dwight Bagley, Asa 
M. Benway, Frederick E. Hlaisdell, John D. Blanchard, John W. Doug- 
lass, Thomas L. Geer, Allen Gilson, Hiram K. King, Heman C. Orcutt. 
F"ranklin Parker, William H. Petrie, James M. Sleeper, Gains S. Thomp- 
son, Andrew J. and Zina Walker, Richard Wheeler, Albert Willard, 
Thomas A. Willard, Hosea B. Young. Volunteers re- enlisted, veterans: — 
Allen W. Berry, Henry R. Brannock, Thomas H. Fargo, Henry H. Hast- 
ings, John Jerlisan, John King, Thomas F. Leonard, William Munger. 
Martin V. Sleeper, John H. Willard. Volunteers for nine months : — 
Charles O. Alexander, William J. Allen, Cyrus R. and William W. Bag- 
ley, Thomas J. Benjamin, John W. Bramble, Sidney W. Brown, John F- 
Colston, Oscar P and Ozro P. Davis, -William W. Dodge, Ferdinand 
Fallon, Carlos Fulton, Ethan A. Giles, John S. Hardy, Benjamin F- 
Hatch, Benjamin D. Hathaway, Lorenzo D. Kidder, Reuben N. Lani- 
phear, Thomas Leiiahan, Andrew C. and Lewis J. M. Marcy, Joseph 
Mayo, James P. Nash, Lucian W. Rice, Andrew T. Richmond, Augus- 
tine W., Cliarles C, Daniel W. and William W. Rogers, James W. 
Rogers, Daniel Short, James M. Sleeper, George W. Spear, John J. Tem- 
ple, Thomas Tracey, John B. and Sanford M.Whitney, Clinton J. Willard- 
Li United States Navy: — Nehemiah L. Angell, Thomas Callahan, James 
Conway, Frank CrisC'^, David Di.xon, John Dooley, John Gallaghar. 
John W. Griffith, Andrew Hanson, Peter Hanson, Jeremiah Harrigan' 
Thomas F. Henway, Erva Johnson, Thomas Kelley, Antonio Lopez. 
Ned McDonald, Elbert O Rhodes, Thomas Table, John Tower, Horace 
Watkins, Robert Welch. 



i6o History of Windsor County. 



Town of Ludlow. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to call 
of October 17, 1S63 : — Daniel O., John W. and Wayland Adams, Ed- 
ward E. Balcli, James F. BaKluin, John and William J. Barrett, Dorman 
and Rufus F. Barton, Leonard P. Bingham, Charles W. Bishop, Iliram 
P. Bixby, John M. Buckley, George B. Burbank, William A. Chapin, jr., 
Jasper N. Clark, Henry C. Cleveland, William A. Clement, Henry F. 
Colby, Daniel F. and John T. Coolidge, Thomas R. Cummings, Leander 
D. Davis, Lorenzo A. Dodge, Charles W. Dow, Erwin M and Jesse B. 
Dunbar, Henry F. Dutton, Addison F. Eaton, Sewall P2llison, Patrick 
Finnigan, Benoni B. and Volney S. Fullam, Freeman H. Fuller, Albert 
and Oscar Gassctt, Michael Gilligan, James T. Gorham, Elbert M. and 
Enos M. Gould, Hiram Greeley, Josiah M. Green, Martin E. Grover, 
Artemas W. Hall, Joseph L. Hastings, Lowell W. and Prescott R. Haven, 
Daniel D. and Henry G. Hemenway, Abner C. and Moses P. Hesselton, 
Oramel G. Howe, Daniel Keating, Francis Kelley, Patrick C. Kennedy, 
Henry li. Lawrence, Arthur Little, Henry H. Mandigo, Albert A. May, 
Alonzo E., Armin E.and Charles W. Moore, Sylvester H. Parker, Sim- 
eon L. Parkhurst, Salmon E Perham, Orris Pier, Henry L. and John 
B. Pollard, Augustus H. Pratt, Charles A., Joseph U., and Sullivan E. 
Reed, Henry H. Riggs, Augustus L. Roberts, Levi Rock, Duane O. and 
Ulric T. Ross, Frank B. and Henry H. Sargent, Alphonzo and George 
M. Sawyer, Erastus M. Simmonds, Hiram Snell, Fred B. Stickney, Syl- 
vester C. Strong, Isaac N. Wadleigh, Freeman Wakefield, Asahel S. 
Whitcomb, R. Elmore Whitney, Charles H. Wyman. Volunteers under 
and subsequent to call of October 17, 1863: — Marlow and Leonard P. 
Bingham, William H. H. Chapman, Lucius Ingalls, Samuel Langdon, 
Horatio S. Lockwood, James Pollard, Charles Snow, George F. Spafford, 
Freeman Wakefield, Edwin H. Wheeler. Volunteers for one year: — Al- 
bert N. and Albertus J. Archer, F"red H. Barlow, F"red G. Barnard, Sam- 
uel Bell, Timothy Daily, jr., Hazen F. Fletcher, James Frazier, Benoni B. 
Fullam, Edward H. Green, James M. Hastings, jr., John Hayes, Charles 
H. Horwill, Patrick C. Kennedy, Edgar May, Peter McMorton, Francis 
A. Moore, Jonathan H. and Joseph U. Reed, Thomas Riley, Asahel J. 
Root, Lyman K. Sartwell, Byron and Milo Smith, John Snell, Alex, and 
Moses Snow, Samuel R. Taylor, John Withington, John P. Woodis. 
Volunteers re-enlisted, veterans : — Daniel O. Adams, Norman Archer, 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. i6i 

Freeman H. Fuller, Enos M. Gould, Martin E. Grover, Lowell W. Haven, 
Albert A. May. Volunteers for nine months: — Frederick G. Barnard, 
Marquis J. Bixby, Martin V. B. Clark, Hazen Fletcher, Charles Horwill, 
James M. Hastings, jr., Daniel Johnson, Zonal C. Lamb, Orlando S. Os- 
born, Benjamin F. Pettigrew, Surry M. Ross, Darwin R. Sargent, Milo 
Smith. John Snell, Michael Sullivan, Leonard R. Warren, Lysander 
Whitney, John E. Willey. Entered service : — Albert and Alvin Chap- 
man, James H. Porter, Martin Wyman. 

Town of Norwich. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to 
call of October t/, 1861 : — William Bicknell, George Bills, Horace and 
William H. Blood, Franklin Chamberlain, William H. Colburn, William 
H. H. Covey, Lewis and Simeon Currier, Lewis H. Dutton, John G. 
Fowler, Myron D. Gibbs, Charles A Goddard, James B. and Leonard 
H. Goodrich, Daniel and George W. Hall, Henry H. Hatch, James C. 
Hebard, Joseph L. Hilton, Allen H. and William H. Hopson, Alonzo B. 
Hutchinson, Augustus H. Johnson, Henry H. and William A. Kimball, 
Charles A. and Henry W. Knapp, George Lamphere, Albert, Charles 
M. and George Messenger, Edwin M. Noyes, Frederick Pennock, Charles 

A. and James M. Sargent, George W. and Henry Silver, Ransom A. 
Slack, John G. Smalley, Edward M. Sprout, George W. Taylor, William 
Tillerson, Silas N. Turner, Martin L. Wallace, Danforth Willey, John H. 
and Thomas K. G. Wright, Horace and Henry I. Yarrington. Volun- 
teers for three years under and subsequent to October 17, 1863 : — Cal- 
vin S. Adams, John Andrews, George E. Austin, Elisha T. Bedle, John 
Bowker, Albert Buswell, William E. Carpenter, Alonzo D. Clapp, Bur- 
chard Clough, Almon G. and William H. Coon, Bradford M. Crawford, 
George Currier, Oscar F. Davis, Joseph Doucette, George M. Eastman, 
William T. Gammell, l''reeman and George W. Gee, Marshall C. Goff, 
Charles W. Hartwell, Abel C. and George B Hebard, Peter Hemery, 
Justin G. Hinds, Charles Holt, William H. Hopson, Seaver Howard, Ben- 
jamin F. Kimball, Daniel Kimball, Willard Low, Alexis Marcotte, Will- 
iam McDonald, Seth McNorton, Cliftbrd Menior, George and Robert R. 
Morey, James R. Neal, George W. Nye, Merrill J. Piper, Edwin R. Ray, 
George W. Reynolds, Peter Riley, Isaac Shaddick, Henry W. Slate, 
Henry Taylor, Bernard Thompson, Fred Tracy, Patrick Welch, Charles 

B. Whitcomb, James H. Wilkey, Alexis B. and John H. Wright, Merrill 

21 



i62 History of Windsor County. 



E. and William P. Yarrington. Volunteers for one year : — Charles H. 
Bartlett, John E. Jenks, James Johnson, Julius Terry. Volunteers re- 
enlisted, veterans: — George A. Curtis, Erastus Doyle, Joseph Gadbois, 
Reuben W. Holland, Alpha Kimball, Oscar M. Parkhurst. Volunteers 
for nine months : — Aaron P. Alger, Edwin L. Ballard, Levi Benson, John 
B. and William L. Brown, Charles Caswell, Richard A. Colburn, Charles 
B. Converse, Daniel Currier, Orange P. Outing, William A. Danforth, 
Lewis H. Fowler, Henry G. Hawkins, Franklin Holt, David H. Huggett, 
Edson, Samuel and William H. Hutchinson, Lemuel R. Jenney, Michael 
Kelly, Thomas Marcotte, Benjamin F. Messenger, George S. Morris, Her- 
bert B. Slack, Charles L. Swazey, George R. and Harrison H. Thurstin, 
James B. Tracey, Charles H. Waterman, Charles P. and Rudolphus W- 
Wood (entered service), Samuel W. Shattuck. 

Town of Plymouth. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to 
call of October 17, 1863: — Alfred, Foster E. and Norman Archer, Mi- 
chael W., SethW. and Thomas O. Barker, Moses P. Bates, Eugene F.Bel- 
lows, Daniel F. Bennett, Henry R. Blanchard, Ormer D. Butler, Henry 
D. Carpenter, Ira D. Chamberlain, William Coffin, Winslow A. Colb\-, 
Philip W. Crosby, Andrew A. Edgerton, Willard T. Emery, Henry S. 
Foster, Daniel H. Gilson, Pembrook S. Grover, Eleazer A. Hall, Al- 
phonso E., Edwin A. and Joseph F. Headle, Andrew J. Holt, David S. 
and Luther Johnson, jr., James Kavanaugh, Simon Lesage, Warren S. 
Leslie, Daniel McKane, Timothy Messer, William H. Munroe, Charles 
H. Morse, Joseph F. Newton, George W. and Henry M. Parker, Edson 
and Samuel L. Pinney, Elbridge W. Prior, Eben Rand, Frank Roys, 
Joseph S. Sawyer, Seneca W. Taylor, Triffley Vansalette, Orick R. Ward, 
Alonzo and Eben Whitney, Solomon D. Wilder. Volunteers for three 
years under and subsequent to call of October 17, 1863: — Charles Archer, 
Stephen M. Butler, Smith M. Clay, Nathan Cummings, jr., Joseph A. 
and Sylvanus Davis, Joseph H. Eaton, Jason Ellis, Abel T. Gates, Alfred 
Gilbert, ThaddeusS Grover, Philip Hawkins, Nelson D. Knight, Andrew 
A. Miner, Erwin N. and Marvin Pinney, John Y. Raistrick, Charles C. 
Sawyer, Amos A. Smith, George D. Stowell, Benjamin Wilder,jr., Charles 
Williams. Volunteers for one year : — Lewis E. Ackley, Joseph C. Brad- 
ley, Charles H. Cilley, Lyman H. Cummings, Patrick Fagan, James 
Hubbard, Henry C. Leslie, Edward S. Morgan, Leroy W. Sawyer, Edwin 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 163 

P. and Peyton Tarble. Volunteers re-enlisted, veterans: — Michael H. 
and Thomas O. Barker, Ira T. Chamberlain, Winslow A. Colby, Daniel 
H. Gilson, William Hanley, Nathaniel Hazelton, Joseph F. Headle, An- 
drew J. Holt, Daniel Macaine. In the United States Navy : — Daniel 
Barry, Evelyn R. Carpenter, Christopher C. Hall, James Hubbard, Pat- 
rick Vaughn. Volunteers for nine months : — Abner P. and Franklin L. 
Archer, Leonard H. Bailey, Moses P. Baldwin, Amos H. Coolidge, 
Henry O. Cummings, Hezron Day, Volney L. Earl, Thomas Grove, 
Chris C. Hall, Orville M. Hudson, James C. Johnson, William E. Knight, 
Lorenzo D. and Henry J. Miner, Alfred T., Levi B. and Luther F. 
Moore, John W. Pierce, Leroy W. Sawyer, Norman Taylor, Eli M. 
Ward, Ezra M. Weston. 

Town of Pomfrct. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to 
call of October 17, 1863 : — Milo P. Adams, Hollis F. and Joshua Allard, 
Levi F. Barnably, Allen W. Berry, Austin, Dustin J. and William Boyn- 
ton, John A. Burbank, Calvin C. Cabot, Alex. B. and Edward Chandler, 
George Clapp, Ciiarles E. Cowen, John W. Currier, Daniel C. Dana, 
Antoine Duphany, Joseph Duphiney, Aaron H. Gaige, Edward P. Ha- 
zen, Joseph Luce, John and Oramell Morse, Edgar Ordway, John W. 
Perkins, Alonzo C. Reed, Owen C. Riley, Harrison Rodgers, Richard A. 
and Thomas O. Seaver, Charles W. and Henry O. Smith, Asa H. Snow, 
Charles D. Stafford, Melvin A. Stevens, William J. Strong, Lucius B. 
Thomas, John H. Vaughn, Franklin VV. Wallace, Francis R. Wallace. 
Volunteers for three years under and subsequent to call of October 17, 
1863: — Tufifield Amlaw, Charles Baraw, Erastus H. Buck, Henry Car- 
penter, George E. Clough, Chauncey Cronk, Nelson Drown, Henry L. 
Dike, Thomas W. Elkins, Robert Erwin, Daniel B. French, Dana Fuller, 
Mark Harrington, Eber H. Jenkins, Ellis T. Lamberton, John La Marsh, 
James N. Leach, Warren B. Layton, William Martin, Edgar Ordway, 
Edgar Petit, Joseph A. Pilkin, Horace Rollins, Joseph Ward, Chester C. 
Wheeler. Volunteers for one year: — Collamer P. and Ira A. Abbott, 
John M. Barron, Lewis Blair, John H. Chandler, Lauriston F. Danforth, 
Rufus Gay, Charles W. Harlon, Alba L. Jillson, John C. Keith, Frank 
Martin, Edward B. Maxham, John and William R. McCue, Thomas 
Mee, Charles E. Pilkin, William Pluden, Harrison Rogers, James Scott, 
Theron A. Thatcher, Harry B. Thomas, Charles H. Wood. Volunteers 



i64 History of Windsor County. 



re-enlisted, veterans: — Albert W. Allen, Hollis F. Allard, Franklin P. 
Flynn, Reuben W. Hayward, John Morse, Sylvester M. Snow. Vol- 
unteers for nine months: — William H. Adams, William P. Atwood, Ira 
Bean, Lewis Blair, James C. Bianchard, Harvey N. Bruce, John H. 
Chandler, Charks L. Clifford, Humphrey W. Colburn, John S. Currier, 
Henry M. Harding, Edgar and George W. Harrington, Stephen Hewitt, 
John E. Howland, Seneca B. Howland, John C. Keith, Henry E. King, 
EUi.T T. Lamberton, Henry O. and Orvis F. Leonard, Edwin B. Max- 
ham, Crosby P. Miller, Ora Paul, jr., Charles H. Seaver, Hial P. Leavy, 
Nelson Snow, Greenbush Strong. In United States Navy: — George 
Baker, Michael Dewey, Dennis Grady, Peter Mellen, John McKenna, 
Timothy Murphy, Benjamin Robinson, John D. Sullivan. 

Toivn of Reading. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to call 
of October 17, 1863: — William E. Amsden, Martin J. Bixby, Alphonzo 
Powers, Oscar B. Bryant, /\ndrew J. Butler, Anson O. and Frank J. Co- 
burn, John Crosby, Elmer A., Nelson W. and Norman E. Emerj% Henry 
E. Giddings, CoUamer E., Forest D. and Henry H. Giddings, Charles C. 
Grant, Philip Halpin, George O. Hawkins, Henry C. Hoadley, Philemon 
Holden, Elmer G. Holmes, Orro A. Jenness, Napoleon B. Johnson, 
Gould D. Keyes, Edmund F. Mahoiiey, Henry T. Marsh, William O. 
Messenger, James H. Noyes, George W. Pierce, Simon H. Spalding, 
Edwin S. Spear, Samuel B. Twiss, Henry O. Wait, Kosciusko Whitte- 
more, Lucius O. Wilkins, Wallace W. Wilkins, Charles M. Williams. 
Volunteers under and subsequent to call of October 17, l86j: — Alza- 
man D. Amsden, George E., George S. and James A. Brown, George 
J. Bundy, Andrew J. and Oliver B. Butler, Joseph Casavant, James F. 
Collins, John Corcoran, Levi A. Cross, Edward W. Demary, Andrew J. 
Drownie, Herbert A. Drown, Daniel Dunn, Philip D. Duphinney, Still- 
man O. Gay, Benjamin F. and Hiram A. Giddings, Noah W. Gray, 
Henry D. Hagar, John W. Holmes, Henry E.Kellogg,Albert W.Lang, Al- 
fred G. Lawrence, Hobart J. Marr, John Mason, Lewis W. Merrill*. Henry 
A. Miner, George Pappineau, Peter Pifer, Nathaniel Pifer, Andrew Rich- 
ards, John Sharmen, Bryan Shay, FelixValley, Edwin L.Wells, Harry P. 
Willey. Volunteers re-enlisted, veterans: — Charles C. Grant, James H. 
Hays, Henry C. Marsh, Edwin S. Spear, Henry O. Wait, Herman J.White. 
Volunteers for nine months: — Alzaman D. Amsden, Henry N. Bryant, 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 165 



Ambrose D. and Elton F. Buck, George M. Clark, Cornelius J. Cush- 
man, Edmund P. Davis, Edward W. Demary, Floyd W. and George 
O. Hawkins, David Hoisington, Elmer D. and William W. Keyes, Moses 
Nichols, Edward M. North, Edwin M. Paige, Dennison Parker, Lucien 
Philips, Edgar C. Price, William A. and William D. Wait, Joseph D. 
Weston, Azro Wliite. In United States Navy: — Declan O'Brien. 

Toivn of Rochester. — Volunteers for three jears credited previous to 
call of October 17, 1863: — Erastus S. Austin, Daniel Barkman, Alfred 
Barkman, Charles C. Beckwith, Horace A. and Truman L. Brink, Henry 
H. Chaffee, Royal M. Churchill, DauielJ^J. Coolidge, Edward S. Cooper, 
John and Lucius M. Dutton, Charles H. Dyer, George W. Eaton, Charles 
B Fiske, Volney R. F"landers, Henry and Roswell Freeman, Austin F. 
Gillett, Lucius W. Griswold, William C. Henry, Thomas P. Humphrey, 
Moses C. Hunt, James D. Huntington, John Ingleston, Daniel L., Jared 
L and William H. Jones, Charles E. and George C. Keith, Albert and 
Malcom G. Kinsman, Elbridge J. and Herman L Knowlton, George E. 
Marsh, Burnap A., Charles S. and George H. Mastin, Edgar W. and Ed- 
win J. McWain, Jacob Messer, Delos Permeter, James M. Pixley, La Fay- 
ette Richardson, Fred Richmond, David Root, Edward M. Savage, Hi- 
land H. Shipman, Henry Simmons, Harman C. and Thomas A. Smith, 
Ira A. Stevens, Henry C. Swan, Henry L. Terry, Hiram E. Thatcher, 
Fred C. and George D. Tilden, Clarence G. Tinkham, Ransom W. Towle, 
Erastus W.Ward, Andre M., Harry A. and Henry C.Washburn, John O., 
Robert B.. Martin D., Varnum B. and William P. Whitney, David L. 
Willey, Elbridge S. Williams, Benjamin M. Wood. Volunteers for three 
years under and subsequent to call of October 17, 1863 : — Ransom 
Badger, Darwin A. and Truman L. Brink, Charles W. Brooks, Ira P. 
Buck, Hiram W. Campbell, Solomon C. Comstock, James M. Grossman, 
Alfred and Henry A. Eaton, Henry T. Goodyear, Theodore H. Hall, 
John H. Holton, Joseph Huntington, Huntington M. Lamb, Elmer J. 
Leonard, Patrick Nally, Henry D. Newton, Luther I. Palmer, John V. 
Pearson, John F. Pillsbury, Alfred M. Richardson, Thomas J. Ryan, Ed- 
ward M. Savage, Luther Spencer, jr., Charles F. Van Gilder, Andrew J. 
Washburn, Joshua Whitney. Volunteers for one year: — George Allen, 
Charles J. and Willard J. Bisbee, Ira M. Brown, Sylvester Clark, Royal 
E. Durkee, David and Francis A. Eaton, Dean B. and Julius G. Fas- 



i66 History of Windsor County. 

sett, Joseph Flanders, Sherman Harrington, Ira V. Keith, Harry J. Kid- 
der, Joseph H. Newton, Lyman D. Rhodes, David Root, Nelson J. 
Thresher, Andre M. Washburn, Orville A. Wiggins. Volunteers re- 
enlisted, veterans : — Erastus S. and Truman M. Austin, Horace A. 
Brink, Henry H. Chaffee, John Button, William H. Jones, La Fayette 
Richardson, Irvin Spooner, Ira A. Stevens, Ransom W. Towle, Cyrus 
O. Whitney, David L. WiUey. Alfred Tensmyer, recruit. Volunteers 
for nine months : — Edwin E. and George E. Austin, Merrill Bean, Syl- 
vester Clark, Henry H. Clough, Milton Crossman, Eugene E. and Henry 
A. Eaton, Julius G. Fassett, William Gifford, George R. Miner, Charles 
Morse, jr., Stillman J. Perkins, Joel B. Smith, Wallace W. Towle, Will- 
iam J. Walker. In Navy: — Daniel B. Ball. Entered service: — Henry 
Freeman, Edward Morse, Lucius H. Taylor. 

Toivii of Royalton. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to 
call of October 17, 1863: — Cyrus and George S. Adams, Joseph W. 
Bailey, Henry L. and Nahum C. Baker, Mason Barney, Joseph D. Beck- 
with, Elisha T. and Thomas Beadle, Orville Bixby, Horatio C. and 
Lancelot K. Blake, James F. Bourne, Benjamin F. Bowman, Edwin H. 
Chadwick, Fred W. Chamberlain, Charles B. Cleveland, Oscar Coburn, 
Horace B. Cole, Harrison Dewey, Calvin Dike^ George A. DodgCi 
Francis P. Ellsworth, William Fallon, George Farmer, William H. Fay, 
John M. Fish, William S. Foster, Amos Gee, Collins F. Gifford, George N. 
Harper, Caleb Haynes, Charles E. Holmes, William Hopkins, James 
Hovendon, Silas W. and Thomas B. Howard, Jesse W. Johnson, Tim- 
othy Kiley, Henry E. Kinsman, Anzin, Charles A. and George F. Luce, 
Harvey J., Horace H. and Joel F. Lyman, Daniel A. Mack, Charles C. 
Morey, Henry H. Osgood, Charles A. Paige, George W. Pierce, Pres- 
ton A. Rand, Joseph Rollinson, Benjamin A. Root, Samuel P. Rundlett, 
William H. Sanborn, John F. Shepard, George F. Shettleworth, Henry A. 
and Henry C. Smith, Alonzo D., Nathan D., Reuben and Richard G. 
Spalding, Cornelius Stevens, Elbridge A. Stockwell, Luman C. Tenney, 
Joseph A. Trask, Oramel H. and Owen R. Vesper, Albigence and Dill- 
ingham Waldo, Alonzo L. Waterman, Wesley Watts, Henry H. Wheeler, 
Bliss P. and Edward S. Wills, James A. Wolcott. Volunteers under 
and subsequent to call of October 1 7, i i^l : — Oliver E. Adams, Prosper 
Allard, Irving H. Atwood, Charles C. and Eugene T. Beedle, Will- 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 167 

iam B. Bement, John A. Cilley, Henry C. Cleveland, John W. Conant, 
Charles C. and George E. Coy, Seymour Culver, Henry H. Deiinison, 
Carlos E. Farnham, Amon S. Haney, George S. Harper, John Hatch, 
Carter Houston, George Kilburn, Julius M. Lathrop, Daniel W. Love- 
joy, Aurin F. Luce, Joel F. Lyman, Marshall Morey, Marquis L. Met- 
calf, Lorenzo D. Miller, George W. Smith, George A. Wales, Edward S. 
Wills. Volunteers for one year: — Harnden W. Benson, George A. 
Bingham, Frank Blanchard, Abraham C. Bowen, Albert H. Bowman, 
George S. Bridge, Alonzo Clark, Albert R. Cowdry, Carlos B. and Milo 
H. Cushman, Charles P. Coy, Pliney E. Davis, jr., George T. Driggs, 
George W. Ensworth, Lavgas Gee, Gilbert Granger, Harry W. Hastings, 
Charles H. Johnson, John G. Lasure, Daniel W. Lovejoy, Edward F. 
Lyman, David Martin, Henry E. Morse, Alfred Paige, George H. Pierce, 
Frank F. Reynolds, Joseph A. Robinson, Eugene W. Rolfe, Jason S. 
Royce, Oliver H. Stevens, Myron Fuller, Albert M., Henry R. and 
Willard G. Waldo, Hastings A. Willey. Volunteers re-enlisted : — 
George S. Adams, Lancelot K. Blake, Benjamin F. Bowman, William H. 
Fay, William S. Foster, Daniel B. George, Orville E. Moure, Charles C. 
Morey, Alonzo D. Spalding, Orrin R Vesper, James A. Wolcott. In 
United States Navy : — Benjamin F. and George W. Waldo. Volunteers 
for nine months : — Oliver A. Atwood, Royal F. Baker, Warren F. Ben 
nett, Henry Clark, William D. Conant, Carlos C. and Charles P. Coy 
Franklin Dennison, George W. Dewey, Alba M. Fay, John H. Fowler, 
Frank Hall, Philip Howard, Charles H. Johnson, Kendrick J. Kinney 
Amos Leavitt, jr., Dwight P. Lesure, Daniel W. Lovejoy, Edgar B 
Metcalf, William D. Paige, Perry F". Pierce, James E. Riddle, Henry J 
and Thomas S Russ, John C. Sanborn, Charles P. and Oliver H. Stevens 
Benjamin F., George W., Joseph W., William and Willard L. Waldo 
Marvin H. Wheeler. 

Town of Sharon. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to 
call of October 17, 1863: — Augustus A. Atwood, Stillman S. Avery, 
William H. Barron, Hiram K. Blanchard, John H and Samuel B. O. 
Bruce, Edward W. Dam, George Day, George F. and James A. Dock- 
ham, George W. Flanders, James Fox, George E. Gardner, Joel Gile, 
Charles W. Howe, George W. Hubbard, Langdon Kemp, William A. 
Kneeland, Jefferson M. Ladd, Chester B., George L. and Rufus R. 



i68 History of Windsor County. 

Morse, John Munsell, James N. Preston, John C. Quimby, Riley C. 
Rogers, David VV. Sanborn, Charles H. Sawyer, Francis Y., George P. 
and Sylvester M. Snow, Elbridge G. Spalding, Albert V. Trowbridge, 
George J. Walker, Silas H. White, Hiram A., Hollis L. and Joel Willey. 
Volunteers for three years under and subsequent to call of October 17, 
1863 : — Harry, jr , and Joseph D. Bruce, John Davelin, William DeWitt, 
Luther C. Fay, Gardner W. Gibson, Edward H. Joyce, George H. and 
Oramel Kendall, Michael Murphy, John D. Nelson, Franklin B. and 
Nelson C. Roberts, Alvora M. Sargent, Henry M. Simmonds, Daniel A- 
Walbridge, George W. Willey. Volunteers for one year: — Alphonzo 
A. and William Badger, Charles E. Bent. William H. Eaton, WilberW. 
Howe, James N. Hunt, Joseph Jordon, George Knapp, Patrick Mona- 
han, Nathaniel B. Nickerson, Riley G Rogers. Volunteers re-enlisted: — 
James A. Dockham, Joel Gile, Hiram A. Willey. In United States 
Navy : — Royal F. Baker, George W. Flanders, Thomas Horn, John 
Kelley, John Kelley, 2d, Andrew W. and Andrew Lovejoy, Ralph B. 
Snow, Hi.nry Spalding, Oscar W. Stoughton. Volunteers for nine 
montl.s: — Alphonzo and George W, Badger, Alonzo Clark, Luther C. 
Fay, Oscar F. Fowler, George Knapp, William Martin, Charles B. Nor- 
ton, Daniel L Parkhurst, Albert Preston, Nelson C. Roberts, Don C. 
Slack, William W. Smith, William W. Stevens, Charles E., George A., 
George W. and Henrj' S. Willey Entered service: — Hiram K. Blanch- 
ard, James M. Preston. 

Totvn of Springfield — Volunteers for three years credited previous 
to call of October 17, 1863: — Harrison J. Adams, Albert W. Allen, 
Andrew A. Bailey, Alonzo Baker, Thomas C. Ball, Lewis J. Barnes, 
Charles L. and George F. Bates, James E. Bisber, Charles A. Bixby, 
William H. Blodgett, Harrison H. Brewer, Emerson A. Boynton, John 
Carmod)', King A. Chilson, Linus O. Chittenden, Albert S. Ciapp, 
James H. Clark, William N. Cobb, William and James B. Coffin, Henry 
M., Marvin J. and Seymour O. Cook, Frederick Crane, Charles E. Cut- 
ler, George M., Hiram, John G. and Olcutt Damon, Frank B. and Seth 
V. Davis, William L. Dodge, Henry Dunbar, Jasper W. Dutton, Norris 
Edwards, Samuel H. R. Emery, Jasper L. Esterbrook, George E. Farns- 
worlh, George E. Farrington, Allen P. and Edwin J. Flanders, Horace 
W. Floyd, David N. Follis, William Frost, Franklin, Hiram, Major and 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. '69 

Norman Gould, Francis and Leighton W. Griswold, Abner B. Hale, 
William D. Hall, Austin Harlow, Edwin D. Hatch, Edward Hayes, 
Charles F. Haywood, Elijah J. Herrick, James and Michael Hogan, 
John C. Holmes, Fry B. Hopkins, George B. Hopkins, Jonathan C. 
Howe, Lucius T. Hunt, Frank Johnson, George P. Knight, Levi P. 
Leland, Henry L. Leonard, Ira and Roswell Lockwood, John A. Lyons, 
Thomas Madigan, Patrick Mallon, Henry E. Marsh, Horace and James 
M. Martin, Oscar F. Mason, Horace E. Meacham, Theodore Merrill, 
John E. Miller, Charles Morse, John Murphy, Madison M. Myrick, 
Julius C. Newton, Wilson L. Nourse, Charles Oliver, Moses Olney, Will- 
iam N. Parker, Lemister M. Parks, Edwin A. Pease, Marcus L. Perham, 
William H. Perkins, Hubbard H. Phillips, Loomis A. Pierce, Charles F. 
Piper, William H. Pond, Benjamin F. Putnam, George H. and Joseph S. 
Randall, Allen Reed, Benjamin Rice, John Robinson, 2d, Charles F., 
Emerson M., Henry A., John W. and Joseph P. Rumrill, Daniel L. 
Shaw, Charles T. Sleeper, Elliott W. and Nathan Smith, Wesley H. 
Spafiford, George P. Spring, George M. Stanley, John Stevens, John F. 
Scott, Martin A. Stowell, Oscar E. Taylor, Ransom T. Thompson, 
Wheelock G. Veazey, Charles Waiteman, Abram J., Benjamin F., Pliny 
P. and William Walker, Charles Wheeler, Fred D. Whipple, Emerson E., 
Franklin B. and George H. Whitcomb, John M. White, Edward T. Wil- 
cox, Henry C. and William F. Williams, Salmon Winchester, George D. 
Woods, Francis Z. Zuille. Volunteers under and subsequent to call of 
October 17, 1863: — Harrison S. Adams, Silas Albee, RoUa and Sam- 
uel Barker, Aram Bingham, John Butler, Robert Carlton, Leighton M. 
Cass, Abram S. and Charles A. Cook, Chauncey L. Corbin, Emerson E. 
Davis, Jerry B. Emery, Hiram C. Fairbanks, James Fay, George A. 
French, William Gard, Abel H. Grennell, Thomas Griswold, Charles and 
Horace Hamilton, Charles Henry, Horatio M. Holmes, Charles P. John- 
son, Benjamin S. Kendricks, Owen Kenney, Reuben S. Kirk, William 
A. Kneeland, John O. Knowlton, Corin Ladd, John La France, William 
Manning, Richard McDonald, Charles Morse, Mark Nugent, Myron E. 
Parker, Henry Perham, Frank Perry, Samuel C. Powers, Jeremiah Quirk, 
Michael F. Randall, Robert Robinson, Roswell W. Royce, Luman C. 
Rumrill, Thomas Shaw, La Forest M. Smith, Almon J. Spaulding, Wesley 
H. Spaftbrd, Daniel W. Staples, David Stokes, Timothy Sullivan, George 
22 



I/O History of Windsor County. 

Turner, Thomas Walwick, William L. Whitcomb, John With. Volun- 
teers for one year: — Albert R. Ayers, James B. Coffin, Aaron D. Da- 
mon, Herbert W. Davis, George Demary, George H. Farnsworth, Mar- 
shall P. Frost, Orwell Fullam, Noah T. Gile, William A. Lee, John T. 
and William A. Lewis, Leander C. Lockwood, James A. Partridge, James 
F. Roby, Richard K. Russell, Harley C. Seaver, Thomas Sexton, John 
C. and William E. Slason, Abner E. T. Smith, John O. and Osmon A. 
Spring, George A. Walker, Edward P.. White, Charles A. Williams. 
Volunteers for nine months: — John H. Albee, James H. Allen, Albert 
Ayers, Henrj' E. Benson, William B. Blanchard, Simon N. Brownson, 
Horace H. Burbank, Thomas Carmody, Abram S., George S. and Wal- 
ter Cook, John D. Cutler, Henry C. Davis, Granville S. Derby, Isaac 
and Londas G. Ellis, David Fairbanks, Lewis Graham, George G. Gregg, 
Thomas Griswold, Henry Harlow, Walter S. Heminway, Albert D. L., 
Charles G. and Russell S. Herrick, David A. and Leonard E. Henry, 
Hannibal L. Holden, Elbridge W. Hewey, Orlando Hutchins, Hilliard P. 
Jones, Francis F. Kenney, George S. Kingsbury, Dexter B., Frederick 
A. and Hoyt B. Lockwood, Francis' Long, George J. Martin, Alvin H. 
Mason, Horace E. Meacham, Horace, John W. and Zimri Messenger, 
Rossendel J. Messer, Lucian R Nourse, Barney W. and Myron K. Par- 
ker, David W. Parkhurst, Nathan Perry, Orrin Putnam, Luther W. Ran- 
dall, Frank F. Rice, Orrin Rice, 2d, William H. Rogers, Levi Rumrill, 
Charles H. Russell, David F. Safiford, Thomas Saxton, William H. H. 
Slack, Samuel F. Slade, Hiram D. Spafford, Almon J. Spaulding, Nor- 
man B. Stone, James Tarbell, Pliny E. Washburn, James P. Way, Bart- 
lett E. and Marshall B. White, Samuel Whiting, Adin H. Whitmon-, 
Robert Whitsitt, Henry P. Wilson, Henry A. Wt.od, John P. Woodis. 
Entered service: — Ryland N. Bullard, Darius and Nelson Parker, 
Hamblin and Haskell B Rumrill. Volunteers re-enlisted : — William H. 
Blodgett, Emerson A. Boynton, Warren II. Chapman, Harvey O. Claik, 
Edwin J. P'landeis, Henry S. Foster, Norman Gould, Abner B. Hale, 
Joshua N. Holbrook, Levi P. Leland, Ira Lockwood, George H. Mellisli, 
Lemister M. Parks, Adam B. and William H. Perkins, Oscar Pierce, 
Charles F., Henry A., John W. and Moses C. Rumrill, Edmund Stone, 
Willis W. Wood. 

To7t»i of Stockbridgc. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to 



Roll ok Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 171 

call of October 17, 1863 : — Amasa and Cyrus Adams, Lyman C. Aldrich, 
Selden Barnes, Charles and William H. Blackburn, Norman H. Blanch- 
ard, Francis A. Boutwell, Edward C. and George A. Brown, John Burn- 
ham, Bingham H. Caswell, Elias B. Claflin, Henry W. Collins, Tliomas R. 
Cunningham, Edward J. Curtis, Benjamin F. Gearing, Edgar J. Gaffield, 
Levi B. Goddard, William B. Hepworth, George H. and Hiram A. Kim- 
ball, Reiiselaer Longly, Jabez R. Ma.xham, John E. Morse, Stephen M. 
Pingree, Benjamin M. and Fernando L. Rumrill, Myron E. Savage, 
Franklin S. Sawyer, John A. Scabie, James M. and Lyman J. Smith, 
Rodney R. Thayer, Charles C. and Joel D. Waller, Edward Wheeler, 
Jeremiah E. Wilson, Charles Woodbury. Volunteers under and subse- 
quent to call of October 17, 1863 : — Henry Adams, Tim ithy C. and Ross 
Aldrich, Wesley F. Baker, William R. Blanchard, Erasmus C. Butterfield, 
Ezra S. Burnham, Charles W. and William A. Chamberlain, Alfred Cur- 
tis, William A. Dow, Joseph Flawthrop, Volney R. Flanders, Samuel N. 
Goldthwait, Walter Green, George Hale, Joseph Hale, David Johnson, 
Franklin Kimball, William H. Lucas, Rufus S. Mack, Andrew McNuff, 
Alanson E. Packard, Oscar W. Pain, Timothy Pendergast, Amasa Phil- 
lips, Periy F. Pierce, Sumner W. Rich, Benjamin, jr., and Hiram A. Rog- 
ers, Charles B. Rumrill, Allen A. Savage, Ira N. Smith, Michael Tear- 
ney, Walter Thompson. Volunteers for one year : — Loren Adams, Dustin 
Bowen, jr., Oliver E. Brewster, Peter H. Brooker, Austin H Dickerman, 
Joseph E. Goddard, George D. Hale, George O. Hassam, John T. Knowl- 
ton, Patrick Marr, jr., Isaac and Warren Morse, Warren L. Pierce, Amos 
L. Stratton, Isaac N. Taggart, James S. Williamson. Volunteers for nine 
months : — Chauncey L. Angell, Levi H. Blanchard, Elisha P. Boutwell 
William A. Chamberlain, Waldo S. Fisher, James H. Furber, Charles A 
Goldthwait, Royal H. Goodell, Sumner A. Hodgkins, Francis E. R. Kid- 
der, Chester F. Earned, Rufus S. Mack, Oscar W. Paine, F""ranklin Pills- 
bury, Ira P. Rathburn, Arzo A. Rice, Orlando J. Richardson, Charles B. 
Rumrill, Joseph J. Smith, jr., Joseph M. Taggart, John White. In United 
States Nav}': — James E. Bailey, George Baker, Henry W. Bugbee, An- 
drew Cuthbert, John Gibbons, William Jackson, George Sinclair, James 
Smith, Henry Stackpole, Lyman Williams. 

Town of WeatJicrsficld. — Volunteers for three years credited previous 
to call of October 17, 1863 : — Michael Agan, Thomas Agan, Henry Al- 



172 History of Windsor County. 

len, C. Volton Bailey, Owen Bartley, Fred A. Bates, Calvin H. Bemis^ 
Francis J., John W. and Leonard E. Bennett, Carlos and Thomas Bry- 
ant, Eben M. Cook, John Coyn, Arzo Craigne, John Daily, George and 
Justus Dartt, Isaac N. Davidson, John Deady, Henry E. De Camp, Morti- 
mer Demary, Levi VV. Field, Byron Fleming, Thomas B. Garry, James 
H. Goldsmith, Franklin N. Grimes, Thomas Hadley, Charles W. Haskill, 
Carlos and James N. Hatch, William L. Hobson, Austin S., Henry O. 
and Theodore L. Hutchinson, Charles Jarvis, Thomas W. Kendall, John 
B. Kenney, Lysander J. Keys, John A. Kimball, Chris. C. Lee, George 
L. and Oliver H. Marcy, George W. and Selden A. Nichols, Adam Per- 
kins, Seymour G. Phillips, William Piper, Orsamus B. Robinson, David 
W. Sanderson, David B. and Hiland Smith, Joseph Spafford, Orlando C. 
Spaulding, Leonidas, Lycurgus and Paschal P. E. Strong, Algernon M. 
Squire, Stephen L.Taylor, Joseph and Joshua Upham, James Weston, Ar- 
temas H. Wheeler, Willis W. Wood. Volunteers for three years under 
and subsequent to call of October 17, 1863 : — F"red A. Bates, Edward G. 
Bloxson, James C. Bowen, Rosalro Bradish, John and William H. Brinn, 
Chas. F. Carlton, James S. and William J. Davis, John R. Dean, F"red H. 
Hobson, George C. and Richard M. Howell, Dalphus Pelkey, Eugene P. 
Robinson, Daniel Smithy Arzo B. Stiles, Simon P. and William H. Todd, 
Horace M. Walker. Volunteers for one year : — Carlos and Thomas D. 
Bryant, Eben M. Cook, Alba Dart, Robert H. Delano, Silas M. Demary, 
Jerome B. Douglas, Charles L. Ellsworth, Lewis Greenwood, Eben S. 
Haskill, Thomas Hobson, jr., Henry Hutchinson, Aaron P. Knight, Jo- 
seph Leroy, William D. Livingston, Charles W. Mitchell, Joseph Rollin- 
son, William M. Smith, Henry W. Spafiford, John S. Spaulding. Vol- 
unteers for nine months : — George P. Bennett, George W. Billings, Otis 
M. Bowen, Charles H. Boyd, Elliott and Rosalvo Bradish, Charles D. 
Brink, Austin S. Bronson, Servitus E. Connor, William Danforth, Alba 
Dart, George H. Dean, Henry E. De Camp, George and Shepard A. Dick- 
inson, Martin H. Graves, Edward H. Hammond, Piam O. Harris, Eben 
S. Haskill, Clark Hill, Benjamin F. Johnson, John P. Knight, Bryant N. 
Lockwood, Lisime Marcotte, Martin H. Newhail, Martin O'Grady, Syl- 
vester Putnam, Olney F. Qnimby, Carlos C. Roys, Charles F. Sheldon, 
Joseph Spafford, Harland R., Luzerne R. and Paschal P. E. Strong, Will- 
iam F. Swift, Arthur C. Taylor, James B. Taylor, William E. Thompson, 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. 173 

Barton A. and Wesley W. Walker, Henry C. West, Henry C. White, 
John M. Wright. In United States Navy : — Wilham H. Strow. 

Town of Weston. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to call 
of October 17, 1863 : — Alexander Abbott, David Allen, Harvey K. Aus- 
tin, Albert D. Beckwith, Leroy A. Britton, Joseph Butterfield, Peter S. 
Chase, Sumner W. Coburn, John H. Colby, Nelson O. Cook, Austin Fenn, 
George W. Fuller, James Hale, William W. Hesselton, Adelbert R. Hill, 
Rosalvo S. Jefts, Willard R. F.Johnson, Frank Larbush, Ransom M. Patch 
Ambrose, Loren C, Silas H. and William H. Pease, Henry H. Peck, Bur- 
ton Roberts, Marshall W. Rogers, Henry and James M. Stevens, Joseph 
Stone, Luther Stuart, Warren P. Tenney, Sidney A. Way. Volunteers 
for three years under and subsequent to call of October 1 7, 1 863 : — Will- 
iam Barry, John P. Bryant, Samuel Draggon, Stephen F. Farr, Almon H. 
and Freeman J. Hale, Nathan and Sidney L. Holt, William B. Nutting^ 
James S. Pease, Rollin Perry, Martin V. Robbins, Cileston Sylvester, 
John J. Tracey, Henry F. West, Jay Wilkinson. Volunteers for one 
year: — Charles Allen, Milon N. Beckwith, Henry N. Bliss, David W. 
Bolster, Joseph L. Harrington, David M. Kirk, Rufus B. Kirk, Vernon A. 
Marsh, Levi Moore, John McAulifF, David Mossey, Jesse Parkhurst, 
Henry H. Phillips, Frank B. Shattuck, Loren Siiippey, Albra H. Wood- 
cock. Volunteers for nine months: — Adelbert Allen, William D. Ball, 
James H. Bryant, Peter Fagan, Alonzo Farley, Asa G. Foster, Hiland 
H. Hesselton, Sidney L. Holt, Nathan W. Johnson, Thomas O. Moore, 
Henry J. Parker, Samuel A. Patterson, Clark W. Pease, Harrison C. 
Shattuck, Judah H. West, Sylvanus Winship. In United States Navy : — 
Charles Brown, Almon H. Hall, Eldridge Mansfield, Leland H. Perry. 

Town of West Windsor. — Volunteers for three years credited to call 
of October 17, 1863: — George Anderson, John Brown, James Burns, 
Henry R. Brannock, Thomas F. Burnham, Wilbur F. Cady, Edmund E. 
Cushman, Benjamin D. Gates, Theodore Harrison, Albert S. Lamson, 
James Livingston, Norman W. Lumbard, William H. H. Ralph, Joseph 
Robinson, Henry H. and Stillman H. Walker, Herman White, Thomas 
E. Woods. Volunteers for three years under and subsequent to call to 
of October 17, 1863 : — Thomas Adams, Joseph Aldrich, Henry C. Alex- 
ander, Isaac VV. Batchelder, Seth Blanchard, James Boyle, John D. Brooks, 
Charles H. Brown, Reuben Chase, Charles J. F. Cushman, Michael 



174 History of Windsor County. 

F"eeley, John Freeman, Thomas Jones, Edward H. and George H. Lane, 
Henry E. Marsh, James F. Nason, Rufus Noyes, John Railey, John 
■Rogers, John H. Rowe, Selim R. Sands, George M. and Joseph F. 
Savage, John Sowles, Oliver F. SilHngs, Edwin S. Taylor, Andrew G. 
Tolman, Ward C. Walker, William Weaver, Herbert O. White. Vol- 
unteers for nine months: — Melvin Bannister, Aretus B. Blood, Dennis 
A. Borne, Charles B. and James H. Bowers, John W. Cady, Benjamin 
F. Carpenter, George W. Cook, Eugene Delano, Morris L. Dimick, 
Henry H., Ira M., Jabez H., Stephen F. and Ulysses H. Hammond, 
Martin A. and Wilbur A. Herrick, James W. Mansfield, George H. Par- 
ker, Edgar F., John W. and Norman E. E. Perkins, Gilman S. Parsons, 
Abel Prince, Erastus and Hosea W. Read, Fred G. Rice, Fred. Robin- 
son, Edgar M. Ruggles, Charles L. and John A. Savage, FarweJl G. 
Shedd, Ira C. Small, Charles Spaulding, Edwin S. and James W. Tajlor, 
Rosto E. Turner, Winslow W. Wait, George and Henry Walker, Ben- 
jamin Warren, jr., Ira V. White, Daniel W. Woods. 

Towfi of Windsor. — Volunteers for three years credited previous to 
call of October 17, 1863: — George L. and Henry D. Bates, Wiliner C. 
Barnard, Joseph S. Bickford, Levi F. Blake, Thomas C. Bond. Zenas C. 
Bowen, Charles H. Boyd, Brigham Buswell, Samuel A. Cady, Peter 
Caldwell, Thomas Cass, Duight E. Clement, George L. Colpoyes, 
Joseph H. Culh'gan. Jerome C. Dow, Thomas Ensworth. jr , William 
Evans, George and Samuel N. Fitch, John Gauthier, William Green- 
wood, James Hadley, Byron O. Hoisington, Chester Holcomb, Horace 
A. Houghton, Hendrick R. Howard, Ezekiel T. Johnson, William M. 
Jones, John B. Kellogg, Henry M. Lull, Frank Menard, Charles E. 
Moore, Samuel E. Mower, Franklin W. Newman, John F. Noyes, Lo- 
renzo D. Partlow, William D. Paul, Francis E. Porter, Richard F. Rich, 
Truman Rose, Henry T. Seaver, William A. Sloane, Herman L. Small, 
Joseph A. Smith, Isomer W. Stevens, Henry G. Stiles, Dan. E. and 
Henry J. Stone, William J. Towne, William C. Tracey, Arthur T. and 
Daniel Ware, Stillman C. Wheeler, Henry P. Whitcomb, Edward Wil- 
son, Alvin Woodruff. Volunteers for three years under and subsequent 
to call of October 17, 1863: — Charles E. Ballou, James Brady, James 
Brown, George H. Bullson, Benjamin F, Carpenter, Michael Carrigan, 
Philip Darcius, Charles Day, Robert L. Delea, Charles C. Dinsmore, 



Roll of Windsor County Soldiers. — 1861-65. i75 

William Ditmur, Edgar W. Gage, Charles W. Gleason, Alonzo Hall, 
Prentiss Hibbard, Bailister Horton, Carroll V. Kenyon, Franklin S. Lam- 
son, Edward Moran, Charles Morey, Edward Newman, Hollis, Horace 
and J. Henry Norris, William H. Noyes, Orice Oakes, Norman B. Reed, 
Charles H. Stuart. Charles T. and James A. Stone, Charles D. and 
Samuel F. Sturtevant, Michael Sullivan, Ephraim Toothaker, Sullivan M. 
Waldron, John White, George B. and Sias T. Worthing. Volunteers 
for one year: — George L. Bates, Edward Blanchard, Elbridge M. Don- 
ahue, William Evans, Charles H Hill, Felix Micott, Julius C. Peck, 
Alfred Pierce, Simeon W. Pomeroy, Frederick L. and John B. Small, 
Charles H. and George S Thompson. Volunteers for nine months: — 
Francis Barron, Elmer F. Benjamin, Henry S. Blanchard, H. Harri.son 
Brewer, William Brown, Charles F. Butman, Charles H. and William P. 
Cady, William H. Clayton, Albert and James G. Coates, Charles H. 
Dake, Urias E. Damon, George R. Dinsmore, John W. Fleming, Will- 
iam H. Foster, John Gay, Almond Hall, Eleazer B. Haywood, Edward 
R. Hopkins, Allen E. Houghton, Robert H. Johnson, Harrison L. Marcy, 
Frederick P. Mather, Edward and Edward D. Moran, Michael Murphy, 
Augustus Newman, Ezra T. and Lucian Parker, Frederick L. Small, 
Charles, Charles T., and Guy A. Stone, Otis Thomas, Charles H and 
Henry B. Thompson, Sullivan Waldron, Roderick R. Williams. En- 
tered service : — Edwin N. Brown, Owen Raymond, Austin Sloan. In 
United States Navy: — Samuel Cross, Albert A. Green, John Lawler, 
John Whipple. 

TozvH of Woodstock. — Volunteers for three years credited prior to call 
of October 17, 1863: — William D. AUard, Henry G. Anthony, Austin 
G. Barber, Lucian Barnes, Andrew J. Beal, William W. Benson, Stephen 
Bishop, George E. Bridge, Lewis Bumblebee, Morris Burnham, Peter 
Caldwell, Rush B. Carlton, Thomas Cass, Lorenzo H. Cox, Royal Darby, 
Edw. W., John and William Davis, Charles, Charles A. and Theo. L. 
Dean, Hiram S. English, Peter H. Farrell, Irving J. Faunce, George 
Fletcher, Henry H. French, Francis A., Hartwell, and Hartwell L. P'rink, 
Moses George, George P. Gilbert, Orlando B. Gillingham, George W. 
Grow, Samuel N. Hastings, William K. Heath, Rufus A. Holmes, Henry 
A. Houghton, Charles E. and Leonard L. Hubbard, James H. Huilburt, 
Charles H. Jillson, Charles D., Henry L. and William Jones, John B. 



1/6 History of Windsor County. 

Kellogg, Jacob Keyes, Elias H. Kidder, Orrin T. Leach, Martin J. Lucas, 
Mitchell Maney, Alonzo A. Martin, George H. Mellish, Frank and Henry 
H Metcalf, Michael McGill, John McGowan, Andrew McKain, Jno. A. 
McKenzie, William Oberly, Ed. N. Ordway, Edwin R. Paine, Edwin H. 
Perkins, Edward, Jacob and Charles Perry, Charles Pierce, Charles P. 
and George S. Pratt, Thomas C. and William H. Rahue, George C. Ran- 
dall, Alfred F. Ray, Chauncy E. Raymond, Martin T. Ricard, Isaac E. 
Rounds, Charles Royce, P"red M. Saunders, Luther Severance, George 
W. Shattuck, Charles F. Smith, Charles Staples, Benjamin F. Strong, 
James F. Stiles, Daniel E. Taft, Aug. Tewksbury, De xAlgeroy Thomp- 
son, Augustus Troedean, William C. Vaughn, Henry Vondell, James 
Vondall, Alvin L. and Nathaniel P. Walker, Henry G., Samuel G. and 
Stephen P. Wiiite, Pardon A. Whitney, Edward Wilson, Charles J. Win- 
slow, Charles A., Dana C, Edwin S. and George B. Woodward. Vol- 
unteers for three years under and after call of October 17, 1863: — Ben- 
jamin B. Allen, William Bliss, Leander Bordeau, Elisha Bradish, Jno. 
Browe, George Bullard, Silas Burdoo, Edward Carrigan, Henry E. Chad- 
wick, Edson A. Chamberlain, Francis, jr., and Francis Chenette, William 
Clark, Henry O. Cummings, George H. Day, Charles F. Fisher, Oscar 
Gardner, Sabin Gartin, Moses George, William D. Gilbert, Clark M. Hall, 
Gardner C. Hawkins, James Hazard, David Hewson, Henry E. Howe, 
John Hurlburt, David Ledue, Henry H. Lewis, Jno. H. Mann, jr., Jno. 
W. Marsh, Lewis L. Marsh, James Masure, Edward H. Mero, Charles F. 
Myers, Fred Parkhurst, Worthington, Pierce, Jerome J. and William C. 
Pratt, Benjamin F. Putney, Leander J. Sanderson, Julius Sault, Charles 
Scott, Chris. D. Seymour, Asa W. Stowell, George W. Taft, Oscar A. 
Tyrrell, Charles B., Charles B, jr., and William H. Wentworth, Eli White, 
Norman B. Williams, George H. and Sylvester Woodward. Volunteers 
for one year : — Nelson H. Atwood, George E. Bridge, Fred C. Blossom, 
John Campbell, Nathan C. Claflin, Henry M. Clark, Homer Darling, 
Carlos B. Dutton, Fred Fallon, Jno. C. Fisher, George C. Hagar, Elbert 
Hewitt, Henry A. Hill, Thomas Keene, Walter P. Leonard, Newman M. 
Lincoln, Albert L. McClay. Benjamin S. and Jno. C. Morgan, Addison 
F. Palmer, Edward A. Perry, Payson A. Pierce, Winfield S. Robinson, 
Benjamin S. Sargent, Asa A. Shaw, Edwin K. Slack, Albert H. Switzer, 
Charles Veo, Gideon Vincent, Darwin E. and Henry O. Washburn, John 



The Bench and Bar. 177 

T. Woodward. Volunteers re-enlisted : — Rush B. Carlton, George P. 
Gilbert. George D. Keyes, Henry L. King, Ichabod W. Mattocks, An- 
drew McKain, George S. Pratt, William H. Rahue, Alfred F. Ray, 
Charles F. Smith, Frank H. Stiles, Louis Vaundell, Samuel B. and Ste- 
phen P. White, Dana C Woodward. Volunteers for nine months : — 
Horace Bradley, Edwin R. Carroll, Sylvanus Chamberlain, Alonzo D. 
Clapp, Hiram O. Cobb, Samuel W. Cox, John Defoe, George E. Dimick, 
Elbridge K. Dodge, Philip Duphinney, Charles H. Eaton, Edwin C. Em- 
mons, Charles H. English, Friend P. Fletcher, Charles H. French, Will- 
iam D. Gilbert, Marshall C. Goff, Chris. Grundell, John W. Hagar, Oscar 
F. Hemenway, Seaver Howard, Fred Howard, James L. Hoyt, Ed- 
win M. Jaquith, Calvin A. Laws, Ezra H. Lovell, Lorison Lucas, Lewis 
L. Marsh, Zebb Cobb, Chris. C. Metcalf, Orrin G. Miller, Fred Parkhurst, 
George W. Perry, Worthington Pierce, Dan F. Pingree, Jos. S. Pratt, 
Benjamin F. Putney, Lake Ransom, George L., Henry G., Isaac P. and 
Wallace O. Raymond, Asman W. Richardson, Laurgautis H. Rood, Ed- 
win H. and Mark E. Slay ton, Orlando C. Smith, Wallace W. Southgate, 
Elliot Thomas, Harvey and William S. Vaughn, Charles B. White, Seth J. 
Winslow, Henry C. Wood, Crayton A. Woodbury. Entered service : — 
George A. Bailey, Eliphalet B. Cram, Henry A. Fairbanks, James Mc- 
Kain. In United States Navy : — Charles Case, Samuel Cross, Albert A. 
Green, John Lawler. 



CHAPTER XL 

THE BENCH AND BAR OF WINDSOR COUNTY. 

TO properly understand and fully appreciate the history of the judi- 
ciary of any nation or commonwealth, and the worth and attain 
ments of the magistrates and practitioners at its bar, some knowledge 
of the origin and development of the machinery and spirit of this 
branch of civil government is necessary. 

The sentiment is commonly expressed that the judicial system of the 
State of Vermont is largely copied or derived from the common law of 
23 



178 History of Windsor County. 

England, and slightly from the civil law of the Continent. In many- 
respects this is true, and resemblances may be traced therein ; there are 
certain changeless principles running throughout the laws of every State 
and people from the time of Moses to Elizabeth. The statute and com- 
mon laws of England are the recognized fundamental principles upon 
which are based the legislative and constitutional enactments of this com- 
monwealth, although directly the constitution of Vermont was modeled 
and based upon that of the State of Pennsylvania. 

But long before the adoption of a constitution forVermont the people 
of the region were living under a form of government established by the 
province of New York, by which the district now forming Windsor 
county was made directly subservient to the laws of the judiciary of that 
province. Counties were erected and courts organized ; but that judicial 
authority was questioned and opposed, and finally set aside. It can 
hardly, therefore, be considered essentially within the province of this 
chapter to refer at any length to the organization of courts other than 
those established under recognized and competent authority. 

An old adage teaches us that " necessity knows no law " ; and it is 
well-known that necessity — stern necessity — made it indispensable to the 
safety of the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants that some means 
should be devised by which the opponents to the policy of the majority 
of the people could be held in check, that the inimical conduct of the 
Tory element might not become dangerously contagious; for, if once be- 
come rampant, that clement would certainly have endangered and en- 
tirely overthrown the institutions of the infant State, and passed its con- 
trol into the hands of the New Yorkers. 

And it was stern necessity, too, that impelled Ethan Allen and his 
compatriots to establish an informal court for the trial and punishmentof 
the New York officers sent to the grants with warrants of dispossess and 
arrest; but the penalty and judgment of this court seldom went beyond 
a severe reprimand, and the not infiequently " impressive " effects of the 
"beech seal." Necessity, also, made it incumbent upon the authorities 
of the " separate jurisdiction " to establish courts of confiscation, not alone 
tliat Toryism might be checked, but that the means might be provided 
wherewith to defray the expenses of the government in political affairs, 
and as well to provide and maintain an armed force for aggressive and 



The Bench and Bar. 179 

defensive warfare, which, during that period, was waging against Great 
Britain. 

But after the independence of Vermont had been declared, and after 
the constitution of the State had been adopted, assuming tliese trans- 
actions to have been absolutely right regardless of the fact that they 
were not then sanctioned by the general government, the authorities 
were in a position to organize courts and administer the affairs of the 
State more " in due form of law." 

The fourth section of the original constitution of the State of Vermont 
declared that "Courts of Justice shall be established in every county in 
this State." This was adopted in 1777, but it was not until the next year 
that officers were chosen under its provisions. This brought into exist- 
ence the first courts of the two counties, Cumberland and Bennington, 
that then embraced the entire territory of the State. The county of 
Cumberland, of wiiich Windsor county then formed a part, was divided 
into two shires — Westminster and Newbury — for which judges were 
chosen as follows: ' Major John Shepardson, first; Stephen Tilden, 
second; Hubbel Wells, third; Deacon Hezekiah Thompson, fourth; and 
Nathaniel Robinson, fifth, judges for the shire of Westminster. And 
General Jacob Bailey, first ; Jacob Burton, second ; William Heaton, 
third; Reuben Foster, fourth; and Captain John French, fifth,. judges 
for the shire of Newbury. In June, 1778, Samuel Fletcher succeeded 
Hubbel Wells, and Joshua Webb succeeded Nathaniel Robinson, in the 
shire of Westminster ; and Deacon Smalley succeeded Jacob Bailey, 
John Burnett succeeded Jacob Burton, and Benjamin Baldwin succeeded 
John French, in the shire of Newbury. 

The persons above named were judges of what has been termed a 
Special Court for Cumberland county; and they cannot be said to have 
been either Supreme, Superior or County Court officers, as those dis- 
tinctive courts were not then established ; at least no record evidence of 
any such establishment during that year is to be found. 

In 1779. 3^t a legislative session holden at Bennington, in February, 
the General Assembly passed an act "constituting and establishing one 
Superior Court in the State of Vermont." This court was provided to 
consist of five judges, and terms of court were appointed to be held 

'Journal of the Assembly, March 24, 1778. 



i8o History of Windsor County. 

" within and for the county of Cumberland, at Westminster, on the sec- 
ond Thursday of March next," and for the same county at Newbury on 
the second Thursday of September next (1779)- And the same Legis- 
lature, on a later day of the session, passed another act, entitled, "An 
act regulating Trials and Appeals," which reads in part as follows : 
" Whereas, no county courts have been established in the State ; which 
makes it necessary that all such cases or actions as would otherwise be 
heard before such county courts, should now be heard and determined 
in the superior court. Be it enacted," etc, — directing County Court 
actions to be determined in the Superior Court until County Courts be 
established, etc. 

But the laws passed at this session (>f the Legislature were declared to 
be " temporary laws," and remain in force only until " the rising of the 
General Assembly in October next." In October, however, an act was 
passed extending the operation of all laws previously passed until the 
close of the Assembly's business in March, 1780. The October Legisla- 
ture also passed an act directing that judges of the Superior Court be 
chosen by the joint ballot of the Governor and Council and the House 
of Representatives. And further, another act fixed the fees of an at- 
torney practicing in the Superior or County Court at £G ; but this was 
repealed November 8, 1780. 

In the month of February, 1781, the county of Cumberland was di- 
vided, and out of its territory the other counties of Windham, Windsor 
and Orange were erected. This was followed by the organization of the 
new counties for all purposes, among them the establishment of County 
Courts; and provision was made for the election of one chief judge and 
four assistant judges, to be chosen by the people of the counties respect- 
ively. And about this time or a little later there was annexed to this 
county a considerable body of land east of the Connecticut River, due 
consideration for the people of which district was at once had in the ap- 
pointment or selection of Windsor county officials. Whether the first 
judges for the county of Windsor were appointed or elected is a trifle 
uncertain, but that the election was held and judges chosen on the day 
first appointed, the last Tuesday of March, 1781, would appear to be 
discredited from the fact that a number of officers were taken from the 
New Hampshire side, while the annexation of the towns from that local- 





J,/Dc^€^Cg^-<^: 



The Bench and Bar. i8i 

ity was not perfected or completed until the 5th of April following. 
The records bearing upon this subject appear to be silent, and the only 
reliable evidence regarding the selection of judges of the County Court 
for the county is found in the proceedings of the Governor and Council 
for the year ending 1781. From the transactions of that body it ap- 
pears that on the i6th day of April, while in session at Windsor, 
Elisha Payne of Lebanon, N. H., was nominated and appointed chief 
judge, while Joseph Marsh, Benjamin Emmons, Bezaleel Woodward and 
John Weld were in the same manner chosen side judges. Thus was 
constituted the first regular County Court of Windsor county, and the 
above named persons comprised the first bench of justices. 

It should be stated in this connection that the record of the proceed- 
ings of the Governor and Council, upon which the above appointments 
were made, has the qualifying statement "are hereby appointed for the 
time being," etc., thus confirming the opinion that the judges for 178 1 
were not elected by the freemen of the county. Deming, in his catalogue 
of Vermont officers, does not mention any judges for Windsor during the 
year 1781. 

The first term of the County Court for Windsor county was held at 
Windsor, on the last Tuesday of May, 1781, at which his Honor, Judge 
Payne, presided, while Joseph Marsh and Bezaleel Woodward served in 
the capacity of associates. Windsor was continued to be the temporary 
seat of justice of the new county until the efforts of Benjamin Emmons 
secured the permanent location for county buildings at Woodstock ; 
and even after Woodstock became so designated, courts were afterwards 
held at Windsor, as a half- shire town of the county, for a number of 
years. In the year 1787 courts were first held at Woodstock. 

It cannot be said with any present degree of certainty whether or not 
any of the first judges of the Windsor county courts were sufficiently 
versed in legal lore as to be deemed " learned in the law," a quality now 
essential in order to be elevated to the president or chief judgship, but 
with the associates or side judges it has never been required that they 
possess a legal education in order to qualify themselves for their duties. 
Elisha Payne, the first chief judge of the county, was not a lawyer, 
neither was his successor in office, Joseph Marsh, the school learning of 
the latter having been only such as was acquired in a single month. 



1 82 History of Windsor County. 

But notwithstanding that, Judge Marsh was a learned man, and pos- 
sessed such intellectual ability as made him not only an excellent judge, 
but withal one of the most influential men of his time. His services on 
the bench continued from 17S2 till 1796, when he was succeeded by 
Luther R. Morris, the latter serving as chirf judge but two years. 

The courts which have been mentioned in this chapter — the Superior 
or Supreme, and the County Courts — were the organized ones of the 
shire. The revised constitution, which was adopted upon the recom- 
mendation of the Council of Censors, provided for other courts than those 
formed under the first constitution ; and the revisions and amendments 
that have been made at various other times, several in number, have 
amply provided for the courts of the State and county, and their pow- 
ers and disposition, ail of which it can hardly be considered within the 
province of this chapter to discuss, however important and interesting 
the subject might be. The several changes that have been made, and 
the courts that have at different times been established and abolished, 
are within the understanding of every well-informed lawyer, and any 
further comment upon them would appear to be superfluous. But it 
will not be considered out of place to here make mention of the judges 
of the Supreme Court of Vermont from the j'ear 1778 to I 800, both in- 
clusi\'e, for such a record will bring to the present bar the names of 
some of the brightest legal minds of Windsor county, whether or not 
they were recognized as members of the legal fraternity. The follow- 
ing succession is taken from "Thompson's Vermont " : 

1778, Moses Robinson, chief judge, John Shepardson, John Fassett, 
jr., Thomas Ciiandler, and John Tliroop, associates; 1779, Moses Rob- 
inson, chief judge, John Shepardson, John Fassett, jr., John Throop, 
and Paul Spooner, associates; 1780, Moses Robinson, chief judge, Paul 
Spooner, John Fassett, jr., Increase Moseley, and John Throop, asso- 
ciates ; 1781, Elisha Payne, chief judge, Moses Robinson, John Fassett, 
jr., Bezaleel Woodward, and Joseph Cadwell, associates; 1782, Moses 
Robinson, chief judge, Paul Spooner, Jonas Fay, John Fassett, and Pe- 
ter Olcutt, associates ; 1783, Moses Robinson, chief judge, Paul Spooner, 
John h'assett, Peter Olcutt, and Thomas Porter, associates; 1784, Paul 
Spooner, chief judge, John F"assett, Nathaniel Niles, Thomas Porter, and 
Peter Olcutt, associates; 1785, Moses Robinson, chief judge, Paul 



The Bench and Bar. 



Spooner, Nathaniel Niles, John Fassett, and Thomas Porter, associates; 
1786, Moses Robinson, chief judge, Paul Spooner, Nathaniel Niles, Na- 
thaniel Chipman, and Luke Knowlton, associates; 1787,' Moses Rob- 
inson, chief judge, Nathan Niles and Paul Spooner, associates; 1788, 
Moses Robinson, chief judge, Paul Spooner and Steplien Row Bradley as- 
sociates ; 1789-90, Nathaniel Chipman, chief judge, Noah Smith and Sam- 
uel Knight, associates ; 1791— 92-93, Samuel Knight, chief judge, Elijah 
Paine and Isaac Tichenor, associates ; 1794-95, Isaac Tichenor, chief 
judge, Lott Hall and Enoch Woodbridge, associates; 1796, Nathaniel 
Chipman, chief judge, Lott Hall and Enoch Woodbridge, associates; 
1797, Israel Smith, chief judge, Enoch Woodbridge and Lott Hall, asso- 
ciates ; 1798-99-1800, Enoch Woodbridge, chief judge, Lott Hall and 
Noah Smith, associates. 

Succession of presiding judges of the Windsor County Courts : Elisha 
Payne, 1781-1782; Joseph Marsh, 1782-1796; Lewis R Morris, 1796- 
1798; Stephen Jacob, 1798-1801; Paul Brigham, [801-1802; Jesse 
Williams (declined), 1803; Elias Keyes, 1803-1814; Ebenezer Brown, 
1814-1815; lilias Keyes, 1815-1817; William Strong, 1817-1818; 
Elihu Luce, 1818-1822; William Strong, 1822-1823; Aaron Love- 
land, 1824-1825; Abner Forbes, 1825; Titus Hitchinson, 1825-1833; 
Jacob Collamer, 1833-1S42; William Hebard, 1842-1845 ; Daniel Kel- 
logg, 1845-1850; Jacob Collamer, 1850-1854; Abel Underwood, 1854- 
1857; Isaac F. Redfield, 1857-1860; James Barrett, 1860-1880; Rus- 
sell F. Taft, 1880-1882; John W. Rowell, 1882-1886. In 1886 a 
change was made in the judicial arrangements by which it was provided 
that the courts held in the county should be presided over by the judges 
alternately. The former practice was that one or more of the judges 
should be assigned to a district of the State, and hold all the courts of 
that district. 

Succession of assistant judges: Joseph Marsh, Benjamin Emmons, 
Bezaleel Woodward and John Weld, by appointment from Governor and 
Council, April 16, 1781. Thomas Murdock, 1782-1787 ; Elias Weld, 
1782-1790; Elijah Robinson, 1782-1801; Abel Curtis. 1782-1784; 
Paul Brighton, 1784-1788, and 1790-1796; Jesse Williams, 1786-1803; 
Asaph Fletcher, 1 801-1805 ; Aaron Leland, 1803-18 17 ; William Hun- 



'Atter the revision of the constitution only two associate judges were chosen. 



1 84 History of Windsor County. 



ter, 1805-1816 ; William Strong, 1816-1817 ; Amos Heald, 1817-1818 ; 
Aaron Leland, 1818-1822; Daniel Dana, 1818-1820; John Bridsje, 
182C-1825 ; Abner P'orbes, 1822-1829; Aaron Loveland, 1823-1824; 
Thomas Emerson, 1824-182S; Samuel W. Porter, 1828-1838; William 
Steele, 1 829-1 831 ; Royal M Ransom, 1831-1832; Samuel C. Love- 
land, 1832-1834; Ephraim D. Briggs, 1834-1836; David Pierce, 1836- 
1845; Reuben Washburn, 1838-45; Walter Thomas and Thomas 
Barrett, 1845-1849; Hampton Cutts and Calvin French, 1 849-1 852; 
Gardner Winslow and Barnabas Deane, 1852-1854; Daniel Woodward 
and Joseph Dodge, 1 854-1 856 ; Walter Palmer and Napoleon B Roundy, 
1856-1859; John S. Marcy, 1859-1872 ; Joseph W. Colburn, 1859- 
1863; John Wilder, 1 863-1 866 ; Calvin French, 1866-1879; Crosby 
Miller, 1872-1882; William M. Pingry, 1 879-1 885 ; William C. Dan- 
forth, 1882-1886; William Rounds,^ 1885-1889; Nelson Gay, i886- 
1887; Charles P. Marsh,' 1887-1889. 

Of the practitioners at the bar of Windsor county, past and present, 
many have attained distinction, and some eminence. Among the lead- 
ing legal minds of this commonwealth this county has furnished her ful] 
quota. On the bench and at the bar of her courts have been found many 
lawyers of strict integrity and rare ability; men of worth, men of char- 
acter, men whose social and mental qualities have made them famous, 
men whose marked attainments have made for them a high standard in 
the legislative halls of the State, and in the governmental affairs of the 
nation; men whose influence has been so salutary and all-pervading 
that the entire bar seems to have caught something of its spirit, and 
maintained a freedom from all unworthy methods as can be found in very 
few communities. 

Difficult, indeed, would it be to name the pioneer members of the legal 
profession in Windsor county. It is now more than one hundred years 
since the first courts were organized, and the earliest dockets disclose but 
little information throwing any valuable light on this subject ; and the 
early bar recorded nothing of its own history. Still, from the brief en- 
tries found ill the court dockets, tiiere appears the surnames of several 
who are, perhaps, entitled to be placed among the pioneers of the pro- 
fession ; such names as Stephen Jacobs, Elijah West, Stephen Row Brad- 

' Present assistant judges. 



The Bench and Bar. 185 

ley, Jacob Smith, John Hunt, Jonathan H. Hubbard, Reuben Atwater, 
Nicholas Bayless, Paschel P. Enos, Daniel Farrand, Titus Hutchinson, 
OUver Gallup, Charles Marsh, Paul Brigham, Amasa Payne, and other 
worthy counselors, among whom are found the names of Buck, Barrett, 
Hall, Cady, Bishop and others whose Christian names cannot now be re- 
called. These were the pioneers of the profession in this county, all of 
whom are believed to have practiced in the courts prior to the year 1800, 
and a number of them before 1787. From the meager and unreliable 
information found among the ancient court records, it would appear that 
Stephen Jacobs was, perhaps, the leading lawyer of the bar in his time, if 
the participation or appearance in the greatest number of actions entitles 
one to be so designated. His name, too, appears on the first dockets as 
attorney, but where he was admitted and how long he continued practice 
cannot now be accurately determined. He was State's attorney in 1786, 
and afterward, 1798-1801, presiding judge of the County Court. 

And it is something surprising, too, to observe the great amount of 
ligitation engaged in over a century ago, as disclosed by the dockets, 
when the population of the county was less than half of what it now has. 
And it is a fact that before the year 1800 there was a greater number 
of causes on the docket than the average from year to year of the present 
day. At that time there was less money, but there were more disputes, 
as the machinery of business was less perfectly organized, and land titles 
were not wholly settled. The character of ligitation, say from half to 
three-quarters of a century ago, has been thus described by an old prac- 
titioner : 

"The business of an attorney of those earlier days was largely before 
justices of the peace, and was chiefly, and so in all the courts, the col- 
lection of debts, by employing the severe pressure upon debtors which 
the law then invited. Money being scarce, business was done mainly 
upon credit, and to a considerable extent in barter. Older lawyers will 
perhaps remember the obligations made payable in 'good merchantable 
hollow ware,' 'fulled cloth,' 'grain,' 'neat cattle, bulls and stags excepted,' 
or ' good New England rum,' and the like. It was not an unusual de- 
vice of the country traders to make nominal changes in their partner- 
ships from time to time, or put forth other ostensible reasons for placing 
their books in the hands of the village lawyer for collection of accounts. 

2i 



i86 History of Windsor County. 

The temptation of fees and income dependent upon the number of suits 
brought, which fees were expected to come out of the debtor in the 
form of costs, and the credit of being reputed a sharp collecting lawyer, 
was a stimulus to him to push the law to its extremities of coercion. At 
the same time the creditor might be ready with the instructions, 'put 
him in jail. He will contrive some way to pay ; or his friends wont 
suffer him to lie in jail ; or the town will see the debt paid rather than 
support his family as paupers.' In the case of a debtor who had credit 
or means of credit, but no present money, the grand economy was to 
pursue the cause to judgment, execution and commitment, when the 
debtor would give a jail bond, and generally immediately viohite its 
provisions. Then would follow a new suit upon the bond, with judg- 
ment, execution, commitment, and a second jail bond, breach and suit, 
and so on indefinitely to the increasing profit of the attorney. 

" After a time the Legislature, envying the lawyer's happy state, ruth- 
lessly cut off this source of his gain by prohibiting the taking a second 
jail bond when the judgment was upon a jail bond, a provision now 
found in the revised laws. Many a village lawyer in Vermont laid the 
foundation of a fortune for himself and family in these early conditions 
of practice; and it was not unusual for one to bring several hundred 
suits, yearly, chiefly before justices, and for small collections. The 
changes of fifty years in business, societ)', and the law have left the 
attorney of the present day but little of this class of business, — a change 
not to be deplored." 

Since the settlement of the cases arising under the national bankrupt 
act of 1867, the dockets of the courts have been constantly growing 
smaller. From a published report it is found that in iSyy-yS, through- 
out the State, there were 2,581 entfies of civil causes, 181 jury trials, 775 
decrees in Chancery, and 209 Supreme Court judgments. In 1882-83 
the business had diminished until there were only 1,391 entries of civil 
causes, 99 jury trials. 318 decrees in Chancery, and 183 Supreme Court 
judgments. On the other hand the suits tried in recent years have 
occasionally involved large property interests ; heavy corporate litiga- 
tion has noticeably increased, and lawyers of established litigation have 
still enough to do. 

Still, men will fall into dispute, and honestly and earnestl\' differ upon 



The Bench and Bar. 187 

some business transaction ; but tiiese matters are generally settled by 
compromise, through the intervention of friends, and occasionally the 
attorney, and comparatively few of them are carried through the courts. 
The general tendency seems to discountenance rather than promote liti- 
gation ; if the debtor is good he generally " settles" in some manner, but 
he against whom a debt is prosecuted to judgment may be generally 
considered as execution proof, and "nulla bona" is in most cases found 
noted in the sheriff's handwriting on the back of his writ of execution. 

It would indeed be the grossest injustice imaginable to attribute to the 
whole early bar of Windsor county the qualities described by the quo- 
tation above from the pen of an' old practitioner. That may have ap- 
plied to some members of the bar, but not to the whole profession, for 
the great majority of lawyers, early and late, have been free from any 
such characterization, or any such indulgences for sordid purposes. 

The Bar Association. — Societies or organizations among members of 
the legal profession, similar to that to which the above name has been ap- 
plied, are not of infrequent formation ; but it is customary that when or- 
ganized they become incorporated, though it appears that that of Wind- 
sor county never entered upon such a state of existence. The first and 
only efifort, of which there appears any record whatever, looking to the 
organization of a Bar Association in this county, was made at the March 
term of the County Court, at Woodstock, in the year 1806. It appears 
that at that term the assembled attorneys associated themselves to- 
gether, but whether or not they adopted a constitution and by-laws can 
not at this day be ascertained ; nor can it be learned what the precise 
object of the society may have been, except to attribute to the legal 
gentlemen comprising the association a desire to promote a more 
friendly acquaintance among members, and for the discussion of such 
legal propositions as would naturally and properly come within the prov- 
ince of such an organization, and for mutual protection and benefit. 

Judging from the somewhat singular business transactions, in the 
nature of " Regulations and Rules " for the ostensible government of the 
society, it might fairly be inferred that the last suggested object, " mutual 
protection and benefit," was the controlling element that led to the or- 
ganization of the association, for one of the many rules required that no 
practicing attorney should receive any student-at-law into his office 



1 88 History of Windsor County. 

without the payment to the attorney of a tuition fee of two hundred and 
fifty dollars. Other conditions and restrictions were laid down by the 
association, some of which, perhaps, were intended to modify or qualify 
the apparently severe rules, and to provide for exceptional cases or con- 
tingencies. 

This association, while it had no controlling power with the courts, 
did have, nevertheless, a recommendatory authority, at least so far as 
governing the conduct of an attorney in his relations with his clients ; 
and there were certainly two instances in which members of the profes- 
sion were disbarred by the court, at the recommendation of the society, 
for having engaged in practices prohibited by the rules. Therefore 
some good did "come out of Nazareth." 

The exorbitant fee rule did not appear to have worked to the entire 
satisfaction of all the members of the association, but was kept in force 
for a period of some eight years, when its rigors were somewhat qualified 
by an amendment or substitute to the effect that students pay a tuition 
fee of fifty dollars per year. One of the original rules required that a 
student not possessing certain prescribed qualifications in the matter of 
education, should be obliged to remain in an attorney's office for a term 
of five years, from which fact it would seem that unless the original rule 
was in some manner abated, the supplementary provision that placed 
the fee at fifty dollars per year was no substantial modification after all. 

But it is hardly proper to comment at much length upon the peculiar 
laws of this legal organization. Like all others, it had its advantages 
and its faults, which may be said to have been about equal It contin- 
ued to exist till somewhere about 1840, and then passed naturally out 
of existence, since which time its rules have been numbered among the 
" obsolete laws." 

During his incumbency of the office of county clerk Norman Williams 
prepared a list of the attorneys who were admitted to practice in Wind- 
sor county, prior to the year 1839, his compilation in the docket in 
which it was written being entitled thus : " List of attorneys admitted 
to the County Court in Windsor county previous to the year 1839. 
(Imperfect.)" It is believed that Mr. Williams added the word " im- 
perfect" to indicate that he had not searched the very earliest records 
to ascertain who were admitted, as Mr. Jay Read Pember, the present 



The Bench and Bar. 189 

clerk, has " gone through " the dockets which were examined by Mr. 
Williams (subsequent to 1799, and continuing many years), and he 
makes but one addition to the roll as prepared. But Mr. Williams 
makes no entries of names of attorneys who were admitted or practiced 
in the county prior to 1799, which fact may account for what he con- 
sidered an imperfect list. 

Further than that above stated, Mr. Williams prepared a roll of the 
attorneys who were admitted in Windsor county, commencing with the 
May term of 1839; and this has been continued by his successors in 
office to the present day. The names that are given in the earlier pages 
of this sketch, relating to the old attorneys, are the result of Mr. Pem- 
ber's research. And in addition to the e.Kplanations already made, it 
should be stated that the following list of attorneys cannot be considered 
as absolutely perfect, from the fact that there will not appear the names 
of those who now are or heretofore may have been lawyers of the 
county, but who were admitted elsewhere, in other counties, and after 
admission located in Windsor county for the practice of their profession; 
and there was a time in the history of the bar of this State when an 
admission to the Supreme Court was not an admission to the County 
Court, and conversely. 

Commencing with the year 1799 the roll prepared by the persons 
heretofore named is as follows: 1799, March term, Luther Mills; Sep- 
tember term, Cyrus Ware. 1800, March,' Zenas Clark; September, 
Horace Everett. 1801, March, Eliakim Spooner ; September, Martin 
Field; December, Stephen Mix Mitchell. 1802, March, David Storrs, 
Alvin Foot; September, John H. Crane; December, Samuel Whitney, 
jr. 1803, September, Theophilus Olcutt, Stephen Grant 1805, Sep- 
tember, Joseph Paine. 1806, September, John Nelson. 1807, Septem- 
ber, Henry Hutchinson. 1808, March, Job Lyman, Frederick A. Sum- 
ner; September, John M. Foster, Samuel Sheldon, Thomas Robinson. 
1809, March, Henry P. Brown; September, Harvey Chase, James 
Hutchinson, George Woodward, David Sloan. 1810, March, Samuel 
Shuttleworth. 1811, March, Jonathan Hunt. 1812, September, Sam- 
uel Leland. 18 14, March, Simeon Short; September, Carlos Coolidge, 
Nomlas Cobb. 1815, March, Daniel Wells; September, Titus Brown. 

'The word " term " is here.il'ter oiiiitted. 



iQO History of Windsor County. 

1816, March, Isaac N. Chshman, David Pierce. 1817, March, Asa 
Holton, Jason Steele, Joseph R. Jarvis. 18 18, September, Nathaniel 
K. G. Ohver. 1820, March, Jeremiah Field; September, Wyllys Lyman, 
Samuel Shuttleworth, jr. 1822, September, Lyndon A. Marsh. 1825, 
September, Edwin Edgerton, Thomas S. Fullerton, George P. Marsh. 
1826, June, Edwin Hutchinson; December, Jabez Sargent, Elijah Par- 
ker, Harvey T. Leavitt, Royal M. Ransom, Andrew Tracy. 1827, De- 
cember, William May, Oramel Hutchinson. 1S2S, June, Alden C. 
Noble, Henry Hutchinson, Benjamin Swan, jr., William Gordon; De- 
cember, John S. Marcy. 1S29, May, Solon Grout, Edward P. Harris, 
Salmon F. Dutton. 1830, June, Josiah Chandler. 1831, November, 
Charles C. Marsh. 1832, May, Joseph Alexander Swett ; November, 
Andrew Royce. 1833, May, Philander C. Freeman, Hamden Cutts; 
November, Nathaniel Sprague. 1834, November, James M. Gates. 
1836, November, Sewall Fullam,jr. 1837, May, Calvin French, Luther 
Adams, Harrison Smith. 1838, May, William E. Smiley, Peter T. 
Washburne. 1839, May, William H. Duncan, of Hanover ; November, 
James Barrett, of Woodstock. 1841, May, Sebastian R. Streeter, of 
Woodstock, Henry E. Stoughton, of Chester, Warren Currier, of Wind- 
sor ; November, John F. Dean of Cavendish, Josiah O. Hawkins of 
Reading. 1842, May, Gilbert A. Grant of Windsor, Albert M. Hol- 
brook of Bethel, Samuel W. Slade and Abel Merrill, jr.. of Woodstock, 
Dan Tracy of Hartford, Frederick L. Willard of Windsor, Ivory W. 
Richardson of Chester; November, Lyman Mason of Cavendish, Fred- 
erick C. Robbins of Ludlow. 1843, May, Charles P. Marsh of Wood- 
stock, Daniel C. Heald of Chester, Charles Jarvis of Weathersfield ; 
November, Noah B. Safford of Springfield, Morris A. Cook of Ches- 
ter, James A. Hall of Reading. 1844, May, Warren C. French of 
Woodstock, Thomas Hale of Chelsea. 1845, March, Daniel C. Denni- 
son of Royalton, Charles H. Crosby of Chester. 1S46, March, Lucius 
C. Boynton of Woodstock. 1847, May, Clark H. Chapman of Caven- 
dish; November, William Collamer of Woodstock, Ambrose A. Ran- 
ney of Townshend. 1848, May, Frederick Billings of Woodstock ; No- 
vember, Reuben H. Washburn of Ludlow, Spencer H. Leonard of Ches- 
ter. 1849, May, Henry C. Stoughton of Royalton, Dudley T. Chase of 
Windsor, Rufus F. Andrews of Woodstock ; September, Rufus F. An- 



Th5 Bench and Bar. 191 

dreu's of Woodstock; November, Josiah W. Hubbard of Springfield, 
John Ward of Woodstock. 1850, May, Jabez C. Crooker of Hartland ; 
December, Oramel S. Senter of Thetford. 185 1, May, Charles M. 
French of Proctorsville, William Rounds, jr., of Chester; December, 
William J. Loveland of Norwich. 1852, May.Volney S. Fullam of Lud- 
low ; December, Henry B. Hopkins of Chester. 1853, December, John 
Alonzo Chandler of Woodstock, Charles Carroll Dewey of Woodstock, 
Austin Adams of Windsor. 1854, May, Dennis N. Cooley of Wood- 
stock. 1855, May, Lewis A. Grant of Chester; November, John S. 
Washburn of Ludlow. 1856, December, Jonathan B. Farnsworth of 
Woodstock, William W. Howard of Plymouth. 1S57, December, Bez- 
alee W. Lovell of Springfield, Norman Williams, jr., of Woodstock, 
James Oilman Henry of Woodstock. 1858, May, James J. Wilson of 
Bethel ; December, Henry Foster Anderson of Woodstock. 1859. May, 
Gilbert A. Davis of Chester; December. Don H. Woodward of Spring- 
field, Samuel E. Pingree of Bethel, i860. May, Jacob E. Taylor of 
Woodstock, Royal B. Roundy of Weathersfield, Redficld Proctor of 
Cavendish, Stephen M Pingree of Bethel, Henry B. Atherton of Cav- 
endish ; December, Wheelock G. Veazey of Springfield. 1861, May, 
George C. Hathaway of Woodstock, Patrick Henry Hutchinson of Ches- 
ter ; December, Christopher A. Webber of Rochester, William H. Wal- 
ker of Ludlow. 1862, May, Henry H. Dennison of Royalton, Hugh 
Henry of Chester, William Wallace Southgate of Woodstock, Daniel 
B. Dudley of Royalton; December, Norman Paul of Pomfret. 1863, 
December, Moulton J. Gilman of Bethel. 1864, May, George H Tamb- 
ling of Hartford ; December, Thomas O. Seaver of Windsor, James N. 
Edminster of Windsor. 1865, May, William E. Johnson of Woodstock, 
Fr.mk J. Bowman of Barnard. 1866, May, George B. French of Cav- 
endish ; December, P"ranklin B. Dennison of Royalton, Frank G. Clark 
of Woodstock. 1867, May, Edwin J. McWain of Bethel. 1868, De- 
cember, James K. Polk Chamberlain of Pomfret. 1869, May, Martin 
H. Goddard of Ludlow, Edwin W. Fitch of Chester, John W. Marsh of 
Woodstock, Joseph C. Dennison of Royalton, David C. Hackett of Roy- 
alton; December, Joseph Hiland Dodge of Andover. 1870, May, Ed- 
win White of Woodstock ; December, Charles A. Wilson of Cavendish. 
1871, May, John L. Spring of Lebanon; December, Wallace Van Cor 



192 History of Windsor County. 

of Royalton, Hiland H. Wheeler of Woodstock. 1872, May, William 
Batchelder of Bethel, Alba N. Lincoln of Woodstock. 1873, May, 
Madison T. Sawyer of Cavendish. 1874, December, William R. C. 
Stickney of Bethel. 1875, December, Milo S. Buck of Cavendish, 
Charles M. Marsh of Woodstock, Charles Williams of Woodstock, 
William H. Cotton of Hartford. 1876, May, George A.Weston of Ches- 
ter; December, Robert S. Southgate and Fred C. Southgate of Wood- 
stock, S. A. Griffin of Ludlow. 1877, May, James C. Barrett of Wood- 
stock, Josiah W. Dean of Cavendish. 1878, December, Rush T. 
Barrett of Woodstock, William W. Stickney of Ludlow. 1879, May, 
Edward T. Hodsden of Hartford; December, John H. Dennison of Roy- 
alton, Clarence W. Scott of Plymouth. 1880, May, Herbert D. Ryder of 
Sprini^field, Francis C. Hatch of Woodstock; December, James G. 
Harvey of Royalton. 1 88 1, May, Frederick Arnold of Bethel ; De- 
cember, Joseph C. Enright of Windsor. 1882, May, John J. Simonds 
of Windsor, Edward D. Reardon of Springfield. 1883, May, Warren 
C. French of Woodstock, Charles H. Mason of Roj'alton. 1884, May, 
Frank H. Clark of Reading, Elbridge M. Rush of Cavendish. Admit- 
ted subsequent to 1884, Fiank A. Walker of Ludlow, Sanford E. Emery 
of Cavendish, Fred W. Cady of Windsor, (1888,) Alba C. Feck of Cav- 
endish. To the above list may be appended the names of a number of 
lawyers who were admitted in other counties, and who subsequently 
came to Windsor county to practice. This list is taken from the com- 
pilation of George B. French, who was county clerk from 1867 to 1885: 
Samuel W. Porter, admitted in Windham county, 1814; Julius Con- 
verse, Orange, 1826; William M. Pingrj', Caledonia, 1832; Oliver P. 
Chandler, Caledonia, 1832; Augustus P. Hunton, Washington, 1837; 
Albert M. Albee, Windham, 1843; Charles M. Lamb, Orange, 1850; 
George L. Fletcher, Windham, 1859; Jerome W. Pierce, Windham, 
1862; Charles P. Tarbell, Orange, 1870; William H. Bliss, Orange, 1877. 
Personnel of the Present Bar — At Bethel, Fred Arnold, Augustus B. 
Hunton, William B. C. Sticknej', (State's attorney,) James J. Wilson. 
Cavendish, Milo S. Buck, Alva C. Peck. Chester, George L. Fletcher, 
Hugh Heni-y, (probate judge, Windsor district,) William Rounds (assist- 
ant judge). Hartford, Samuel E. Pingree, Stephen M. Pingree. Lud- 
low, Martin H. Stoddard, William W. Stickney, Frank A. Walker, Will- 



The Medical Profession. 193 

iam H. Walker. ProctorsviUe, Sanford E. Emery. Royalton, Dudley 
C. Dennison. Springfield, Albert M. Allbe, Jerome W. Pierce. South 
Royalton, Charles M. Lamb, Charles P. Tarbell. Windsor, William Batch- 
elder, Fred W. Cady, Gilbert A. Davis, Joseph C. Enright. White 
River Junction, James G. Harvey, John J. Simonds. Woodstock, Oliver 
P. Chandler, Warren C. French, William E. Johnson, Charles P. Marsh 
(assistant judge), Norman Paul, Thomas O. Seaver, (probate judge, Hart- 
ford district,) Frederick C. Southgate. 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION — INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIETIES OF 
WINDSOR COUNTY. 

WHEN we consider the importance and elevated character of the 
science of medicine-— its object, the preservation of the health and 
lives, and the healing of diseases, and the amelioration of the physical 
and mental sufferings of our fellow human beings — its e.xtent embracing 
a knowledge of all science — it is evident that medical education should 
engage the earnest attention of at least the entire medical profession. 
The advances made in all the branches of knowledge, and especially in 
the science of medicine during the past century, have excelled in extent 
and value those of all past ages; and it is no longer possible to compress 
its vast domain within the narrow limits of " seven professorships." The 
present age owes its wonderful progress to experimental and scientific 
research. 

Evolution and development are the talismanic watch- words of the nine- 
teenth century, and the doctrine is being accepted that things in the 
world do grow, and are not made; it is no longer universally accepted 
as a matter of religious faith that the world was created by supernatural 
power, for many of our deepest thinkers, men of the most profound under- 
standing, believe that it has been gradually unfolded by the action of 
natural causes. But, not wishing to be accused of heresy, it may be 

25 



194 History of Windsor County. 

stated that whether the theory be according to Darwin, or Hackel, or 
Spencer, or some other philosopher, the law will be the same in any 
case, and away back, behind "protoplasm," "germinal matter" and 
" celular germ," there still exists abundant proof of a "First Great 
Cause," of an " Infinite Wisdom," for the depth of which language hath 
not expression. A flood of light on this subject is now pouring forth on 
the world, but its acceptation as a convincing truth rests in a great 
measure with the individual. 

"The world," says Goethe, "is so framed that it cannot keep quiet." 
All the natural energies are brought into full force by the spirit of enter- 
prise, by the spirit of progress. The telegraph wires wipe out all terri- 
torial boundaries, and railways penetrate the utmost confines of the earth, 
and by them States and Territories are bound fast together in one web. 

"The Bible," says Gail Hamilton, " is full of excellent precepts, and 
the world is full of bad examples. If a man smite us on the right cheek, 
we — knock him down. If a man sues us at law, we stand suit, and if he 
would borrow of us we promptly turn away, unless he can give ample 
security." 

Science and enterprise have spanned the continent with electric wires, 
cabled the Atlantic Ocean, given us the measurements of revolving plan - 
ets, spread forth the canvas to the gale, and made the trackless ocean a 
highway through the world. By the use of scientific and cunningly de- 
vised instruments bleak skies and rude winds are foreseen, and the navi- 
gator places himself in safety. The electric light has displaced gas as 
effectually as the latter did the " tallow dip," and is established upon a 
secure commercial basis. School-houses, churches, newspapers, and 
books open up to the poorest the lights and opportunities of knowledge. 

The wealth of nations increases and we see all the arts of life approach- 
ing nearer and nearer perfection. In science, art and literature each 
succeeding generation is wiser than its predecessor. The mistakes of 
past experience serve as beacon-lights to warn us ofil' the rocks and shoals 
of error and guide us to the port of truth. 

The great and wide advancement in the different branches of medical 
science within the last generation is as much a marvel as the progress 
made in any other of the arts and sciences. The poorest laborer can 
now obtain advice and medicine far superior to that which royalty could 
command one or two centuries ago. 



The Medical Profession. 195 

"The advance in medical knowledge within one's memory," say Sir 
James Paget, "is amazing, whether reckoned in the wonders of science 
not yet applied, or in practical results, in the general lengthening of life, 
or, which is still better, in the prevention and decrease of pain and mis- 
ery, and in the increase of working power." 

The dawning of medical science, which now sheds its light through the 
world, began with Hippocrates nearly twenty-three hundred years ago, 
and he first treated of medicine with anything like sound or rational 
principles. He wrote extensively, much of which has been translated 
and serves as a foundation for the succeeding literature of the profession. 
He relied chiefly on the healing powers of nature, his remedies being 
exceedingly simple. He taught that the people ought not to load them- 
selves with excrements, or keep them in too long; and for this reason 
he prescribed " meats proper for loosening the belly," and if these failed 
he directed the use of clj'sters. 

Three hundred years before Christ, Erasistratus invented and used the 
catheter, introduced the tourniquet, and produced an instrument for 
lithotriptic operations. Celsus flourished A. D. 50 to 120, as the greatest 
of Roman surgeons. 

Through all the centuries from the beginning of the Christian era 
down to the time of the discovery of the circulation of the blood by 
Harvey, 1619, medicine shed but a glimmering light in the midst of the 
darkness then enshrouding the world, and the greatest strides in the 
advancement of the various branches of medical science have been made 
in the last one hundred years, and most of them may be placed to the 
credit of the last half century. 

Physiologists no longer believe with Paracelsus in the sixteenth cen- 
tury, that the planets have a direct controlling action on the body, the 
sun upon the heart, and the moon upon the brain ; nor do they now be- 
lieve that the vital spirits are piepared in the brain by distillation ; nor 
do they admit that the chyle effervesces in the heart under the influ- 
ence of salt and sulphur, which take fire together and produce the vital 
flame. On the contrary, modern physiology teaches that the phenom- 
ena of the living body are the result of physical and chemical changes ; 
the temperature of the blood is ascertained by the thermometer, and 
the different fluids and gases of the body are analyzed by the chemist, 
giving to each its own properties and function. 



196 History of Windsor County. 

While the eighteenth century witnessed greater advancement in the 
department of medical science than any or all its predecessors, the 
crowning achievement seems to have been reserved for the nineteenth — 
the present century. Among the thousands of elements that comprise 
this century's advance in medical science mention will be made of but 
one, and that among the first discoveries, /. e., the use of anesthetics, 
which benumb the nerves of sensation, and produce a profound but 
transient state of insensibility, in which the most formidable operation 
may be performed while the patient sleeps and dreams of home and 
happy hours, and the physician is left to the pleasing reflection that he 
is causing no pain or suftering. 

But it appears that as rapid as has been this advance during the last 
hundred years, so, correspondingly, have there developed new forms 
and phases of disease to baffle the skill of the most eminent physicians 
and scientists in the land; and while diseases, malarious in their char- 
acter, have for a time defied the attempts to overcome them, they have, 
nevertheless, been subdued and conquered. Medical skill has proven 
equal to every emergency. 

There is, to- day, known to botanists over one hundred and forty thou- 
sand plants, a large proportion of which are being constantly added to 
the already appalling list of new remedies. Many of these new drugs 
possess little, if any, virtue, save as their sale adds to the exchequer of 
some enterprising pharmacist. A drug house in New England recently 
issued a circular, in which they advertised 33 syrups, 42 elixirs, 93 solid 
extracts, 150 varieties of sugar-coated pills, 236 tinctures, 245 roots, 
barks, herbs, seeds and flowers, 322 fluid extracts, and 348 general 
drugs and chemicals. 

The ancients were not so well supplied with drugs. It was the cus- 
tom among the Babylonians to expose the sick to the view of passen- 
gers, in order to learn of them whether they had been afflicted with a 
like distemper, and by what remedies they had been cured. It was also 
the custom of those days for all persons who had been sick, and were 
cured, to put up a tablet in the temple of Esculapius, wherein they gave 
an account of the remedies that had restored them to health. Prior to 
the time of Hippocrates all medicine was in the hands of the priests, 
and was associated with numerous superstitions, such as sympathetic 



The Medical Profession. 197 

ointments applied to the weapon with which a wound was made, incan- 
tations, charms, amulets, the royal touch for the cure of scrofula, human 
or horse flesh for the cure of epilepsy, convulsions treated with human 
brains. 

While all this credulous superstition of early ages, born of ignorance, 
existed to a vastly large extent, it has not been fully wiped out by the 
generally advanced education of the present day. The latest appeal to 
the credulity of the masses of the people is an invention to relieve the 
unfortunate sick, and is known as " the Faith Cure." The persons seek- 
ing to popularize this means of cure are either deceived themselves, or 
are deceiving others. Upon this point a popular writer says: " If the 
disease be an incurable one, all the prayers in the world will not cure it. 
Filth brings fever; prayer cannot interpose." 

There is probably no department of medicine at the present time 
more promising of good results than is sanitary science. While physi- 
ology and pathology are making known to us the functions of the hu- 
man body, and the nature and cause of disease, sanitary science is stead- 
ily teaching how the causes of disease may be removed or avoided, 
and health thereby secured. 

Progress during the coming one hundred years, if only equal to that 
of the past, will more than have accomplished great works in the ad- 
vancement of sanitary science ; but the accomplishment of this work 
calls not only for the labor of the physician, but for the intelligent co- 
operation of the people ; the physician cannot do it alone. If anything 
reall\- great is to be done in the way of sanitary improvement, and of 
preventing disease and death, it must be done by the people themselves. 
This implies that they must be instructed in sanitary matters. They 
must be taught what unsanitary conditions most favor the origin of dis- 
eases, how disease is spread, and the means of its prevention. If it is 
true that that knowledge is of the greatest to us which teaches the means 
of self-preservation, then the importance of a wide-spread knowledge 
of how to prevent disease and premature death cannot be overestimated. 

A number of the towns of Windsor county have already acquired the 
proportions of municipal being, and with every increase of population 
there comes an increased demand for sanitary regulations, especially in 
the more thickly peopled localities ; and it behooves the authorities of 



198 History of Windsor County. 

those towns to look well to the matter of a complete system of sewerage. 
This is a matter that needs prompt and efficient attention. The expense 
of course would be considerable, but the outlay might better be made 
than to defer action until disaster should come that miijht be a greater 
cost both of means and lives. 

But what can be said in these pages concerning the history of the medi- 
cal profession of Windsor county, and who were its pioneer represent- 
atives ? Upon this question there appears but little of record, and still 
less of reliable tradition. The oldest living medical practitioner in the 
county would hardly attempt an enumeration of the practitioners that 
preceded him; those of the last century that rode the country over dur- 
ing its pioneer days. They are all gone now and have left no record of 
their lives ami deeds for succeeding generations. Whoever tlie\' were, 
and wherever thej' may have lived, the pioneer representatives of the 
healing art recognized the necessity of associating together for the pro- 
tection of their craft, and regulating the standard of fitness of aspirants 
for professional duty. Such a sentiment led to the formation of the 
" First Medical Society in Vermont," which was incorporated on the 25th 
of October, 1784. None of the incorporators, however, of that society 
were residents of Windsor coiuity. 

The second medical society of the State was formed in October. 1794, 
in pursuance of an act of the Legislature by physicians of Windsor 
county. The third was an organization of Franklin county, incorporated 
February 6, 1804; and the fourth was a Windsor county society, incor- 
porated on the 27th of October, 1812, but not fully organized by its 
members until the succeding year. These societies were county organi- 
zations. The first State society was incorporated by an act of the Legis- 
lature passed November 6, 1813, and was known as the "Vermont 
Medical Society." Among its incorporators were a number of Windsor 
county residents, as follows : Josiah Goodhue, Joadam Gallup, Moses 
Cobb, Stephen Drew, Nahum Trask, Silas Bowen, Eldad Alexander, 
Asaph Fletcher, Henry Gray, Erastus Torrey, Isaac Parker, Joadam 
Dennison, Joseph Winslow, Silas Brown, Nathaniel Pierce, Benjamin A. 
Dennison, Luther Fletcher, Charles Wolcott Chandler, John Burnell. 

The incorporators named in the act from the several counties, or any 
five from a single county, were autliorizcd to form themselves into a 



The Medical Profession. 199 

county society for tlie same purpose as that for which the State society 
was created, that is : " The improvement of the theory and practice of 
the different branches of the heahng art," etc. It is not essentially im- 
portant to refer at any length to the powers and duties prescribed in the 
act as belonging to the State society, other than to note the fact that 
under it county societies were authorized, and out of which the " Medi- 
cal Society of the County of Windsor" was created and organized dur- 
ing, or immediately after, the year 1813. 

The minutes of proceedings and constitution of this old society are un- 
questionably lost, and nothing remains that in any manner relates to its 
existence except a book of charges found in the possession of Dr. Edwin 
Hazen, of Woodstock. This book purports to contain a record of the 
medical works loaned by the society to its members. The library com- 
prised forty volumes, physiological and pathological, which were held for 
the use and instruction of members, and loaned to them upon proper oc- 
casion. From this book is taken the names of the physicians who were 
members of the society, as follows: Joseph A. Gallup, Joseph A. Deni- 
son, Nahum Trask, Erastus Torrey, John Burnell, John D Powers, 
A. W. Monger, Elijah W. Alexander, Amos B. Page, Silas Bowen, Thomas 
Swift, Frederick Ware, James Tracy, Isaac Danforth, Alfred Page, Moses 
Cobb, Ora F. Paddock, John Anger, Ptolemy Edson, Willard P. Gilson, 
Samuel P. Page, Dyar Story, W. Bowman, John FLmory, Edwin Hazen. 
Dr. Hazen was the last physician to become a member of the society ; 
and he says that even; occurred about 1844 or 1846; and that the soci- 
ety was then about to pass out of being, in fact, " on its last legs," as the 
Doctor expresses it. 

In the year 1837, at a meeting of the society held June 13th, Dr. John 
Burnell read an address to the assembled members, .which was a review 
of the history of the organization, with some reference to the events that 
led to its formation, and the difficulties encountered in accomplishing it. 
Through the kindness of Dr. Hazen we are enabled to use such extracts 
from the address as will be deemed of interest to the profession of the 
present day. 

"Early in the year 181 2 some four or five of us in this immediate 
vicinity (Woodstock), who were then young in practice, conceived the 
plan of associating together and forming ourselves into a kind of club, 



200 History of Windsor County. 

for mutual improvement in our profession. We had understood that an 
attempt had been made b)- tiie phy.sicians of the county, or some indi- 
viduals of thcrn, by petitioning the Legislature, to get an act of incor. 
poration for a medical society for this county. But on account of the 
extreme jealousy of that body, of all secret societies, it being then the 
days of 'Washington Benevolent Societies,' ' Hartford Conventions,' etc., 
the petition was ridiculed out of the House by moving that it be referred 
to the 'mad-dog committee,' which discouraged any further attempt at 
assistance from that source. 

" Feeling tlie want of their aid, and supposing that some of the older 
practitioners might be willing to unite with us, we consulted with them 
upon the subject. Their advice was that another attempt should be 
made upon the Legislature, and recommended that an advertisement 
for a convention of the physicians of the county should be published, to 
meet in this place (Woodstock), to concert further measures upon the 
subject. . . In pursuance of this advice the notice referred to was 

inserted in the public papers at Windsor, and the convention on the 
3 1st of August, 1 8 1 2, was the result. Some fifteen or twenty physicians 
were present. . . . We were determined to have a society, the 
Legislature to the contrary nutvvithstanding ; and it was thought best, 
all concurring therein, to try the Legislature once more, and a commit- 
tee was chosen for drafting the petition. 

"At our next meeting, September 23, heard and accepted the peti- 
tion, and chose Dr. Joseph Winslow agent to present it, and use his en- 
deavors to get it granted. And it is recollected that on account of the 
appearance in our political horizon at that time, showing less party ani- 
mosity and jealousy of the influence of secret societies, and especially as 
Dr. Winslow was a leading man on the side of the dominant party, we 
had strong assurance of success, and the event proved we were not dis- 
appointed. . . At the next meeting, January 7, 1813, our agent 
reported the act of the Legislature, constituting us a body politic, by the 
name of the Medical Society of the County of Windsor. And it like- 
wise appears that at the same time our code of by-laws was reported by 
the committee which had been appointed for the purpose, and adopted 
by the society, wliich, with some alterations and amendments, still re- 
mains as our rules and regulations. At this meeting, January, 1813, a 



The Medical Profession. 201 

full board of officers was chosen, and the society was first fully organized 
according to law. . . . Fiom that time for several years our meet- 
ings were held alternately, annual meeting at Woodstock, and semi- 
annual at Windsor. . . . But we were to feel the influence of those 
blighting causes, which are more or less unavoidable in institutions of 
this kind ; and which, but for the exertions of those members who pre- 
ferred peace and the success of our profession to the gratification of feel- 
ings of personal animosity, our society must have come to the ground. 
I allude principally to an attempt which was made, fifteen years since, 
to introduce within the walls of this society the discussion of the merits 
of an unhappy law- suit between two of its members, which was then but 
just terminated. Although it was treated by the members generally as 
it should have been, after much annoyance by him who made the at- 
tempt, and one other, who espoused his cause, much injury to our cause 
resulted from it. 

" The languishing state and final suspension of all business of our 
sister county societies, and consequently of the parent State society, are 
not among the least of the causes against which we have had to contend. 
Where shall we look for this cause which is operating so generally to 
paralyze all efforts for the furtherance of medical science and the re- 
spectability of our profession ? By referring to the records of a meeting 
of this society in June, 1823, it will be found that the following resolution 
was introduced, and published in the IVoodsiock Observer, or ordered to 
be there published : 

" ' Whereas, the medical literature of our State has its progress im- 
peded by the public interest and influence being divided between Cas- 
tleton and Burlington ; Resolved, therefore, by the Windsor County 
Medical Society, that we recommend the union of those schools, and 
invite the attention of the Vermont Medical Society, and of the several 
societies, to this subject.' 

" If it was thought in 1823, when we had but two medical schools in 
the State, that they were exerting a bad influence in dividing public in- 
terest, how much more influence of the same kind will three schools 
exert, and one having two courses of lectures in each year ? Lest it 
may be thought that the foregoing resolution had its origin in the prej- 
udice of members of this society towards those medical schools, or any 

26 



202 History of Windsor County. 

of the faculty at the head of them, it may be proper to mention that it 
was introduced and advocated by two of the gentlemen then connected 
with the Castleton Academy of Medicine." 

The reader will at once observe from the tenor of the foregoing ex- 
tracts that there evidently existed an inharmonious feeling in the pro- 
fession relating to the system of management of the medical college 
then in operation at the county seat. This would appear to be the real 
object of the worthy Doctor's address, to give voice and expression to 
his sentiment upon the subject, although in so doing he gave something 
of the history of the old medical society of the county. In another 
and still later part of his essay, the Doctor says : " But, it may possibly 
be agreed that if there are too many schools of medicine, it is an evil 
which will cure itself, cannot be supported, some of them must go down. 
True, Mr. President, they may, but in the meantime what will become of 
our medical society, that ought to be the supervisor of these institutions, 
while all our principal and leading physicians are engaged with all their 
might in sustaining each his favorite school ? In the meantime, too, we 
shall be inundated with ' quackery,' which is already making fearful in- 
roads in our goodly State." 

It is quite evident that Dr. Burnell was zealously engaged in the laud- 
able effort of endeavoring to save the medical society from dismember- 
ment and dissolution; but, notwithstanding that, the society ceased to 
exist about the year before mentioned 

The Clinical School of Medicine. — During the latter part of the year 
1799 Dr. Joadam, or as he was more commonly styled, Joseph A. Gal- 
lup, came to reside and engage in the practice of medicine and surgery 
in the town of Woodstock. He is remembered as being a decidedly 
eccentric and erratic person, and like all such possessed determination 
of character to a remarkable degree, a quality that is now commonly 
termed obstinacy. But, notwithstanding these traits. Dr. Gallup was a 
man of learning and great medical ability in the special branches he 
most favored, and of excellent understanding in his profession in gen- 
eral. 

And like many men called great. Dr. Gallup possessed a " hobby," it 
being his greatest desire, that amounted almost to a passion with him, 
that he might at some day establish a medical school at Woodstock, for 



The Medical Profession. 205 



the thorough training and education of the young men of the region 
who aspired to membership in the medical fraternity. To this end the 
doughty Doctor labored earnestly and zealously, but it was not until 
the year 1826 that his idea began to assume a definite form. By that 
time he was prepared to announce to the general public the fact of his 
having established at Woodstock a Clinical School of Medicine, amply 
provided with a competent corps of instructors and lecturers upon the 
several topics necessary for the thorough and complete education of all 
medical students who sought to avail themselves of its benefits. How- 
ever, some untoward event occurred that compelled a temporary sus- 
pension of the affairs of the sciiool, and it was not until the early part of 
March, 1827, that it was in fact opened. 

The institution was managed during the year almost solely by its 
worthy founder and such medical gentlemen as he had brought here 
who constituted the " faculty " ; but the successes of the first series of 
lectures were not particularly gratifying, while the expenses were con- 
siderable. But, not dismayed by misfortune. Dr. Gallup the next year 
succeeded in interesting a large number of the medical profession of the 
county in the matter of his enterprise, and the result was a numerously 
signed petition to the Legislature for an act of incorporation, that the 
school might be established and conducted on a more substantial basis. 
The matter, in the nature of an act, came before the Legislature, passed 
through the customary committee, was opposed by some and favored 
by others, and finally put upon its passage, and defeated. 

This misfortune, together with other disturbances, had the effect of 
temporarily disorganizing the economy of the school, and caused a post- 
ponement of the course of lectures arranged for tlie fall term of 1828' 
but by the succeeding spring the affairs of the school were resumed un- 
der more favorable conditions than had previously existed. By this 
time the friends of the enterprise had provided a suitable building for 
the lectures and other instruction, and another similar institution had 
taken this one under its patronage to the extent of conferring such de- 
grees as were desirable, the adverse determination of the Vermont Leg- 
islature having left the Woodstock school without such authority. Thus, 
despite the action of the General Assembly, the enterprise founded by 
Dr. Gallup became finally established upon a reasonably substantial ba- 



204 History of Windsor County. 



sis, and so it was continued a number of terms and school years. De- 
grees were conferred upon the quaHfied candidates through the friendly 
officers of other institutions, and for a time the Clinical School of Med- 
icine actually appeared to prosper. 

But during these years, too, there existed and was gradually increasing 
an element of opposition and dissatisfaction with the management of the 
institution ; and although the residents of the village of Woodstock and 
vicinity came to the relief of Dr. Gallup, and promised and gave him 
substantial encouragement and aid, the opposition at length acquired 
such strength as to threaten the destruction of the school, and the final 
result was the founding of another medical institution in the same town, 
in January, 1834. Two such enterprises of course could not stand. At 
length friends of both interfered in the interest of harmony and the gen- 
eral welfare, and a compromise was speedily effected, under which Dr. 
Gallup was prevailed upon to surrender his interest in the enterprise 
into other hands and control. His connection thereby ceased, and the 
affairs of the school at once assumed another form, and the act that 
brought into being the '" Vermont Medical College " was soon afterward 
passed by the Legislature. 

That act was passed by the Legislature on the 26th of October, 1835, 
and named as corporators David Palmer, Henry H. Childs, Willard 
Parker, Benjamin C. C. Parker and John A. Pratt; but the name of the 
institution was left to the determination of these corporators and their 
associates, to be decided upon at their first meeting. This meeting was 
held on the 20th of April, 1836, and of which Dr. David Palmer was 
chairman, and Dr. Willard Parker secretary. After the meeting had 
been organized the corporate name, " Vermont Medical College," was 
adopted. Norman Williains was then elected a member of the corpora- 
tion. Then followed the adoption of by-laws, and the election of ofii- 
cers, with this result : Henry A. Childs, president ; David Palmer, vice- 
president; Norman Williams, secretary. These professorships were 
adopted : The theory and practice of medicine and obstetrics, Henry M. 
Childs, professor; surgery and physiology, Willard Parker, M. D., pro- 
fessor; chemistry and materia medica, David Palmer, M. D., professor; 
anatomy, Robert Watts, M. D., professor. A number of changes and 
additions were subsequently made in relation to the professorships of 



The Medical Profession. 205 



the college, but those just named were adopted at the first meeting of 
the corporators. 

However gratifying to its officers and to the people of this vicinity 
may have been the successes which crowned their efforts in establishing 
the Vermont Medical College, it was not destined to enjoy a long life. 
As has been stated heretofore, the institution was brought into e.xistence 
in the year 1835, and put into operation during the following year. In 
1843 'ts zenith of success was attained, but soon thereafter came a de- 
cline, a gradual falling away both in interest and patronage that finally 
ended in a complete abandonment of the enterprise, by the resignation 
of its faculty in the year 1856, although the real and personal property 
of the college trustees was not disposed of until the year 1862. 

Unlike the school founded by Dr. Gallup, the Vermont Medical Col- 
lege was empowered to confer " all such medical degrees, honors, diplo- 
mas or licenses as are usually given or conferred in colleges or medical 
institutions, but shall confer no other than medical degrees." This was 
embraced in the corporate act. The last exercise of authority under the 
above quoted provision occured at the annual meeting of the trustees, 
June 24, 1856. During this unfortunate period an effort was made to 
revive the institution. Frequent and earnest consultations were held, in 
which the advice of learned physicians and college professors was asked 
and given, but to no good purpose; the college failed for lack of mate- 
rial support. In 1 861 the board of trustees at a meeting held September 
9th decided to place the property in the hands of Charles Chapman and 
Philo Hatch, as agents to sell the same at the best advantage. On the 
nth of October, 1862, the real estate was sold at public auction, Dr. Ed- 
win Hazen, of Woodstock, becoming the purchaser for the sum of seven 
hundred and fifty dollars. The further sum of one hundred and fifty 
dollars was realized from the sale of the personal property of the corpo- 
ration. The old college building still stands on the hill, in the southwest 
part of Woodstock village ; but the character of its occupancy is mate- 
rially different from that for which it was originally intended, being now 
a dwelling and boarding-house for summer visitors. 

During the years of its existence the Vermont Medical College gradu- 
ated a very large number of students, as will be seen from the appended 
statement. But it appears that previous to June 6, 1837, there was a 



2o6 History of Windsor County. 

connection between this institution and the Middlebury College, and that 
the degrees conferred by the Woodstock college was done through the 
medium of the Middlebury College ; but at the time stated the trustees 
adopted this resolution: " Resolved, that the connection of this institu- 
tion with the Middlebury College be and is hereby dissolved, and that in 
future degrees shall be conferred by and under the authority of this in- 
stitution." 

The graduates of the Vermont Medical College need not be named in 
this sketch, from the fact that very few of them were residents of the 
county ; but it will be proper to state the gross number of students grad- 
uated with the close of the school year, each of which graduates car- 
ried away with him the title of " M. D." In June, 1836, the degree of 
Doctor of Medicine was conferred by the president of Middlebury Col- 
lege on eleven graduates; in 1837, on sixteen graduates; in 1838, on 
seventeen; 1839, on fifteen : in 1840, on twenty three; in 1 841, eighteen ; 
1842, thirteen; 1843, fourteen; [844, fifteen; 1845, twenty-eight; 1846, 
twenty-four; 1847, twent\--five; 1848, thirty; 1849. twent\'-five ; 1850, 
nineteen; I 85 I, twenty- six ; i 852, twenty-five; 1853, twenty- two ; 1854, 
ten ; 1855, five; 1856, ten. 

Succession of officers from time of incorporation to 1856: 1836, 
Henry W. Childs, president; David Palmer, vice-president; Norman 
Williams, secretary. 1837, the records of the board of trustees for this 
year do not disclose an election of officers, but it is understood that those 
for the preceding year were continued, either by election or omission to 
elect. 1 838, Henry A. Childs, president ; David Palmer, vice president ; 
Norman Williams, secretary. 1839, David Palmer, president; Rev. 
B. C. C. Parker, vice president ; Norman Williams, secretary; John A- 
Pratt, treasurer. 1840, David Palmer, president ; Rev. B.C. C. Parker, 
vice-president; Norman Williams, secretary; John H Pratt, treasurer. 
1841, Henry H. Childs, president;' Rev. B. C. C. Parker, vice-presi- 
dent; Norman Williams, secretary; John A. Pratt, treasurer. 1842, 
Henry H. Childs, president; Rev. B. C. C. Parker, vice-president; Nor- 
man Williams, secretary; John A. Pratt, treasurer. 1843, Henry H. 

'Dr. Childs was chosen president at an adjourned meeting of the board. At the 
time of the election Dr. Palmer was seriously ill, and the trustees deferred electing a 
successor until his illness terminated his life. 



The Press. 207 



Childs, president ; Benjamin R. Palmer, vice-president ; Norman Will- 
iams, secretary; John A. Pratt, treasurer. 1844, Henry H. Childs, 
president; Benjamin R. Palmer, vice-president; Norman Williams, sec- 
retary. 1845, no record of any officers being elected. 1846, Benjamin 
R. Palmer, president; Hon Jacob Collamer, vice-president; Norman 
Williams, secretary. 1847, Benjamin R. Palmer, president ; Jacob Col- 
lamer, vice-president; Norman Williams, secretary and treasurer. 1848, 
Benjamin R. Palmer, president; Jacob Collamer, vice-president; Nor- 
man Williams, secretary and treasurer. 1849, same as in 1848. 1850, 
Benjamin Rush Palmer, president; Norman Williams, secretary and 
treasurer. (No others elected.) The years 1851-52-53 there was no 
change from the officers of 1850. In 1854 there appears to have been 
none elected except that Jacob Collamer was chosen vice-president. 
185s, Jacob Collamer, president ; William Henry Thayer, vice-presi- 
dent; Norman Williams, secretary and treasurer. 

Such organizations as are in the county at the present time, that re- 
late to the medical profession, and have their membership from among 
the physicians, are those known as the White River Valley Medical As- 
sociation and the Connecticut Valley Medical Association, both of which 
are in active existence. But each has its jurisdiction extending beyond 
the borders of the county, and beyond the limits of the State ; for the 
character of each society is such that physicians residing east of the 
Connecticut may have membership in either association, or both if they 
choose. 



CHAPTER XHI. 

THE PRE.SS OF WINDSOR COUNTY. 

EDUCATION is the great civilizer, and printing its greatest aux- 
iliary. Were it not for the aid furnished by the press the great 
mass of people would still be groping in the darkness of the middle ages, 
and knowledge remain confined within the limits of the cloister. 

It is surprising when searching our libraries to discover how little has 
been written of the " Art preservative of all arts," and the educator of 



2o8 History of Windsor County. 

all educators. While printing has been the chronicler of all arts, pro- 
fessions and learning, it has recorded so little of its history as to leave 
even the story of its first invention and application wrapped in m\-stery 
and doubt We only know that from the old Ramage press which Faust 
and Franklin used, capable of producing only a hundred impressions 
per hour, we have now the ponderous machine which turns out one 
thousand copies per minute. 

In glancing over the pages of history we discover the gradual devel- 
opments ill all the arts and sciences. We notice that the\' go hand in 
hand — one discovery points to another, one improvement in the arts 
leads to others continually, and the results of the last few centuries show 
that observations of no apparent use led to the most important discov- 
eries and developments. The falling of an apple led Newton to unfold 
the theory of gravitation and its relation to the solar system ; the dis- 
covery of the polarity of the loadstone led to the construction of the 
mariner's compass; the observation of the muscular contraction of a frog 
led to the numerous applications of galvanic electricity ; the observation 
of the expansive force of steam lead to construction and manifold uses 
of the steam engine ; the observation of the influence of light on chloride 
of silver led to the art of photography ; the observation of the commu- 
nication of sound by the connected rails of a railroad led to the invention 
of the telephone; the impressions cut in the smooth bark of the birch 
tree led to the art of printing — the art which transmits to posterity a 
record of all that is good and valuable to the world 

There is progress discernible in every successive generation of man. 
Gradually has he advanced from a state of nude barbarism and total 
ignorance to a degree of perfection which gives him almost absolute 
dominion over all elements, and in the pride of glorious and enlightened 
manhood he can exclaim with Cowper : 

" I am a monarch of all 1 survey, 
My right there is none to dispute ; 
From the center all 'round to the sea. 
I am lord of the fowl and the brute." 

So long as mind shall occupy its seat, so long will progress be the 
watchword of man, and onward and upward will be his march to an 
endless and limitless ascent — where all the hidden and occult secrets of 



The Press. 209 



creation will unfold their mysteries to his comprehension and crown him 
master of them all. 

The printing-office has well been called the Poor Boy's College, and 
has proven a better school to many ; has graduated more intellect and 
turned it into useful, practical channels; awakened more active, devoted 
thought than any alma mater on the earth. Many a dunce has passed 
through the universities with no tangible proof of fitness other than his 
insensible piece of parchment — himself more sheepish, if possible, than 
his "sheep skin." There is something in the very atmosphere of a 
printing-office calculated to awaken the mind to activity, and inspire a 
thirst for knowledge. Franklin, Stanhope, Berranger, Thiers, Greeley, 
Taylor and a host of other names, illustrious in the world of letters and 
science, have been gems in the diadem of typography, and owe their 
success to the influence of a printing-office. 

The newspaper has become one of the chief indexes of the intelligence 
and progress of the community in which it is published, and its files are 
the foot-prints of the advancement and refinement of the period of its 
publication; and the printing-office is now deemed as essential as the 
school- house or church. It has taken the place of the rostrum and the 
professor's chair, and become the great teacher. No party, organization, 
enterprise or calling is longer considered perfect without its " organ " — 
the newspaper — as a mouth-piece. 

In journalistic ventures Windsor county has been as prolific as per- 
haps any in the State, there having been established, and conducted for 
a greater or less length of time, between the year 1784 and this present, 
something like sixty or seventy separate newspaper publications, and 
the majority of them were put in operation prior to i860, and covered a 
period when there was far less demand or necessity for newspaper infor- 
mation than has existed since that year. And prior to that time the 
publication of a newspaper, in all the details of its departments, was at- 
tended with far greater proportionate expense than at this day; for now 
news can be gathered from all quarters of the globe and placed before 
every community within twelve hours from the occurrence of an event, 
while formerly weeks and sometimes months elapsed before reports of 
transactions abroad, and the more distant parts of America, reached the 
newspaper office. This is the result of rapid telegraphic transmission of 

27 



210 History of Windsor County. 

news, made possible by the organization of press associations. And dur- 
ing the years subsequent to i860 the actual expense of obtaining news 
and interesting selected miscellaneous reading matter has been materially 
lessened by the invention and distribution of what has been designated 
" patent sides," for local rural papers. Until within a very few years it 
was not an unusual thing for some large offices to print certain portions 
or sides of a paper, to the number of hundreds of thousands, and sell the 
prepared sheets to rural offices at a very slight advance upon the cost of 
the blank paper ; but this nieans of providing and disseminating news is 
not now employed to so great an e.Ktent by far as it was ten or fifteen 
years ago. 

Another device that has contributed toward lessening the cost of news- 
paper publications, and which supplanted largely the " patent sides " sys- 
tem, is that known as " plate matter," being nothing else than selected 
literature from the papers of large cities, and establishments designed for 
the preparation of the matter ; all of which is stereotyped from the orig- 
inal work, and thus distributed at a very moderate cost to the local offi- 
ces. The advantages of this system are employed in very many offices 
throughout the country, perhaps in some in Windsor county. This 
method of acquiring reading matter is far from objectionable, in fact is 
highly commendable, for b\- it the publisher of a paper is enabled to fur- 
nish his readers with carefully selected miscellanj' at a cost far less than 
was necessary to be ciiarged a dozen or more years ago. The people, not 
the publisher, derive the greatest benefits from these systems. 

The press in Windsor county had a beginning quite as humble as that 
of any other of its institutions, and whether or not it has kept even pace 
with them in this age of progress the reader must judge. It will not be 
questioned that, in every respect, as a community, the people of this 
county have kept even step with the spirit of advancement in human 
progress that has so signally distinguished the present century. Their 
churches and schools will compare favorably with those of any other of 
the several counties of the State ; and as for the general characteristics 
of the people, whether as to enterprise, industry, morality, or intelligence, 
it is claimed — and with much show of reason — that Windsor county oc- 
cupies an advanced position among the others of the State similarh' sit- 
uated. This is not only true of the present generation, but was the case 
even before the opening of the present century. 



The Press. 211 



The honor, if it may be so called, of having founded this newspaper in 
Vermont belongs to Windham county; and the first paper so published 
was the Veniio?it Gazette, or Green Mountain Post Boy, the production of 
Judah P. Spooner and Timothy Green. Its first issue appeared in Feb- 
ruary, 1 78 1, but its publication ceased in 17S3. The second paper of the 
State was started at Bennington, in June, 1783, by Anthony Hasvvell and 
David Russell, and its name was the Vermont Gazette, or Freetnans De- 
pository. This paper was continued through manifold vicissitudes until 
about the year 1850. 

But to the count)' of Windsor, and to the village of the same name, is 
given the credit of having the third newspaper publication of this State • 
and that the Vermont Journal and Universal Advertiser, founded and 
established in the year 1783, by George Hough and Alden Spooner. 
The first issue of this paper made its appearance on the 7th of August of 
the year named. But unlike its predecessor, the Gazette or Green 
Mountain Post Boy, the Journal proved to be a prosperous venture, and 
has continued in publication even to the present day, though having ex- 
perienced numerous changes in proprietorship and "dress." For its 
establishment the proprietors, or one of them at least, purchased the 
materials and press of the defunct Gazette office at Westminster, and 
moved them to Windsor for the purpose of the new publication. 

The early years of life of the Journal were not a continued series of 
struggles and hardships more than any other of the pioneer institutions 
of the county, nor were the efforts of its enterprising publishers rewarded 
with any remarkable success in the matter of cash 'accumulations. In 
fact, this was a commodity at that particular period most noticeable for 
its absence, and in every branch of business and trade the proprietors 
were content to receive produce of all kinds in exchange for merchandise; 
and in the infant days of journalism in this State it was not a rare occur- 
rence that the publishers advertised to take " clean cotton rags " in pay- 
ment for subscriptions. 

The publication of the Journal by its original proprietors was contin- 
ued without material interruption until the year 1788, but during the 
month of December of that year Mr. Hough retired from the partnership, 
and Mr. Spooner became sole proprietor, the first issue of the paper 
under his exclusive control being made December 29. A little more 



212 History of Windsor County. 

than three years later the pioneer name of Vermont Journal and Univer- 
sal Advertiser was dropped, and Spooner's Vermont Journal appeared 
in its stead. No further change in the paper or its proprietorship was 
made until the year 1817, at which time Wyman Spooner, a nephew of 
Alden Spooner, purchased an interest. This firm continued until August 
10, 18 1 8, when the junior partner became sole owner and proprietor. 

During Wyman Spooner's control the name was again changed by 
dropping " Spooner's," leaving the title page simply Vermont Journal ; 
but on the 12th of August, 1826, Alden Spooner having again entered 
the office, its previous name was restored, and so continued until the 
early part of February of the succeeding year, when Enos Folsom became 
proprietor of the enterprise, Alden Spooner still holding, however, a lien 
on the property, and under which claim the plant was sold to Simeon Ide 
during the year 1828. Mr. Folsom, during his brief editorship, also cut 
from the heading the word Spooner's, and took, for the third time, the 
name Vermont Journal. 

On the 1st of August, 1829, the Journal wzs united with the Vermont 
Republican, a paper of the town, founded in 1809 by Farnsworth & 
Churchill. This union was followed by the issue of the Vermont Repub- 
lican and Journal ; and again, on the 5th of January, 1835, Simeon Ide 
and Charles H. Smith having then succeeded to the ownership of the last 
named paper, the old journal, the pioneer newspaper of the county, tem- 
porarily lost its identity entirely, the new firm adopting the name of Ver- 
mont Republican and Cotcrier. 

However, during the year 1844, through the energy of Charles F. 
Merrifield, the old paper was again brought into existence, and the Ver- 
mont Journal was again in the community ; this time, too, to remain as 
one of the staunch newspapers of the town and county. Since its revival 
the editorial management has frequently changed, but finally became 
firmly established under the control of the Journal Publishing Company, 
a character of management and ownership of late years having become 
quite popular. The name of the proprietary company implies that a 
number of persons are interested in the enterprise, from patriotic or 
political motives, but who are not directly in charge of the practical work 
of the office, that duty devolving upon one or more persons whose quali- 
fications fit them for such service, and who are called either manager or 
editor, or both. Marsh O. Perkins is the present editor of the paper. 




yr^m/^t/^ /.DdZyuy^ 



The Press. 213 



The Vermont Journal is to-day, and for years past has been, one of the 
most influential newspapers of tlie county, and the recognized organ of 
the Republican party. Its circulation is large, and by no means con- 
fined to this county ; and it enjoys, moreover, a liberal advertising pat- 
ronage — in successful newspaper business a sine qua non. 

The Morning Ray. — This newspaper is understood to have been is- 
sued during the year 1791, the first number appearing in October. 
Thompson, however, gives no account of its existence, probably from the 
fact of its not having a life of more than a few months. Its proprietor 
was James Reed Hutchins, and its office was in Windsor. 

The Windsor Federal Gazette. — As its name indicates, the Gazette was 
one of the newspapers founded in Windsor, the first issue being sent to 
the readers on March 3, 1801. From the character of the title it may 
readily be inferred that its proprietor and founder, Nahum Mower, was 
an adherent to the cause of the Federalists, who were then a minority 
party in American politics. But whether or not Mr. Mower found that 
his party's doctrines were not popular with the people, is perhaps uncer- 
tain, but it is nevertheless a fact that he ceased its publication during the 
latter part of 1 804, and issued in its stead the Post Boy and Vermont 
and Nezu Hampshire Federal Courier. Perhaps the doughty publisher 
imagined that this more formidable title would bring him a goodly sub- 
scription patronage from the New Hampshire side of the river, but the 
early death of his enterprise would indicate to the contrary. The paper 
continued only two short years. A file of the Post Boy, for such was it 
commonly called, is now in the library at Woodstock, and an interesting 
little volume it is. 

The Northern Memento. — The first attempt at founding a newspaper 
at the county seat was made during the year 1804, when Isaiah H. Car- 
penter felt the public pulse by making a canvass for subscribers for his 
contemplated publication. Mr. Carpenter, it»appears, was not a novice 
in journalism, for he had learned the printing trade at Windsor ; and in 
addition to that he had " run " a little printing-office in the town of Bar- 
nard, and there published a few small books. This experience of course 
fully qualified the enterprising gentleman for general newspaper work 
— as some people believe before having tried it. 

But the people of Woodstock apparently desired a paper and gave 



214 History of Windsor County. 

Mr. Carpenter sufficient support to ju.stify him in printing one for them, 
which he did, the first number appearing May i6, 1805. Whether this 
support subsequently fell off, or the publisher found the expense account 
greater than at first estimated, cannot now be determined, but in 1806, 
some time in February, the Memento was discontinued, and no paper 
was thereafter started in that town for the space of fourteen years. 

The Green Mountain Palladium. — Chester was the third town in the 
county to which came the good fortune of having a home paper. In 
the year 1808 Charles, William and Henry Spear, brothers, established 
there the newspaper of which the above was the name. Thompson cor- 
rectly numbers this among the journals "of which we know but little 
but their names." However, it is known that the Palladium continued 
publication for some ten or twelve years. 

Tlie Vermont Republican. — An earlier- portion of this chapter has 
already mentioned the union of this newspaper enterprise with the [Vr- 
mont Journal, on August i, 1829, and the subsequent continuation of 
both, by Ide & Smith, under the name of Vermont Republican and 
Journal The Republican was founded at Windsor on January i, 1809, 
by Messrs. Farnsworth & Churchill, and was continued in existence, hi 
its separate character, until the association with the Journal, and thence- 
forth to the time of its sale and transformation into the Republican and 
Courier, during the year 1835. The Republican, at the time of its 
founding at least, was published as the organ of the party for which it 
was named, and favored prosecuting the war with Great Britain, which 
was then threatening. The opposition, however, were determined not 
to be outdone in the matter of having a newspaper to advocate their 
side of the political questions then agitating the pubhc mind ; and to 
effect the acts of the Loyalists they brought into existence, in the year 
1 8 10, 

The Washingtonian. — The paper was under the management of men 
who were e.vperienced in newspaper work : Thomas M. Pomeroy, pub- 
lisher, and josiah Dunham, editor. The Washingtonian first appeared 
in July, iSio; but the party whose cause it championed seems not to 
have had sufficient strength in this region to give to it that substantial 
support so needful for success, and its publication was therefore discon- 
tinued in July, 18 1 3. 



The Press. 215 



The Woodstock Observer. — The second attempt at founding a news- 
paper at the county seat, while more successful than that preceding, 
was not crowned with as gratifying results as were hoped for or ex- 
pected. The first step toward starting this enterprise were taken during 
the year 1819, David Watson, a resident of the town, and a practical 
printer, having charge of the matter. Watson could print, but, strange 
as it may appear, he was conscious of the fact that he could not edit a 
paper. After casting about for a time in quest of a suitable person for 
the editorial department, but without success, Watson concluded to put 
the Observer before the public without editorial assistance, and this was 
done in 1820. Several persons contributed to the columns of the Ob- 
server, chief among whom, perhaps, was Norman Williams. But, 
notwithstanding Mr. Watson's best efforts, the venture would not pay ; 
consequently in 1823 he transferred the office to Rufus Colton, a former' 
employee of Watson's, by whom the paper was published until 1832 
and then suspended operations. 

The Christian Repository. — This publication was hardly of the char- 
acter that would entitle it to mention among newspapers of the county, 
as it was nothing else than a quarterly magazine. It was established in 
the year 1820, under the editorial charge of Samuel C. Loveland, and 
printed by David Watson of the Observer. In 1825 the enterprise was 
purchased by Rev. Robert Bartlett, by whom it was edited for about 
three years, and then resold to Mr. Loveland. In 1829 William Bell 
became proprietor, and soon after changed the character of the publi- 
cation into a weekly newspaper, under the title of Uiiiversalist Watch- 
man and Repository, thus making it a denominational paper. One year 
later a further change in its management occurred, and the title was 
again changed, this time appearing Universalist Watchman, Repository 
and Chronicle. In 1833 the office and material were moved to Mont- 
pelier. 

The next venture into the field of journalism at Woodstock was that 
made in 1821 by Rev. Walter Chapin ; and this, too, was a sectarian 
paper pub'ished every two weeks, and called the Evangelical Monitor. 
Its purpose was to promote the growth and welfare of the Congregational 
church. It was discontinued during the early part of 1823. In 1827 
another religious bi weekly paper was started at Woodstock, called the 



2i6 History of Windsor County. 

Gospel Banner, under the editorial charge of Rev. Jasper Hazeii. But 

one volume of the paper was printed. In the year 1828 David Watson 
began the pubHcation of the I'eniioiit Enquirer; but this venture appears 
to have met with still less of success than the worthy editor's former en- 
terprise, the Observer, and was suspended after a few numbers. 

The Vermont Chronicle was established at Bellows Falls by E. C. 
Tracy, in April, 1826, and moved, two years later, to Windsor. Here it 
continued to e.x'ist until 1875, enjoying a fair degree of success during 
its stay in the county. Several changes in ownership were made dur- 
ing these years, Mr. Tracy, however, remaining with the paper through- 
out. In 1875 the paper was moved to Montpelier, where it is still 
published. 

In 1829 the town of Norwich first had a home paper, the name of which 
was the l^ermont Inquirer, published under the direction of Messrs. 
Davis and Porter. It was a short lived paper, however, being discon- 
tinued sometime during the year 183 i. About the same time, or perhaps 
a little later, 1830, the town of Chester received its second visitation 
of aspiring journalists, and the result was the starting of the Free- 
dom's Banner, under the care of the firm of Fellows & Co. It was pub- 
lished in the town for about ten years, and then dropped. In the same 
town the Banner was succeeded by the Musical Gazette, a montiily jour- 
nal published by a Mr. Silsley. Its existence, however tempting may 
have been its title, was quite brief, and after some three years of publi- 
cation it passed out of circulation. Since that time no other newspaper 
has been published in Chester; at all events there appears no record 
of any. 

The year 1830 seems to have been an eventful one in the annals of 
journalism in the county in general, and in Woodstock in particular; 
for during that year the town's people witnessed the founding of no less 
than four newspaper publications — Tlie American Whig, by Joseph 
Hemenway and E. J. W. Holbrook; the Henry Clay, by Benjamin F. 
Kendall ; Liberal Extracts, by T. E. Powers ; the Workitigman s Ga- 
zette ; and still another, though a magazine in character, called the 
Domestic Medical and Dietetical Monitor, or Journal of Health, by John 
Harding of South Woodstock. It may be remarked, right here, that 
Woodstock was never outdone in newspaper or magazine publications 



The Press. 217 



by any other town of the county, notwithstanding the fact that no paper 
of an}' kind was started in the town previous to 1805. 

The American Whig appears to have been the result of a consolida- 
tion of the Vermont Ljiminaty, a former paper of Randolph, and the 
Equal Rights, an embryo paper, the origin of which we know not of, but 
it is said to have originated in Chester, and the whole united under the 
combined title of the American IVhig, Vermont Luminary and Equal 
Rights. Its publishers were Hemenway & Holbrook, above mentioned. 
The intent and purpose of this formidable journal (so in name at least) 
was to oppose and crush out Free Masonry, to which object the Wind- 
sor County anti- Masonic committee was pledged. This committee 
directed the course of the paper. In its three-fold character the paper 
struggled against Masonry, and incidentally against fate, for a period of 
about six years, and then died a martyr to the cause it chiefly espoused ; 
but Masonry appeared not to have been seriously affected by the on- 
slaughts of the papers. Other than the original editors, or publishers, 
these persons were subsequently connected with the Whig: Samuel 
Hemenway, Samuel Hemenway, jr., Ferdinand Sherwin, and Henry L. 
Anthony. 

'WiQ Henry Clay was first issued in the early part of September, 1830, 
under the editorial care of Benjamin Franklin Kendall, while David 
Watson served as publisher. But after a year's continuance the name 
of the paper was changed to Vermont Courier, and Farmers and Me- 
chanics Advocate, thus, in name at least, outstripping its cotemporary 
of the same year. A couple or so years later some changes were again 
made, by a union with the Windsor Republican, and a new name, Re- 
publican and Courier, adopted. Still later, a change in proprietorship 
brought to the paper the more plain and sensible title of Vermont Courier, 
by which it was known to the time of its demise, in 1838 or there- 
abouts. 

The Liberal Extracts was a journal representing the ideas of the Wood- 
stock Free Reading Society; the latter an organization that now might 
be called an Infidel Club. Nahum Haskell edited the Extracts during 
its brief but eventful career. It was a monthly publication, and contin- 
ued only one year. 

The Workingman s Gazette was started in 1830, in the interest of the 

28 



2i8 History of Windsor County. 

workingmen of the vicinity, as will readily be inferred from its name. 
The period of its publication was quite brief There were too many so- 
ciety journals emanating from the county seat, and some must go — event- 
ually all then in existence departed. The Gazette, however, became 
merged into the Henry Clay, the latter then being controlled by Mr. 
Kendall. No further attempt was made to found a paper at the shire 
town until 1833, when Silas Esterbrook came out with the l^illagc Bal- 
ance, an anti- Masonic sheet that lasted only through one year's campaign. 
It was followed, three years later, however, 1836, by a similar publica- 
tion, The Constitution, edited by Henry S. Hutchinson ; but this, too. 
died almost "a' bornin." During the same year, 1836, another paper 
was conducted in Woodstock, called The Hornet. This was an opposi- 
tion sheet to the Constitution, and was edited by B. F. Kendall and 
Thomas E. Powers. It eventually shared the fate of its predecessors. 

During the ten years between 1830 and 1840 the village of Windsor 
seems to have experienced an epidemic of newspaper ventures, there be- 
ing started during that decade four journals, nothing, however, in num- 
ber to compare with the great works accomplished at the county seat. 
The Windsor papers were : Tlie Journal of Temperance, by Richards & 
Tracy, a semi-monthly, first number March 30, 1832; The Windsor 
Statesman, by Talford & Fletcher, started in 1833 and died in 1840; the 
Spirit of Seventy-Six, started in 1835, t>y Darius Jones, died 1837, t)y 
the hand of fate ; the Vermont Times, established in 1839, by Charles H. 
Severance, died in infancy, 1841. No other paper was attempted in 
Windsor until 1847, when the School Journal and Agriculturalist made 
its appearance. It lasted just about six years. Thus the old Vertnont 
Journal, with all its vicissitudes, survived all others ; and who shall say 
this was not a "survival of the fittest?" 

Thus far in these pages nothing has been said concerning the " rise 
and fall " of the press in the town of Springfield Well, there was made 
no effort to establish a paper there prior to 1833, and tiien the mania of 
the period did not appear to strike that locality with such severity as was 
observable in the northern sections of the county. However, in 1833, 
Messrs. Coolidge & Sprague commenced the publication of the Record 
of the Times. Three years later the enterprise was dropped, and Spring- 
field had no local paper thereafter for seventeen years. Then, in 1853, 



The Press. 219 



Mr. Gurnsey commenced the publication of the Springfield Telegraph ; 
but telegraphic press communications were then infrequent as compared 
with more recent years, so, after two years of indifferent success, the Tel- 
egrapJi suspended publication. 

Next in the succession of evanescent journals in the town came Tlie 
Record and Farmer ,M\ enterprise established in November, 1866, by D. L. 
Millikin, and by whom it was published until 1868, and then sold and 
merged into the Vermotit Journal. Five years later, January i, 1873, 
Frank W. Stiles started the Enterprise, a monthly journal ; but this 
proved unsuccessful, and was consequently withdrawn from the public 
after a year's publication. During the same year, 1873, E. D. Wright 
entered the field with the Weekly Nezus, but this, too, was an unsuccess- 
ful venture, and its proprietor sold out to the ll^oodstock Post. In 1875 
the Springfield Bulletin was born. O. A. Libby acknowledged its pa- 
ternity and assumed its support. It proved a weakling, and died, aged 
about eight months. 

The Springfield Reporter. — In the year 1878, about two and one -half 
years after the suspension of the Bulletin, the present Springfield Re- 
porter was started, under the editorial supervision and control of Frank 
W. Stiles, the founder of the Enterprise of some years preceding. In 
1878 Mr. Stiles found an open field for a good, newsy paper, and by that 
time the people of the town were also awake to the necessity of a local 
journal to represent their interests at large. Therefore the Reporter was 
presented to the reading public, its first issue appearing in the early part 
of January, 1878. The paper met with a cordial reception in the com- 
munit)', and increased in circulation and advertising support until it be- 
came, and still continues, firmly established upon a secure commercial 
basis. From its founding to the present time the Reporter has been 
under the control of Mr. Stiles. 

Returning again to the successions of county newspaper enterprises it 
is found that in 1837 Nahum Haskell and Augustus Palmer founded the 
Verjnont Mercitj-y, at Woodstock, the first number being published on 
April 6th Subsequently two changes were made in the name of the 
paper, the first to Woodstock Mercury, and the second to Windsor County 
Advertiser, the name being taken in 1853. Norman Williams and 
Thomas E. Powers were frequent contributors to the columns of the 



220 History of Windsor County. 

Mercury, especially in that department devoted to the advocacy of the 
Whig doctrines, of which they, and the proprietors as well, were the 
local champions. The Mercury was discontinued about 185 i. 

Tlie Spirit of the Age. — This is one of the established newspapers of 
the present day, but its founding dates back to the year 1840. Charles 
G. Eastman was the editor of the Age at the outset, and continued in that 
capacity until 1845, at which time A. E. Kimball succeeded him. Mr. 
Eastman, in 1843, changed the name of the paper to the Woodstock Age, 
but his successor, among his earliest acts in connection with it, restored 
the old name to the title page, and there it has since remained. In 1847 
Mr. Kimball was succeeded by E. M. Brown, and the latter, in turn, by 
William D. McMaster, the present owner and editor. 

The Spirit of the Age is the only recognized organ of the Democratic 
party at present published in this county ; and while, perhaps, its circu- 
lation it confined mainly to readers of the party's faith, it has, neverthe- 
less, a large and paying subscription list both within and without the 
county. That it is well edited and managed is reasonably attested by 
the fact that Mr. McMaster's long connection with the paper, and his re- 
ward for long continued party service, lies not only in the extensive pat- 
ronage of the Age, but also in his elevation to the postmastership of 
Woodstock village. 

Subsequent to the founding of the Spirit of the Age, and prior to 1850, 
three other newspapers were started at Woodstock : The Whig Advocate, 
a small campaign paper that made its appearance in 1842, with Charles 
P. Marsh, editor ; the Coon Hunter, also a campaign document, and an 
auxiliary or supplementary publication of the Age; and the Temperance 
Herald. The last named paper continued some four or more years. 

The Vermont Standard. — The unfortunate end that, with a single ex- 
ception, overtook all previously established newspapers at the county 
seat, seems not to have had the effect of entirely discouraging all subse- 
quent efforts in that direction. But on April 29, 1853, when editor 
Thomas E. Powers and publisher Lewis Pratt, jr., issued the first num- 
ber of the Vermont Temperance Standard, the prospects for long con- 
tinued and abundant success were not specially inviting. For had not 
the Temperance Herald, the immediate predecessor of the Standard, gone 
to the ground, and that despite the fact that its friends had contributed 



The Press. 221 



five hundred dollars for its early support ? But, notwithstanding that, 
the proprietors of the Standard had confidence in the enterprise they 
founded, and subequent events proved their judgment to be correct ; 
but it is doubtful if even these original founders contemplated the radical 
change in store for their paper, by its changing from the Temperance 
Standard, presumably, from its name, an advocate of temperance, to the 
Vermont Standard, and eventually to become a recognized organ of Re- 
publicanism in the town and county. But such was not the case. 

Dr. Powers continued in charge of the editorial department of the pa- 
per for nearly two years, retiring December 29, 1854, and was succeeded 
by Rev. G. C. Sampson. The last named editor was succeeded, two 
years later, January, 1857, by Luther O. Greene and W. P. Davis, both 
of whom were formerly connected with a paper rit St. Albans. Among 
the early acts of these proprietors, in connection with their new acquisi- 
tion, was the change of its name to the Vermont Standard, dropping 
" Temperance," as a distinguishing feature of the paper's character, but 
by no means relinquishing temperance advocacy Mr. Davis's connection 
with the paper continued until the 27th of July, i860, when Mr. Greene 
became sole proprietor, and has so remained to the present day. 

Subsequent to the founding of the Standard three attempts have been 
made at starting newspaper publications at the county town. The first 
of these attempts brought forth the Nortliern Farmer, a paper intended 
to be devoted to the agricultural interests of the vicinity in particular, 
and to current news in general. E. M. Brown and A. B. Crosby were 
the originators of this enterprise, but their efforts were not rewarded with 
any special degree of success ; whereupon, in the course of a few months, 
the office material was removed to West Randolph. It began publication 
in the early part of 1855. 

The Otta Qnecliee Post was established by Robert A. I'erkins, and first 
appeared September 15, 1871. It never prospered in that locality, al- 
though its proprietor afterwards became sowewhat prominent as a jour- 
nalist. The /^t'5/' changed its name, in 1872, to the Woodstock Post, and 
advocated the election of Horace Greeley for the Presidency. It was 
known, or during that campaign called itself, an Independent Reiniblican 
paper ; but in following the plan set by the leaders of the memorable po- 
litical contest, the Post, as well as all other so-called independent papers 



222 History of Windsor County. 

of that period, found themselves fairly landed within the Democratic camp, 
from which some never afterwards escaped, while others did, and returned 
to the Republican fold. The Post was discontinued in 1875, the last 
number being issued June 4th of that year. 

The Acorn was the result of the latest effort at starting a new paper at 
Woodstock, the date of its first issue being May i, 1872. It was a 
monthly publication, under the charge of a number of young journal- 
istic aspirants of the county seat. It was not a long-lived paper, and 
withdrew from the field in October, 1873. 

The town of Hartford, or, more particularly, the village of White 
River Junction, has witnessed the founding of five separate newspaper 
enterprises, although but one, The Landmark, long survived the voyage 
over the ever-troubled waters of the sea of journalism. The first paper 
established in this town was The White River Advertiser and Ver- 
mont Faviily Gazette, a creation of October, 1852, and the victim of a 
destroying fire in 1853. It was published by Davis & South worth. 
Twenty-five years later, in 1878, on the first of January. Thomas Hale 
commenced the publication of xhe RepKb/icaii Observer; but two j-ears 
of experience in the locality seerhs to have satisfied Mr. Hale, as he then 
moved the establishment to New Hampshire. 

Third in the succession of papers in this town was the Sun, founded 
December 9, 1881, by Royal Cummings, but who, in March of the next 
year, disposed of the plant, Araunah A. Earl becoming the purchaser. 
On the 13th of March, 1882, Mr. Earl issued the first number of the 
paper under the name of Landmark, and as such it has ever since been 
published, and by the same practical, enterprising and competent pro- 
prietor. No better mention of the character and general purpose of the 
Landmarh can be made than by quoting from the publisher's own ad- 
vertisement, as follows : " Devoted specially and entirely to the in- 
terests of its publisher, who is independent when it will pay, neutral 
when it don't." The Landmark is one of the present papers of tiie 
county. 

The Valley News was the result of the latest effort at starting a pa- 
per at the Junction, but it was only a feeble effort, and failed of sub- 
stantial or lasting results. 

The town of Ludlow has but one home paper, the Tribune, although 



The Press. 223 



five previous attempts were made to establish a publication for that 
vicinity. The first effort in that direction brought forth the Genitis of 
Liberty, but the paper proved of short duration. Next appeared The 
Blotter, \n 1854, under the proprietorship of R. S. Warner and W. A. 
Bacon. The paper changed owners with frequency, which fact itself was 
an evidence of non-success, and was finally sold " under the hammer," 
as the saying goes. The purchaser, Mr. Warner, formerly its owner, 
endeavored to put the paper again before the public, but it was of no 
avail. The Blotter lasted from the fall of 1854 to the latter part of 1856- 
But Mr. Warner was not discouraged by one, or even two, unsuccessful 
attempts, and in January, i860, presented to the people of Ludlow 
another paper, called The Voice Among the Mountains. But this publi- 
cation, like its predecessor, made frequent changes in ownership, and 
was finally made a monthly. As such its days were ended with its third 
year, and The Voice Among the Mountains was no longer heard. On 
the 17th of April, 1866, D. E. Johnson "tried his hand" at journalism, 
and brought to light TIic Transcript, but during the early days of the 
paper Mr. Johnson died, and the office and plant were then sold to a 
former publisher of the Brattleboro Record. It proved unprofitable, and 
was soon discontinued. 

The next newspaper of Ludlow was The Black River Gazette, founded 
in December, 1 866, by R. S.Warner and Moses Burbank. Li March, 1 867, 
Mr. Burbank died, and another owner succeeded to his place Without 
attempting to follow in detail ail the changes in ownership of the Gazette, 
it is sufficient to state that the paper was continued with varying and in- 
different success until 1884, when the then owner moved the whole 
plant to Brandon, and thenceforth as a Windsor county journal it ceased 
to exist. 

The Vermont Tribune, the present newspaper of Ludlow, was founded 
in 1876, the first number appearing on November 24th. Its first pub^ 
lishers were Mott Brothers. The Tribune has continued, with changes, 
of courst^ in ownership, to the present day, and is now counted among 
the prosperous journals of the county. Its prosperity is evinced by its 
general appearance and the character of its contents; and it is no ful- 
some flattery to say that the Tribune, under the management of Mr. E. G. 
Allis, is as clean, bright, newsy and interesting a paper as can be found 



224 History of Windsor County. 

in the county to-day. Mr. Allis succeeded to the proprietorship of the 
Tribune in April, 1881, his predecessor being L. B. Hibbard, who pur- 
chased from VV. A. McArtluir in July, 1879. The latter bought the pa- 
per in September, 1877, from F". W. Bacon, who was the successor of 
the founders, in February of the same year. 

The Bethel Courier, while it is hardly a newspaper of the county, nev- 
ertheless circulates as such, is still entitled to at least a passing notice. 
The paper is printed at West Randolph, and has an edition under the 
above title ; also it has an editor at Bethel, Walter M. Brooks. 

Among the other newspapers of the county in times passed was the 
Patron s Rural, of Rochester, a monthly publication, devoted to the 
Grange interest, not printed, however, in that town, but at Bellows 
Falls. It was started in 1882, under the local management of Alpha 
Messer. 

The township of Royalton has had three newspapers, the first the 
Vermont Advocate, publislied by Wyman & Spooner for a time, and 
then moved to another county ; the Greenbaek Herald, started in April, 
1878, by K. D. Pratt, who undoubtedly expected, or at least hoped, to 
flood the county with greenbacks, through the efforts of the short-lived 
party of that name, but they did not — more's the pity ; and the South 
Royalton Gazette, established in 1880, bj' Charles Culver, and contin- 
ued only about three months. 

Then, in other paits, was the Citizen Soldier, of Norwich, a paper 
purporting to represent the militia interests. It opened the " campaign " 
in July, 1840, and was "commanded" by Major Sweet. In February, 
1841, "headquarters" were moved to Windsor, and here, in July fol- 
lowing, it was " captured " — by the hand of misfortune. 

The I'erinont Nczc's was started in Springfield in 1879. It ceased 
publication seven weeks later. 



Town of Woodstock. 225 



CHAPTER XIV. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WOODSTOCK, AND THE INCORPO- 

R./VTED VILLAGE OF WOODSTOCK— THE SEAT OF 

JUSTICE OF WINDSOR COUNTY. 

THE history of the town of Woodstock has recently been made 
the subject of a considerable volume, the results of the patient toil 
and deep research of Mr. Henry Swan Dana ; and it is no fulsome com- 
pliment to say concerning Mr. Dana's work that it is all that could be 
desired ; clearly and concisely written, admirably well done, an honor 
to its editor, to its publisher, and an agreeable and welcome record to 
the people of the town to which it relates. Therefore it seems that an- 
other history of Woodstock, following so closely upon that just pub- 
lished, would be an absolutely useless undertaking, but a history of 
Windsor county without a history of its shire town would be much 
like a play minus the leading character. But one fortunate effect of the 
recent publication is to greatly lessen the bulk or volume of the present 
chapter, and renders only necessary in this connection the briefest ref- 
erence to the events of the town's interesting history, for the gratifica- 
tion and use of the people of those towns of the county in which it is 
hardly to be expected that Mr. Dana's work will circulate. 

Town Description and Boundaries. — Among the towns of Windsor 
county Woodstock occupies a central position, and this fact was one of 
the strongest arguments in favor of its selection as the county seat. The 
town is bounded on the north by Pomfret and a small part of Hartford ; 
on the east by Hartland ; on the south by Reading and West Windsor; 
and on the west by Bridgewater. 

In common with the great majority of the county's towns, Woodstock 
is considered a mountainous district, but there is less of extreme heights 
than are found in many other localities, while between the broken ranges 
are extensive interval lands, more, perhaps, of the latter than numbers 
of other towns can boast ; and in these valleys, as well as on some of 
the elevated rolling lands, are most excellent farms which produce 
abundant returns under proper cultivation. 
29 



226 History of Windsor County. 

Perhaps the most attractive mountain formation within the town 
is that commonly known as Mount Tom, lying in the northern portion, 
on the northwest of Woodstock village. This peak, if such it may be 
called, possesses no peculiar characteristics that are noticeably absent in 
the other similar mountains, but yielding to the application of man's 
labor, it has been made one of the most beautiful and attractive spots 
within the region of the county. From the main thoroughfare leading 
northward from the village there has been constructed, even to the mount- 
ain's greatest height, a comfortable wagon road, while on the summit 
openings have been made from which there is presented to the view of 
the beholder a most magnificent panorama of nature. This imjirove- 
ment upon nature's provision, as well as numerous others, is due to the 
generosity and public-spiritedness of Mr. Frederick Billings. Other 
peaks might be made equally prominent and attractive should there be 
expended in their adornment the same labor and attention as has been 
applied to Mount Tom. 

The principal water course of the town is the stream of many 
aliases, but commonly called Quechee River. To some of the Indians, 
original visitors to the locality, history tells us that it was known as the 
" Wtatock Quitchey." Under another authority it is called, evidently 
from the Dutch, " Wasserqueechc," while to the early proprietors anti 
settlers it was known as " Waterqueeche." Otherwise it has been called 
" Otta Quechee," but common consent has abbreviated even this, and 
the stream is now generally designated, in more simple English, " Que- 
chee Ri\er." The Quechee enters the town from the southeast part 
of Bridgewater, and thence has its course generally northeast to the 
northeast part of Woodstock, touches the corner of Pomfret, returns 
ag.iin, forms the boundary between this town and Hartford, and thence 
eastward, but an e.xceedingly tortuous course, and finally discharges its 
waters into the Connecticut in Hartland Particularly through the val- 
ley of the Quechee in Woodstock is found the greatest extent of agri- 
cultural lands of the town, but a close second to that is the valley of 
the South Branch, a tributary of the main stream that has its source in 
the southeast part of the town, and drains the entire eastern part 
thereof 

Charters and Early Settlements. — The town of Woodstock was 



Town of Woodstock. 227 

brought into existence by virtue of a charter granted by Benning Went- 
worth, provincial governor of New Hampshire, to David Page and his 
associates, sixty two persons in all, and dated July 10, 1761, being the 
same day upon which the other towns of Hertford (Hartland) and 
Bridgewater were chartered. As provided by the charter the town was 
to contain "something more than six miles square, and no more," or 
its equivalent in acres, about 24,900. 

In nearly every respect this charter was similar to those by which 
other towns were brought into existence, and the reservations were in 
like manner substantially the same, in the charter of Woodstock as fol- 
lows : " His Excellency, Benning Wentworth, a tract of land to contain 
five hundred acres as marked in the plan B. W., which is to be accounted 
two of the within shares; one whole share for the incorporated Society 
for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts ; one share for a glebe 
for the Church of England as by law established ; one share for the first 
(settled) minister of the Gospel ; one share for the benefit of a school in 
said town." The governor's two shares, five hundred acres, reserved for 
his own benefit and emolument, were situate in the northeast corner 
of the town, in the locality where is now situated the hamlet called 
Taftsville. 

One of the provisions of the charter designated the time of the first 
meeting of the proprietors, and was as follows: "Also, that the first 
meeting for the choice of town officers, agreeable to the laws of our said 
province, shall be held on the last Tuesday of August next, which said 
meeting shall be notified by Oliver Witlard, who is hereby also appointed 
moderator of the said first meeting, which he is to notify and govern 
agreeable to the laws and customs of our said province," etc. 

Under the conditions of the charter it is undoubtedly a fact that the 
proprietors held the prescribed first meeting and elected the several 
town officers, follovi'ing which was made the usual survey, and possi 
bly a division of town lots. But the government of these proprietors 
was not destined to be of long continuance, for, at the time the charter 
of Governor Wentworth was made, the controversy between the prov- 
inces of New York and New Hampshire was in progress. In 1764 that 
controversy took a rather sudden even if not an unexpected turn, and 
by it the jurisdiction hitherto exercised over this district of territory by 



228 History of Windsor County. 

the provincial government of New Hampshire was vested in the province 
of New York. 

Then, again, very soon after the granting of the original charter, cer- 
tain of the proprietors commenced purchasing the interests and rights of 
their fellows, and it was not long before a good proportion of the lands 
of the town were centered in ownership in the hands of a few persons ; 
and when the king's order of July, 1764, became generally understood, 
these owners of course at once sought a new charter, or at least a con- 
firmation of the old, at the hands of the governor of New York. And 
there were others, too, not previously interested in the lands of the 
town who longed to become possessed of the same under a new and 
entirely distinct charter. But it was not until the year 1772 that the 
New York authorities took decisive action in the premises, and they then 
made a charter patent for the town, naming as grantees Oliver VVil- 
lard and his associates, the entire number being twenty-four. The date 
of this charter was June 3, 1772, and conveyed to the grantees or pat- 
entees " twenty four thousand arid seven hundred acres of land, and the 
usual allowance for highways, including a tract of five hundred acres of 
land granted to Lieutenant William Leslie, and containing, exclusive of 
the said tract and the four lots of laud hereinafter described, the quan- 
tity of twenty-three thousand and two hundred acres of land and the 
usual allowance for highways." The lands mentioned as granted to 
Lieutenant Leslie referred to the five hundred-acre tract in the north- 
east corner of the town, originally known as the "Governor's Lands." 
The other reservations that contributed to the reduction of the chartered 
lands were the grants for public purposes. 

The twenty-four grantees named in the patent issued by the New 
York authorities were these : Oliver Willard, Isaac Corsa, Joseph Bull, 
John Blagge, William A. Forbes, Benjamin Stout, jr., Cornelius Van- 
denburgh, Peter Vandevoort, William Talman, George Birks, Henry 
Gulick, William Clark, John B. Stout, Benjamin Stout, Henry Beekman, 
John Fowler, Caleb Hyatt, Daniel Goldsmith, Daniel Green, Samuel 
Stevens, Charles McEvers, James Seagrove, Christopher Blindcli and 
Adam Gilchrist. These were persons nearly every one of wliom were 
in no manner identified with the New Hampshire Grants, direct!)- or 
indirectly, but who were favorites of the governor of the province of 




Dr. Thomas E. Powers. 



Town of Woodstock. 229 

New York, and as a reward for their political fealty they were made 
grantees under the charter. But one at least of these, Oliver Willard, 
seems to have had a double claim upon the good will of the governor, 
for he was interested in very large tracts of lands on the New Hamp- 
shire Grants, not only in Woodstock, but elsewhere ; and he was, more- 
over, an ardent supporter of the cause of New York as against the 
claims of the inhabitants on the grants, or those claiming rightful pos- 
session under the New Hampshire charters. 

Whether or not these patentees had an organization is unknown, but 
it is quite probable that they did not, for no sooner had the charter been 
issued than Oliver Willard began possessing himself by purcliase of the 
riglits and interests of his associates, and within the space of three days 
from that time he became the absolute owner and sole proprietor of the 
entire town, exclusive of the reserved tracts heretofore referred to; 
and it is believed that there was no organization of the town under 
this patent prior to that of 1773, concerning which mention will be 
found on later pages. 

Notwithstanding the unsettled condition of the land titles in the town, 
growing out of the several attempts at obtaining charters from New 
York, there were pioneers who had the temerity to make settlements 
and improvements on the lands of the town, even before the granting of 
the charter to Oliver Willard and his associates. There are records, 
traditional or otherwise, tending to show that adventurous pioneers 
visited the region of the town both before and soon after the issue of 
the New Hampshire charter, but it is nowhere alleged that there was a 
permanent settlement effected prior to the coming of Timothy Knox, in 
the year 1765 ; and it is not understood that Knox made his settlement 
here under a claim of ownership of the lands he occupied, but rather 
that his taking up an abode here was the result of a desire to be tem- 
porarily exiled from the civilized and inhabited regions of the country 
to the southward of this State. Or, to be entirely plain, Kno.x, who 
was a student at Harvard, became disappointed in an affair of love, and, 
desiring to exclude hmiself entirely from society, came into this then 
wild region and built him a hut on the south branch of the Quechee, in 
the locality known as the Beaver Meadows, where he employed himself 
in trapping and hunting. He was a "squatter" on the land, but after- 



230 History of Windsor County. 

ward became a regular settler among the pioneers of the town, and in 
1780 was elected as one of the town fence viewers. 

The second settler in the town was Andrew Powers, who purchased 
from Oliver VVillard, in the year 1768, a tract of land embracing several 
himdred acres, and by whom it was divided and parcels sold to William 
and James Powers, sons of Andrew, and to James Sanderson, who also 
became settlers in the town during that \ear, 1768. From this time the 
settlement increased steadily, but not rapidly; and in 1771, the year in 
which the New York authorities caused to be made an enumeration of 
the inhabitants of old Cumberland county, Woodstock was found to con- 
tain a population of forty-two persons, which would at that time be com- 
prehended by from seven to ten families. 

In the spring of 1773 the town was found to be possessed of a sufficient 
number of taxable inhabitants to warrant its organization and the elec- 
tion of town officers. For this purpose the inhabitants of the town 
assembled at the dwelling of Joab Hoisington on the third Tuesday of 
May, 1773, and chose the following officers : Moderator, Lieutenant John 
Strong; town clerk, Joab Hoisington; supervisor, Benjamin Emmons; 
overseers of the poor, Joab Hoisington and Benjamin h^mmons ; assess- 
ors, John Strong and Daniel Waldo ; collectors, John Sanderson and 
Asahel Hoisington ; commissioners of highway, John Strong, Benjamin 
Emmons and Joab Hoisington ; surveyors of highways, Joseph Call, Joab 
Hoisington and Sylvanus Cottle ; constables, Daniel Waldo, Joseph 
Cottle, Ezra Drew and Joseph Call; fence viewers, John Hoisington 
and William Powers. 

Thus there were present at this first town meeting at least twelve dif- 
ferent persons, each of whom is presumed to have been of full age, and 
entitled to vote, as well as to hold office under the new town government. 
But it is also fair to assume that there were some who were entitled to 
the privileges of freemen who either were not present at the meeting, 
and if they were there, were not inclined to accept any of the various 
positions and offices dealt out on that auspicious occasion. Such may 
have been the case at that period of our history, but it would be considered 
a somewhat remarkable thing among the people of the present genera- 
tion. 

In order to bring to the attention of the reader the names of as many 



Town of Woodstock. 231 



as possible of the pioneers of the town, it has been deemed advisable to 
extract from the town records the succession of town officers from the 
time of the above meeting down to and including those chosen for 
the year 1780, together with such other extracts from the record book 
of proceedings as are thought to be of interest to the present reader. It 
should be stated, however, that the proceedings of the town meeting of 
March, 1777, are nowhere on record. 

Officers chosen May 17, 1774: Moderator, John Strong; clerk, Joab 
Hoisington ; supervisor, Asa Whitcomb ; assessors, John Strong and Joab 
Hoisington ; collectors, Benjamin Burch and Sylvanus Cottle ; overseers 
of tiie poor, Asa Whitcomb and Joab Hoisington ; commissioners of 
highways, John Sanderson, James Henwood and Oliver Farnsworth ; 
overseers of highways, Nathan Howland, Joab Hoisington and Oliver 
Farnsworth; constables. Lieutenant John Strong, Rufus Carpenter, Jo- 
seph Darling and Joseph Ripley ; fence viewers, Simon Davis and En- 
sign William Powers ; " hog drivers," James Sanderson and John San- 
derson ; "reefe keeper," John Hoisington ; town treasurer, Joab Hoising- 
ton. At this meeting the people voted to build a pound ; also voted 
that Benjamin Emmons and William Powers be a committee to build the 
pound and make a clearing for a burying- ground. 

At a meeting held September 13, 1774, it was voted to hire Mr. (Rev.) 
Aaron Hutchinson for five years in connection with Hartford and Pom- 
fret. This is the first allusion made by the records in the matter of pro- 
curing a minister to conduct religious meetings in the town. 

Officers chosen May 16, 1775 : Moderator, Lieutenant John Strong ; 
town clerk, Joab Hoisington; supervisor, Lieutenant Benjamin P^mmons ; 
overseers of the poor, Joab Hoisington, Stephen Powers and Phineas 
Williams; assessors. Lieutenant John Strong and Joab Hoisington; col- 
lectors, Nathan Howland and Oliver Farnsworth ; constables, John 
Sanderson, Rufus Carpenter, James Harwood and Ebenezer Kingsley ; 
commissionersof highways, Simon Davis, Joseph Cottle, Phineas Williams, 
Joab Hoisington and Elias Thomas ; overseers of highways, John Strong, 
Benjamin Emmons, Phineas Williams, and Ebenezer Kingsley; fence 
viewers, Elias Thomas and William Powers ; treasurer, Joab Hoisington ; 
" hog commissioners," Benjamin Emmons and John Sanderson. 

At this meeting it was voted to get a town supply of ammunition, one 



232 History of Windsor County. 

hundred pounds of powder, two hundred pounds of lead and four hun- 
dred flints. Joab Hoisington and James Harwood were chosen a com- 
mittee to procure tlie ammunition; and it was provided that the treas- 
urer should sell to each inhabitant " one pound of powder, two pounds 
of lead, some flints, and no more." At this same meeting, also, Benja- 
min Emmons, John .Strong and Joab Hoisington were chosen a " Com- 
mittee of Advice " (Committee of Safetj-). 

Officers chosen May 22, 1776: Moderator, John Strong ; town clerk, 
Joab Hoisington ; listers, Ebenezer Kingsley, Stephen Powers and Joab 
Hoisington ; assessors. Colonel Joab Hoisington, Dr. Powers and Ebene- 
zer Kingsley; collectors, Joseph Cottle and Elias Thomas; commis- 
sioners of highwavs. Captain Williams, Colonel Joab Hoisington, Simon 
Davis, Elias Thomas and Joseph Cottle; overseers of highways, Simon 
Davis, Asahel Hoisington, Captain Williams and Elias Thomas; consta- 
bles, Ebenezer Kingsley and Elias Thomas ; selectmen. Dr. Stephen 
Powers, Deacon (Benjamin) Emmons and Joab Hoisington ; fence view- 
ers, Amasa Delano and Elias Thomas ; " hog drivers," John Sanderson, 
Asahel Hoisington and Captain (Ebenezer) Williams ; sealers of weights 
and measures, John Hoisington and Jonathan Kingsley. 

At a town meeting held July 13, 1776, Dr. Stephen Powers and Joab 
Hoisington were chosen a committee to have charge of the ammunition, 
and deal out to each man having fire-arms one half pound of powder 
and one pound of lead, and to supply others as soon as they had arms. 

Officers chosen March 10, 1778: Moderator, " Deacon " Emmons; 
town clerk, Oliver h'arnsworth ; treasurer. Lieutenant Joseph Safibrd ; 
first selectman, Benjamin Emmons; second. Ensign Nathan How land; 
third. Captain I'hineas Williams; fourth, Joseph Safford ; fifth, Oliver 
Farnsworth ; constables, Nathaniel Killam and Benjamin Burch ; assess- 
ors, Ebenezer Kingsley, Ebenezer Craine and Joseph Churchill; tithing- 
man, Rufus Carpenter; overseers of highways, Warren Cottle and Phineas 
Sanderson; surveyors of highways, Charles Killam, Joseph Darling and 
Jabez Bennett; "hog rieffs," James Sanderson, Amasa Delano, Elias 
Tliomas and Elijah Bayley ; fence viewers, Captain Phineas Williams 
and Oliver Farnsworth. Voted, at this meeting, " to build two pounds, 
twenty feet square, one at Oliver Farnsworth's and the other at Captain 
Strong's." 




John D. Powers, M. D. 



Town of Woodstock. 233 

Officers chosen March 30, 1779: Moderator, Lieutenant Joseph Saf- 
ford ; town clerk, Oliver Ainsvvorth ; selectmen, Joseph Safford, Phineas 
Williams, Jabez Cottle, Samuel Button and Ephraim Brewster; treas- 
urer, Joseph Safford ; constable, Elias Thomas ; collector, Stephen De- 
lano ; highway surveyors, Jonas Matthews, Josiah Dunham, Asahel 
Hoisington, Jonathan Kingsley and Samuel Dutton ; listers, Abisha Sam- 
son, Jabez Bennett and Joseph Cottle; leather sealers, Elijah Field and 
Josiah Lamb ; grand juror, Nathan Howland ; tithingmen, Samuel Dut- 
ton and Jabez Cottle ; haywards, John Sanderson and David Slayton ; 
branders of horses, John Strong and Phineas Powers ; sealer of weights 
and measures, Jonathan Kingsley; pound keepers, Benjamin Burch and 
Oliver Farnsworth; deer-reefs, Timothy Rose and Phineas Powers; fence 
viewers, Joseph Churchill, Jesse Safford and Ainasa Delano; petit jurors, 
Joel Matthews, Ephraim Brewster, Jabez Cottle, Joseph Safford, John 
Strong, Phineas Williams. Samuel Dutton and Joseph Churchill. 

Among other proceedings had at this time it was voted "to build a 
meeting-house on the road that goes from Samuel Pratt's to the other 
road, west of Oliver Farnsworth's " ; and at an adjourned meeting held 
at the house of Dr. Powers, on April 3, 1779, it was "voted to divide 
the town into districts for the advantage of schooling." For this business 
Samuel Dutton, Phineas Williams, William Hilton, Jabez Cottle and Oli- 
ver Farnsworth were chosen a committee. It was also voted at the 
same time to divide the town into five school districts. On the 24th of 
July, of this year, the inhabitants voted to divide the town into two 
parishes, by an east and west center line, and chose Joel Matthews, 
Phineas Williams, Warren Cottle, Joseph Cottle and Oliver Williams as 
a committee to make the division. 

Officers chosen March 6, 1 780 : Moderator, Jabez Cottle ; town clerk, 
Gershom Palmer ; treasurer, Nathan Howland ; selectmen, Phineas 
Williams, Jabez Cottle, John Strong, Charles Killam and Oliver Farns- 
worth ; constable, Nathaniel Ladd ; listers, Rufus Bassett, Stephen De- 
lano and Oliver Williams ; grand jurors, Joel Matthews and Warren 
Cottle; collectors, Joseph Darling and Nathaniel Pool ; leather sealers, 
Elijah Field and Lemuel Harlow ; tithingmen, William Hilton and 
Amasa Delano ; brander of horses, Joel Matthews ; sealer of weights and 
measures, Gershom Palmer ; fence viewers, Timothy Knox and Ebene- 

30 



234 History of Windsor County. 

zer Kingsley; highway surveyors, EHas Thomas, WiUiam Hilton, Jo- 
seph Churchill, Gershom Palmer and Jonathan F"arns\vorth. 

At a meeting of the townsmen held August 14, 1780, it was voted to 
raise three men for service for three months on the frontier, and to pay 
them forty shillings per month, payable in wheat at five shillings per 
bushel, or rye at four shillings, or Indian corn at three shillings ; also, 
Elias Thomas, John Strong and Phineas Williams were chosen a com- 
mittee to provide said men. And it was further provided at the meet- 
ing, probably as an e.xtra inducement for the men to enter the service, 
that they have the same allowance of rum that the State allows. 

The foregoing record is a statement of the succession of town officers 
of Woodstock from the time of its first town meeting in 1773, down to 
and inclusive of the year 1780, excepting those elected in 1777, for 
which year no entry appears upon the town records, if, indeed, any 
were elected during that year. By this succession there is brought to 
notice the names of many of the pioneers of the town, but it cannot be 
presumed that all of them are there mentioned. It was the custom of 
the several towns of the State during the years 1778 and 1779, and at 
various later periods, to have administered to those who desired it the 
freeman's oath, a provision of the first constitution of the State of Ver- 
mont, and in the record-book of proceedings it was the custom to en- 
ter the names of all who took and subscribed the oath, but this, it 
appears, was not done in Woodstock, or if it was, no record of the 
freemen's names was made. 

When, in 1772, the town of Woodstock was chartered or patented to 
Oliver Willard and his associates, it was provided by the instrument of 
patent that the officers of the town should be elected in conformity with 
its terms, and the several offices to be filled were named specifically. 
This was for the guidance of the people of the town, and the offices 
were those that were usual to the towns generally of the province of 
New York. Conforming to the requirements of the patent, the first 
town meetings were held and officers chosen under it for several years, 
but when the new State of Vermont was brought into existence by the 
declaration of independence in 1777 there seemed to be at once a 
tendency to elect officers in accordance with the laws adopted and laid 
down under the constitution of the State. But before the independence 



Town of Woodstock. 235 

of Vermont was declared, and as early even as 1776, there were town 
officers elected not according to the strict interpretation of the New 
York charter, but something after the custom of the towns on the 
grants, and in accord with the manner of choosing officers under the 
New Hampshire charters. 

In the year 1776 the people of the town elected both listers and as- 
sessors, the offices being identical in character of duty of their incum- 
bents, the former an office named under the law and custom of New 
Hampshire, and perhaps other New England provinces, while the latter, 
assessors, was the name of the same office under the prevailing law of 
New York. What motive may have induced the people to choose in- 
cumbents under both of these named offices is a question that cannot now 
be satisfactorily explained, but it was a matter of no great importance, 
for there could be no conflict of authority between the incumbents, as 
the same persons, Ebenezer Kingsley, Joab Hoisington, and Dr. Ste- 
phen Powers, filled both positions. At the meetings held prior to 1776 
supervisors had been elected annually, but in the meeting of that year 
that name is dropped, and in its stead appears the more familiar title of 
selectmen. In 1778 'assessors" was the word used to describe the 
office of "listers," but in 1779 listers is restored and thereafter used, 
with some possible exceptions. 

But it required no great effort on the part of the townsmen of Wood- 
stock to change the character of their local government from that pre- 
scribed by New York to that adopted by the State of Vermont, and 
this notwithstanding the fact that the town was at that time a part of 
the county of Cumberland under the New York control, and continued 
so to be until the admission of Vermont to the LJnion in 1791. And it 
is a fact, too, that from 1778 until 1791, the town of Woodstock, and 
the other then organized towns of this State as well, formed a part of 
two distinct counties, under the authority of two separate States, each 
contending for the jurisdiction over the same. Every intelligent reader 
understands that Woodstock was organized under the immediate con- 
trol of the New York authority, and that that province and subsequent. 
State continued to exercise control over it, or at least attempted to do 
so, until Congress finally admitted Vermont to the Union ; and it is a 
fact, equall)' well known, that in 177S the government of the independ- 



236 History of Windsor County. 

ent State of Vermont was completed, and the territory divided into 
counties, the part wherein lies this town being embraced by the county 
of Cumberland. This was continued so until 1 781, when, the county 
being large in area and population, it was found necessary to divide old 
Cumberland county, and out of its territory form three new sub-divisions, 
the counties of Windham, Windsor and Orange. 

During the period of the controversy between the State of New York 
and the independent State of Vermont, there was about the same pre- 
vailing sentiment existing in Woodstock as was found in a majority of 
the towns east of the mountains. That controversy of coiuse com- 
menced long years before this town was brought into existence, possibly 
before it was contemplated ; and it was commenced before Vermont, as 
a State, was thought of, and while it was yet a part of the New Hamp- 
shire Grants, so called. When Woodstock was first chartered, in 1761, 
the proprietors naturally looked for protection and paid allegiance to 
the mother province. New Hampshire, but when the king's decree of 
1764 fixed the western boundary of that province at the west bank of 
the Connecticut River, and proclaimed this region a part of the province 
of New York, the proprietors had no alternative than to accept the de- 
cree and look for a confirmation of their charter at the hands of the new 
power. They could, however, have joined hands with the settlers in the 
towns west of the Green Mountains, and fought the New Yorkers with 
the same weapons and methods as did the famous Green Mountain Boys, 
had it not been for the isolated situation of the town, and the further 
fact that the dominant sentiment in this particular region inclined to the 
New York jurisdiction and control, although there were but compara- 
tively few of what were termed violent Yorkers in this locality. 

The person who became proprietor and owner of the lands of Wood- 
stock, Oliver Willard, was as a matter of course bound to favor the New 
York control, for, when the king's order was promulgated, he was the 
owner of large tracts of land under the New Hampshire charters, and 
to lose them would have taken nearly all of his earthly possessions. In 
1763 he was a resident and proprietor of Hartland, and owned extensive 
tracts in other towns ; moreover he was the friend of the governor of 
New York. His acquisition of lands in this town did not commence 
until after the king's order, but he then prosecuted his purchases here 




John D. Powers. 



Town of Woodstock. 237 

with such vigor that he became its leading proprietor when the patent 
was issued, and still later acquired the interests of his associates, becom- 
ing at last sole owner of the entire town, except the reserved lands. 
His influence was exerted in behalf of the New York jurisdiction, and 
by it others were brought to the same inclination ; and the town, at one 
period at least, may be considered as being largely in favor of being 
governed by the authorities of New York. But as other settlers came 
to the region, purchased their lands of Wiilard, paid for, occupied and 
improved them, his interest and influence ceased to prevail, and the 
town came to occupy a rather neutral position, and, still later, to favor 
the cause of the new State. 

Among the persons who by their presence and influence contributed 
largely to the latter situation of afl'airs in the town, none was more 
prominent than Benjamin Emmons, concerning whom Mr Dana, in the 
" Governor and Council," says: In April, 1772, Benjamin Emmons left 
Chesterfield, and settled with his family in the town of Woodstock. 
He took at once an active part in organizing the new settlement, and at 
the first town meeting held in May, 1773, he was chosen supervisor. 
The duties of this oftice, which he filled for two years, made him familiar 
witii tiie civil affairs of Cumberland county and with all the political 
movements of the day, over which his good judgment and his faculty 
for business must soon have begun to exercise an influence. At the 
annual town meeting in Woodstock, May, 1775, he was chosen a mem- 
ber of the Comtnittee of Safety, and he remained on this committee as 
long as it existed. In August of the same year he was chosen a lieu- 
tenant under New York, of the upper regiment of Cumberland county, 
and in June, 1776, a member of the County Committee of Safety. 

From the outset Emmons's own political sentiments seem to have been 
clear and pronounced. He was for independence of the colonies as 
against the mother country, and when in the New Hampshire Grants 
the break with New York was fairly begun, he was for the independence 
of the grants. Though not enrolled among the members of the Dorset 
Convention, at the adjourned session of this convention, held in West- 
minster, October 30, 1776, he was placed on a conmiittee to canvass 
Cumberland and Gloucester counties, for the purpose of making the 
people acquainted with the objects of the convention, and of stirring up 



238 History of Windsor County. 

their minds in favor of a separation from New York. At the next two 
sessions of this convention, held, the first in Westminster, and the second 
in Windsor, he was present as delegate from Woodstock. All this active 
service prepared the way for his beincj returned to the convention which 
assembled at Windsor on the 2d of July, 1777, and framed a constitu- 
tion for the new State of Vermont. The people were not unmindful of 
his services thus far in securing the independence of Vermont, and at 
the first election held under the constitution elected him one of tlie 
twelve councilors. Furthermore, when it seemed good to establish a 
Court of Confiscation, soon after the General Assembly met in March, 
1778, Emmons was appointed one of its members. His sound judg- 
ment and well known patriotism were sufficient reasons why he might 
be made a member of this court, but in some minds it may have added 
to his fitness for the post that he could sliow in his own town seven 
thousand acres of land to be confiscated, formerly the property of Charles 
Ward Apthorp, of New York. 

The Revolutionary Period. — During the period of the war of the Rev- 
olution the people of the town of Woodstock had not the means of per- 
forming a prominent part in the military aft'airs of tlie State When 
thai war began the available men of the town numbered hardly more 
than a "corporal's guard," and their every energy was necessarily di- 
rected toward the improvement of their lands in order that the common 
comforts of life might be provided for their families. Then, too, the 
town was practically under the government of the province of New 
York, and that jurisdiction was quite tardy in its action in joining with 
the other colonies in throwing off the allegiance to Great J^ritain. This 
tardiness was due, in part at least, to tlie peculiar character of the New 
York government, it being what was termed a royal government, its chief 
executive being commissioned by the crown, and its other officers re- 
ceiving their appointments directly or indirectly at the suggestion of the 
king or his council, and generally as a reward of fealty. In this respect 
New York difTered from many of the American colonies, and its con- 
trolling authorities, being so constituted and chosen, were naturally 
faithful to their creating povver. Therefore it was some time before 
New York could be brought to join the other provinces in making war 
against the mother country. 



Town of Woodstock. 239 

This situation of course had its influence in this region, but, notwith- 
standing that, the people liere were opposed to the policy of Great Brit- 
ain toward the colonies ; and it must be remembered that the inhabitants 
of this region were not New Yorkers, but came mainly from the colonies 
of Massachusetts and Connecticut and New Hampshire, and the slow 
action on the part of New York received no sanction from this locality, 
however much the people here may by force of circumstances have been 
obliged to acquiesce in it by reason of their connection with the province 
named. 

But when action was taken in the direction of forming military organi- 
zations on this side of the mountains no town did more according to its 
capacity to do than Woodstock. There were a number of men in the 
town who took a prominent part in organizing companies, among them 
Joab Hoisington, Benjamin Emmons, John Strong, Phineas Williams, 
and undoubtedly others whose names cannot be recalled. But there 
appears to be no record fr<5m which it can be determined who from the 
town joined the ranks and entered the service. The mihtary companies 
which were represented by Woodstock men were attached to the " upper 
regiments" of militia, and their service was confined mainly to duty on 
the frontier, a service that in more modern warfare is called " guard and 
picket duty." 

The first mention of any town action toward providing for military 
operations is that contained in the records of the meeting of May 16, 
1775, when Joab Hoisington and James Harwood were made a commit- 
tee to procure 100 pounds of powder, 200 pounds of lead and some flints, 
which the treasurer was directed to sell to the inhabitants, as mentioned 
in preceding pages. Subsequently, however, a committee was chosen 
" to deal out" the ammunition to men having fire-arms, and to others 
when they procured their arms. The first mention in the records of 
town action relative to procuring men for the service is that in the pro- 
ceedings of a meeting held August 14, 1780, when Elias Thomas, Jolin 
Strong and Phineas Williams were chosen a committee to provide three 
men to do duty on the frontier for three months. The proceedings of the 
Board of War for this year show that the town had five men in the serv- 
ice during the year. 

It has already been stated that the militia organizations of the town 



240 History of Windsor County. 

were formed under the authority of New York, and as a part of the regi- 
ments of Cumberland and Gloucester counties ; but after the new State 
had become created and its affairs somewhat settled these commands, or 
part of them at least, became militia organizations under the Vermont 
government, and as such were subject to the order of the commander in- 
chief of tlie State troops. But the militia of Woodstock had their own 
homes and town to guard, as the Legislature of October, 1780, in session 
at Bennington, declared Woodstock to be a frontier town. And the 
same body, at the same session, levied a provision tax on the several 
touns of the State for the support of tlie military forces thereof, the kind 
and quantity required of Woodstock being as follows: 3,543 pounds of 
flour; 1,181 pounds of beef; 59O5 pounds of salted pork; 99 bushels 
of Indian corn ; and 49^ bushels of rye. 

But during the Revolutionary war the town of Woodstock was not 
destined to suffer from the invasions of an armed enemy, and the nearest 
approach to that realization occurred during the months of August and 
October, 1780. the occasions of the Indian raids upon the northern towns 
of Barnard and Royalton, and other towns on the northern frontier. But 
in each of these cases the invaders made their escape with captives and 
plunder, and although an organized pursuit was made against the party 
that attacked and burned Royalton, in which pursuit possibly some of 
tlie Woodstock militia may have joined, no battle was brought on owing 
to the fear on the [)art of Colonel House that the Indians would carry 
out their threat to murder the prisoners in case the militia attacked 
them. 

Woodstock made the Shire Town. — The one great cause above all 
others that contributed to making Woodstock a populous town in the 
county was the acquisition of the county buildings, its designation as the 
shire town of Windsor county. Still, by the inaction of the townsmen 
in their special meetings called to discuss this subject, the town very 
nearly lost the desired designation, and had a person of less energy and 
influence than Benjamin Emmons had charge of the project it is quite 
probable that the seat of justice would have been placed elsewhere than 
in Woodstock. 

In 1 78 1 the General Assembly passed an act by which the county of 
Cumberland was divided, and out of its territory the three counties of 



Town of Woodstock. 241 

Windham, Windsor and Orange were erected. It became necessary- 
after tliis division that some one town in each of these counties should 
be selected as the seat of justice, and at once each possible favorable 
locality put forth every effort to obtain recognition and favor with the 
appointing power. But the legislative body of the State was not dis- 
posed to act hastily in the matter ; in fact, measures of possibly greater 
importance were just then engrossing the public attention; the union with 
the New Hempshire towns, which, had it become permanent, would un- 
doubtedly have resulted in fixing the county seat in some town other 
than Woodstock. 

On the 5th of April, 1781, the union with the eastern towns was 
accomplished, and soon thereafter a law was passed by which a portion 
of them were annexed to Windsor county. But before the Legislature 
agreed to the union the question of annexation was submitted to the free- 
men of the several towns of this State, and the result showed a large 
majority of the towns to favor the project. Woodstock, however, was 
one of the few towns that voted against the proposition. Very fortu- 
nately for Woodstock the eastern union was dissolved, and then being 
near the geographical center of the county, her claims to designation as 
the county town were worthy of consideration; and, through the efforts 
of Benjamin Emmons, on the 27th day of October, 1786, the Legislature 
passed an " act establishing Woodstock the Shire town for the County 
of Windsor." 

This subject needs no further mention in this connection. It will be 
found fully discussed and commented upon in an earlier chapter of this 
volume ; and there also will be found a complete description of the court- 
houses and other county buildings that have from time to time been 
erected in the town. 

IVar of 1812-15. — In the history of the State of Vermont this was a 
somewhat exciting period, but in the local history it was not particularly 
eventful, except as it may have been a season of political discussion be- 
tween the Loyalists (Democrats and Republicans, for they were of the 
same understanding at that time) and the Federalists; and it is possible 
that arguments between *hese contending factions were not entirely con- 
fined to wordy disputes, although there is no evidence to prove to the 
contrary. The Loyalists were largely in the ascendancy in point of num- 

31 



242 History of Windsor County. 

bers, and the battles between them and the FederaHsts were fought at 
the polls. It was a customary thing, especially during the early years 
of the war, for the Federalists to call themselves the " Peace Party," 
while the opposition was characterized as " Screaming War Hawks." 
This may not have been known in this particular locality, but was so 
generally through the State. 

It was the Loyalist party of the country that prosecuted the war, 
brought it on, fought it, and succeeded in beating the mother country in 
a contest at arms for the second time; and the Federalists occupied the 
same position in regard to the war as did the Tory element during the 
Revolution, but were less violent only in action, not in argument. They 
argued that the country was not prep^ired for war, therefore they 
opposed it. 

Of the military organizations of the town at that time the leading one 
was that known as the Washington Patriot Company, or the Silver 
Grays, but their battles were those of peace, being confined to " muster" 
and "parade days." Of this company Titus Hutchinson was captain, 
William Ellis, first lieutenant, Oliver Williams, second lieutenant, and 
John Anthony, ensign. The company did not enter the service, nor 
did any other command, as such, from the town. That there were resi- 
dents of the town who were in the army at some time during the war 
cannot be doubted, but it would be quite difficult if not impossible to 
bring all their names to mind. 

The War of 1861—65. — Without commenting at all upon the events 
of the brief period of agitation just preceding the actual outbreak of the 
war, or upon the events tliat followed the news of the attack upon Fort 
Sumter, the attention of the reader is directed at once to the first com 
pany that offered its services under President Lincoln's call for seventy- 
five thousand men to put down the Rebellion. To the First Regiment 
of Vermont troops this town had the credit of contributing Company 
H, the second company of the command, to which was accorded tlie 
second position of honor, the " left of the line." This company was the 
organization known as the Woodstock Light Infantry; and although 
known as a Woodstock compan}', a number of its members were from 
other towns of the county than this. Its officers, however, with a single 
exception, were men of this town. The roster shows the officers to have 



Town of Woodstock. 243 

been as follows : Captain, William W. Pelton ; first lieutenants, Andrew 
J. Dike, Solomon E. Woodward; second lieutenants, Solomon E.Wood- 
ward (promoted first lieutenant), William Sweet; sergeants, William 
Sweet, George E. Dimick, Royal Darby, N. Bruce (Pomfret) ; corporals, 
Charles O. Thompson, Edwin C. Emmons, Crayton A.Woodbury, Nor- 
man M. Hoisington ; musician, George H. Murdock. Peter T. Wash- 
burn, of Woodstock, was lieutenant colonel of the First Regiment. 

In an earlier chapter of this volume will be found a brief history of 
the several regiments of the State in which were volunteers from Wood- 
stock, or from the county, and as a part of that chapter there is fur- 
nished a complete roll of all the volunteers from this town, as they are 
recorded in the reports of the adjutant and inspector-general of the 
State. 

During the course of the war tiie town of Woodstock was credited 
with having furnished the aggregate number of three hundred and 
thirty-three men, or their equivalent, exclusive of three-months' volun- 
teers, which were classified as follows : Volunteers for three years cred- 
ited previous to call of October 17, 1863, 97 ; volunteers for three years 
under and subsequent to call of October 17, 1863, 53 ; volunteers for 
one year, 42; for nine months, 55 ; re-enlisted, 15; furnished under 
draft and paid commutation, 10; enrolled men who furnislied substi- 
tutes, 10; procured substitutes, 15; entered United States Navy, 16; 
entered service, 4; miscellaneous credits, not named, 16. 

The First Church Society. — The establishment of some sort of a 
society for holding public services of a religious character was, in early 
times, a necessary part of town government, and one of the public in- 
stitutions organized and supported at the general expense ; and after 
this town had become organized, and its affairs somewhat settled and 
running smoothly, the people began to stir themselves in the matter of 
engaging a minister of the gospel to preach for them. The first meet- 
ing of the inhabitants for this purpose was warned by clerk Joab Hois- 
ington, upon the application of the overseers of the poor of the town, 
to meet at the clerk's house on the 13th of September, 1774. The 
meeting being assembled and organized, it was " Voted to hire Mr. 
Aaron Hutchinson for five years in connection with Hartford and Pom- 
fret " ; and further, " Voted Dr. Stephen Powers, Joab Hoisington and 



244 HisTouY OF Windsor County. 

John Strong a committee," probably for the purpose ofcarrying out the 
first vote. 

But Rev. Hutchinson did not begin liis labors as "preacher" in the 
town until 1776, but they were thereafter continued for the five years, 
and until 1781, when he was succeeded by Rev. George Daman, who 
appears to have been regularly installed as the first settled minister on 
the 26th of December of that year. At the annual town meeting held 
March 30, 1779, it was "Voted to build a meeting-house on the road 
that goes to Samuel Pratt's to tlie other road west of Oliver Farns- 
worth's." This building, had it been erected in accordance with the 
vote, would have stood near the center of the town, but as the pop- 
ulation was then distributed, the meeting-house would not have been 
conveniently situated for the majority of the people who would prob- 
ably attend the services. This condition of things led to a division of 
the town into parishes, the vote that brought it about being passed 
at a meeting held July 24, 1779. But even this proved unsatisfactory, 
and created a division of sentiment in the town, to such an e.xtent that 
the dividing line was changed somewhat and then allowed to stand. 

The first society was organized in 1781, about or just preceding 
the time that Rev. Daman became pastor, but, on account of a feeling 
of dissension in the society, growing out of matters relating to the ad- 
mission of members and a difference of opinion concerning the most 
available and suitable location for the meeting-house, the society failed 
to make any substantial progress during the first ten or twelve years of 
its existence. The early meetings under the ministrations of Rev 
Hutchinson were held in convenient places: if the weather was cold in 
the house of some of the members, but during the warm months in 
Joab Hoisington's barn. In 1781 the log meeting-house was built, a 
short distance west of the upper bridge over the Ouechee. Mr. Daman 
continued his pastoral relation with the church and society until May 
22, 1792, when he asked for and received his dismissal. From this time 
until 1S09 the society was without a pastor, but, in the year stated, a 
call was e.Ktended to Rev. Walter Chapin, who accepted and was or- 
dained on the 25th of April, 18 10. 

The old log church west of the North Village was required to serve 
the purposes of the society (with other places temporarily used) from 



Town of Woodstock. 245 

the time of its erection, in 1781, until the erection of the more com- 
modious church edifice on lands offered for the purpose by Mr. Charles 
Marsh. This building was commenced in 1806, and was so far com- 
pleted during that and the succeeding year that services were held in it 
in October, 1807, although it was not entirely finished until 1808. (For 
the history of this church and. society subsequent to the year last men- 
tioned, the reader's attention is directed to that portion of the present 
cliapter relating to the village of Woodstock.) 

Small Villages of the Toivn. — Among the small and unincorpo- 
rated villages of Woodstock town that known by the name of Tafts- 
ville is perhaps the most important ; and this importance is derived from 
the fact of its having the benefits of the water privileges of the Oue- 
chee River, and the shipping facilities afforded by the Woodstock rail- 
road, on the line of which the village is situate. Taftsville was so named 
in honor of Stephen Taft, one of the first settlers in the extreme north- 
east part of the town, where the village is located, and who came there 
in 1793, constructed a dam across the river, built a small water-power 
shop, and commenced the manufacture of scythes, axes and other edged 
tools. In 1794 Daniel Taft, brother to Stephen, came to Woodstock, 
and in 179S joined with Stephen in building a saw-mill on the river, op- 
posite the scythe factory. Subsequently another brother, Seth Taft, 
became interested in the business at this point, and from the initial 
labors of these brothers the village grew and prospered ; and it is a fact 
that the industry here established by Stephen Taft in 1793, with numer- 
ous enlargements both in buildings and manufactured products, has been 
in operation to the present day, and thar, too, by some of the descend- 
ants of the founders. Taftsville now forms a part of school district No. 7. 
A school was built in the locality prior to 1800, but the district has 
experienced a number of changes since the first town division pro- 
vided for in 1779. A post-office was established at Taftsville soon after 
1840, with Dexter Bates as postmaster. 

Next in order of importance, perhaps, among the hamlets of the 
town, is that usually called South Woodstock, or the South Village as 
formerly known ; a small village situated in the southeast part of the 
town, on the upper waters of the South Branch of Quechee River, 
having no railroad, but communicating with the county town by means 



246 History of Windsor County. 

of a stage line. Among the early settlers, and perhaps the first in this 
locality, was the Cottle family, of which there were several members, 
some of whom took an active part in the affairs of the town during 
its pioneer period. A grist-mill was built at the South Village by Jabez 
and Warren Cottle as early as 1780, possibly before, but after a few 
years it was changed into a cloth or fulling-mill, and operated by John 
A. Cottle and Jabez Cottle, jr. About 181 2 Abraham P.Mather be- 
came proprietor of the mill. In 1781 JabezCottle and Joseph Sterlin built 
another grist-mill near the village, but farther down the brook ; and still 
another was erected at the same place about 1806. To the Cottle family 
also attaches the creditof having furnished the pioneer of the mercantile 
business at this village, Warren Cottle beingthe founder of it, but he after- 
ward took Amasa Ransom a partner. This store was opened not far 
from the year 1793. The firm of Field & Perry, merchants, was estab- 
lished here in 1796, and two years later the pioneer concern failed. 

In 1828 a mail route was established to pass through the South Vil- 
age, and soon thereafter a post-office was established at the place, 
Richard M. Ransom being the first postmaster. During the fall of the 
same year Richard Ransom succeeded to the office and remained post- 
master until 1836, when Oliver Baily was appointed. 

South Woodstock is the only hamlet of the town that enjoys the ad- 
vantages of having a church building within its precincts. This is of the 
denomination of Universalists, and its society was formed in 1834, under 
the pastorate of Rev. Russell Streetcr. His leading charge was at the 
North Village, but alter his connection with that society was ended lie 
continued pastor of the South society until 1847. 

The present business industries and other institutions of South Wood- 
stock are less in number and importance than they were half or three- 
quarters of a century ago. Still it has two hotels, two stores, several 
shops, saw and grist-mill and some other manufacturing industries, a 
church and a school. The village is located in school district No. 15. 

The hamlet known as West Woodstock, but originally as Bennett's 
Mills, received whatever of distinction it ever had from the fact of its be- 
ing a manufacturing point of some note at an early day. The water 
privilege here was sold by Jesse Safford to Jabez Bennett and others in 
1778, and soon afterward a saw and feed or grist-mill were built, Mr. 



Town of Woodstock. 247 

Bennett being the leading person in the enterprise, and from him the 
locality received its name. Mr. Bennett continued here in business for 
upwards of thirty years. These industries led to the erection of others, 
among them the cloth-mill of Seth Sylvester, but afterward owned by 
Ephraim Eddy. The present leading industry of the village, the Daniels 
Machine Company's works, was established by Reuben Daniels and 
Thomas E, Blake, under the firm of R. Daniels & Co., in 1831, that be- 
ing the year in which the property and privilege were conveyed to them. 
The firm manufactured woolen jacks, wool pickers, and other machines 
used in woolen manufacture. In 1842 the firm suspended, after which 
and until 1850 business was carried on by various parties, but in the year 
named the firm of Daniels & Raymond was formed and business revived. 
In 1864 the building was burned, but rebuilt during the next year, and 
operated as the Daniels Machine Company. In 1869 the property again 
suffered great damage, an extraordinary high water carrying out the 
dam. Then followed ten years of changes, and until 1879, when the 
machine company resumed again under the old name, using both steam 
and water for power, since which it has been so conducted without seri- 
ous interruption either to property or business. A post-office was estab- 
lished at West Woodstock on January I, 1885. Within what may be 
called the village proper are a dozen or fifteen houses. A fine store 
building is in course of erection at the place. 

In the extreme northwest corner of the town, having its principal 
location on the stream called Barnard Brook, is the hamlet known as 
English Mills; but English Mills " aint what it used to be," and the in- 
dustries at this point are but wrecks of former greatness. The locality 
was so named in honor of Joel English, who in 1789 bought a hundred 
acres of land out of the so-called Spencer tract, and became one of the 
most enterprising and progressive of the settlers in that locality. The 
first industry here, however, was established by Simon Davis, by the 
building of a grist-mill, and very soon thereafter a saw-mill, the latter in 
company with Samuel Fuller. In 1793 Joel English acquired an interest 
in the saw- mill, and in 1795 in the grist-mill, in the latter industry Jabez 
Bennett owning a share. The dam across Barnard Brook was built in 
1839, by William S. English, son of Joel English. It was the intention 
of William to establish a starch factory at this point, but some interfering 



248 History of Windsor County. 

event prevented that plan from being carried out, therefore the building 
was put to use as a rake factory, the proprietors of the business being 
Mr. English and Austin Miller, but the firm lasted only a year, when Mr. 
English became sole owner. In 1884 B. H. Pinney succeeded to the 
proprietorship and has since continued manufacturing there, but the 
products comprise other articles than hand rakes. Other than these 
named industries the locality known as English Mills has no manu- 
facturing prominence, although some of the old mill structures are still 
standing. 

The Incorporated Village of Woodstock. 

For the purpose of this sketch it is hardly advisable to refer at any 
len;.,'th to the original buildings on the district of land that is now included 
within the limits of the corporate village of Woodstock, other than may 
be necessary to record the history of some of the institutions of the place. 
In the recently published history of Woodstock the editor, Mr. Dana, has 
taken each locality and each separate parcel of land, and given its history 
from the time of the erection of the first structure thereon to a recent 
date ; and that woric, being so generally circulated throughout the town, 
renders unnecessary further efforts in that direction as a part of this 
chapter. And should an attem|)t be made to repeat what has already been 
written so thoroughly and well, no new facts worthy of publication could 
be brought to light that would afford the slightest interest to the reader. 

The lands whereon is situated the main part of the village of Wood- 
stock were purchased by Joab Hoisington from Oliver VVillard and Jona- 
than Grout in the \-car 1771. Theentire Hoisington purchase embraced 
something like one thousand acres of land. The tract to the north and 
east of Joab's, and which is now partly if not wholly included within the 
village, was likewise purchased from the same grantors by John Hoising- 
ton, who is believed to have been Joab's father. But at that time neither 
of these worthy proprietors could have entertained even the faintest idea 
that their purchases would ever be the site of a beautiful village, and, 
above all, the seat of justice of the county; and neither of them lived to 
see that consummation. Joab Hoisington died in 1777, at Newbury, 
while performing duties as an officer of one of the regiments of Cumber- 
land and Gloucester counties militia, during the Revolutionary period ; 




^,?y-i^^^ 



Village of Woodstock. 249 

while John Hoisington sold the last of his purchase in 1781, and was no 
longer known to Woodstock. 

It is an evident fact that Woodstock as a village would not have 
had an existence if the county seat had not been located here, but it is 
equally evident that the village would never have attained that promi- 
nence it has in the county but for that location ; and the one thing more 
than all others that contributed to making this a beautiful, thriving and 
prosperous muicipality, was the designation of Woodstock as the shire 
town of the county of Windsor, and that brought about through the per- 
severing efforts of Benjamin Emmons, whom the generations of inhabit- 
ants of the village and locality will ever hold in grateful remembrance. 

With the erection of the first court-house and the county buildings the 
village entered the early stages of municipal being, although more than a 
score and a half of years thereafter elapsed before any direct measures 
looking to such an existence were taken. In the year 18 19 the General 
Assembly passed what is generally known as an "enabling act," by which 
the selectmen of any town in the State, upon the application of resident 
freeholders, were authorized to prescribe certain limits within which cat- 
tle and other animals should not be allowed to run at large. Under the 
provisions of this act the following petition was presented to the select- 
men of Woodstock : 

" To the selectmen of the town of Woodstock in the county of Wind- 
sor and State of Vermont: — W^e.the subscribers, freeholders of said town, 
hereby request you to lay out and establish the limits and bounds of the 
village at and about the court-house in said town, and notify the same 
according to law ; that cattle, horses, sheep, swine, geese and mules, and 
other creatures related to mules, may not lawfully go at large in said vil- 
lage. Woodstock, December 19, 1819. Signed: — Titus Hutchinson, 
Benjamin F. Mower, Benjamin Swan, Nathaniel Waldron, jr., Joseph 
Parker, Daniel Dana, Robert Barker, H. C. Dennison." 

Upon this presentation the selectmen established the boundaries under 
this order : "Whereas application has been made to the undersigned, 
selectmen of the town of Woodstock, agreeable to an act of the General 
Assembly, passed November 11, 1819, entitled ' An act to restrain cer- 
tain animals from running at large within the villages of the State,' to 
lay out and establish the limits and bounds of the North Village in said 
Woodstock. ^" 



250 History of Windsor County. 

" We do, therefore, in pursuance of said application, and the act afore- 
said, hereby estabhsh the following as the limits and boundaries of said 
village, viz. : Beginning at the easterly side of the highway at a point 
opposite tlie northeast corner of the barn nearest the road on tlie Ward- 
well farm, so called, (being the Blake farm now owned by Benjamin S. 
Dana,) thence southerly on a straight line by the easterly side of the brick 
house standing at the corner of said highway and the turnpike, to the 
south side of said turnpike road, opposite the southeast corner of said 
brick house — (the brick house on the east side of the road which was re- 
cently burned belonging to Oliver T. Hatch) — thence southeasterly in a 
direct line to the large elm tree standing on top of the hill east of the oil- 
mill brook, (Mount Peg) — thence southerly in a direct line to the south- 
east corner of Lyman Mower's meadow lot — (now owned by Rufus 
Townsend) — thence on the southerly line of said lot, across the highway, 
and on the southerly line of said Mower's pasture to the southeast cor- 
ner of the same — (now owned by said Townsend) — tiience in a direct line 
to the southeast corner of the house now owned by Jaud Rickard, (the 
Hiram Power's house) — thence by the westerly end of said house, and on 
a line with the same, to the highway ; thence across the river to the two 
black cherry trees, on the north side of the highway opposite L. & B. F. 
Mower's mill yard (these trees stood near where the house now occupied 
by Liberty B Marble stands); thence on a direct line northerly to the 
northeast corner of the small dwelling house owned by Henry C. Deni- 
son, esq., nortlierly of the clothier's shop (this house stood on the site, or 
near by, where Allen Thompson's house now is) ; thence by the north- 
erly end of said house to the northeast corner thereof; thence on a direct 
line to the southeast corner of the school-house, near the dwelling house 
of the said H C. Denison, esq. ; thence easterly in a direct line to the 
place of beginning." 

It is indeed doubtful if there are a dozen persons in the village who 
could follow the boundary lines above described, having no other guide 
than the description itself In the year 1881 these boundaries were 
made a part of a pamphlet publication of the village by-laws, and for 
the purpose of having them properly understood, the portions included 
within the parentheses were added ; and it is quite possible that the expla- 
nations then made will not apply to the bounds as now standing. 



Village of Woodstock. 251 

This action, on the part of the selectmen who estabhshed the above 
boundaries, (Hovvhuid Simmons and Lyman Mower,) was by no means 
an incorporation of the village, and gave it no form of municipality 
whatever, but only defined certain limits within which'animals should 
not be allowed to run at large. This established boundary would not 
have any particular importance except for the fact of its being substan- 
tially the village boundary of the present time, and was referred to in 
the act of incorporation passed November 11, 1836, as the limits of the 
corporate village at that time established. The inclosed district was 
the village proper, nothing more. 

On the iith of November, 183$, the Legislature of the State passed 
an act entitled "an act incorporating the village of Woodstock," some 
of the sections of which were as follows : " That part of the town of 
Woodstock, in the county of Windsor, which has heretofore been estab- 
lished and recorded as the north village in Woodstock, in pursuance 
of an act passed on the I ith day of November, in the year of our Lord 
1 8 19, entitled ' an act to restrain certain animals from running at large 
within the villages of this State,' shall hereafter be known by the name 
of The Village of Woodstock. 

" The inhabitants of said village, qualified by law to vote in town 
meeting, shall meet on the first Monday in January next, at two o'clock 
in the afternoon, at the court-house in said Woodstock, and shall, at that 
meeting, or an adjourned meeting, to be held in said month of January, 
elect a clerk, five trustees, a treasurer, and a collector of taxes, who 
shall hold their respective offices one year and until others shall be 
chosen in their stead. 

" The inhabitants residing in said village are hereby constituted a 
body politic and corporate, by the name of The Village of Woodstock ; 
and by that name shall have succession and may commence, prosecute 
and defend suits or actions, in all courts whatever ; may have a common 
seal and alter the same ; may purchase, hold and convey real estate for 
the use of said village ; may tax themselves and levy and collect taxes 
for the purpose aforesaid, or to carry into effect any legal vote or by law 
of said corporation." 

Subsequent sections of the same act prescribed the duties of the sev- 
eral officers of the village, and also provided for the regulations and 



252 History of Windsor County. 

internal government of the municipality. But, while this act of incorpo- 
ration erected the village into a state of municipal being, it did not 
entirely separate it from the town, and, in fact, never has been sepa- 
rated therefrom, but both join together in the election of such officers 
as are incident to the government of the town, and an officer of the 
town may be a resident of the village, but an officer of the village 
cannot be a resident of the town. In this respect the citizens of the 
village have advantages over those of the town ; but then, whatever 
of disadvantages this may bring to the citizen of the town, he may 
find consolation in the fact that he has no village or municipal tax to 
pay. The last sentence of the ninth section of the act of incorporation 
reads: "The inhabitants and territory included in the limits of said vil- 
lage shall belong to the town of Woodstock, in the same manner as 
though this act had not passed." 

From the time of incorporation to the present there have been but 
few amendatory or supplementary acts passed that materially modify 
the original act. To be sure there have been made some changes, and 
some lands formerly outside have been brought in, while others inside 
have in the same manner been voted out. 

Some matters of interest in connection with the early municipal his- 
tory of the village could be presented in this place but for the fact that 
the early records cannot be found ; and the most dilligent search and in- 
quiry have failed to reveal the slightest trace of their whereabouts. As 
a result of this misfortune we are unable to furnish even the names of the 
officers of the village elected at the first meeting appointed to be held 
in January, 1837, or, for that matter, the names of any of the officers 
prior to the year 1867. 

Nearly every one of the institutions of the village of Woodstock had 
their origin and founding prior to the time of the passage of the corpo- 
rating act. There were the same church societies and edifices for each, 
although some of the latter have been rebuilt within the last fifty years. 
The village, too, had its newspapers, banking house, business blocks, 
hotels, court-house and town hall, and other public buildings. The vil- 
lage even had its fire department, and although an unpretentious organ- 
ization, it was nevertheless effective, and numbered among its members 
some of the foremost men of the town at that time. 



Village of Woodstock. 253 



The Fire Department. — As early as the year 1820 an organization for 
the prevention and extinguishing of fires was formed, and that under an 
act of the Legislature, by which the same was incorporated. On the 26th 
of October of the year stated there was passed "An Act incorporating 
certain persons therein named, by the name of the Woodstock Fire So- 
ciety." The " certain " persons named were Charles Marsh, Benjamin 
Swan, Titus Hutchinson, Lyman Mower, Isaac N. Cushman, Job Lyman, 
Norman Williams, Justus Burdick, James Pearl, Solomon Warren, John 
Pratt, Joseph Churchill, jr , Charles Dana, Benjamin F. Mower, David 
Pierce, David Watson, Henry B. Dana, Charles Williams, John D. Pow- 
ers, and their associates and successors, as "a body politic and corpo- 
rate, to all intents and purposes, by the name of the Woodstock Fire 
Society, and by that name may sue and be sued ; may purchase and 
hold property to the amount of two thousand dollars, and land sufficient 
whereupon to build a house for the safe keeping of an engine and other 
apparatus necessary for extinguishing fire." 

By further provisions of the act the first meeting of the society for the 
election of officers was directed to be held at the house of Robert Barker 
in Woodstock, on the last Monday in December, 1820. The society 
was also authorized to appoint not to e.xceed ten fire wardens, who were 
clothed with supreme authority in cases of fire. The bounds of the vil- 
lage as laid down by the selectmen were the prescribed limits within 
which the society was to operate. 

Whatever became of this old organization, how long it continued, 
what property it owned, or who its officers were, no citizen of the pres- 
ent da)' appears to know. It is certain, however, that their organiza- 
tion must have been completed and become effective, for the corpora- 
tors were men of character, integrity and worth, and would not allow 
their names to become associated with any undertaking of a public 
character not calculated for the public good. The society seems to have 
left no record behind it, and whatever is known of it is learned from the 
incorporating act. 

But this was the germ from which grew the present fire department 
of the village ; and when the latter became incorporated measures were 
at once taken to provide for such an organization, but the absence of the 
records 'prior to 1 867 leaves the history of it a matter of untrustworthy 



254 History of Windsor County. 

tradition. However, in 1847 the Legislature passed an act providing 
that such persons as sliould be elected fire wardens of the village should 
be vested with all power at times of fire for the protection of property 
and the maintenance of peace and order. It is quite probable that that 
act was an enlargement upon the previous authority of the fire wardens, 
and that such an office was created by the by-laws of the corporation 
wlien organized. In 1867 the village fire wardens were Benoni S. 
Thompson, William C. Barnard, John S. Eaton, Ransom M. Russell and 
Jasper Hazen, jr. 

In 1 88 1 an ordinance was adopted establishing a fire department, 
which was virtually an act of re-organizatioit1to place the department 
on a proper working basis, and by the provisions of which the wardens 
were authorized to choose department officers from their own body. 
The company officers were provided to be elected by the company 
members. 

In pursuance of a vote passed February 26, 1883, the old engine- 
house was replaced by the present substantial structure. The depart- 
ment long ago passed the "bucket brigade" days, and entered upon the. 
hand engine period, the latter being, with the hook and ladder appara- 
tus, the present equipments of the village for extinguishing fire. But 
the introduction of water into the village has made unnecessary the use 
of the hand engines, and resulted in again re-organizing the depart- 
ment, so that at present it consists, according to the last report of the 
engineers, of one Fire and Hose Company of twenty members, and one 
Hook and Ladder Company of ten members. The present board of fire 
wardens is as follows : C. W. Sayward, William Hewitt, Harold S. 
Dana, W. O. Taylor, Fred Delano, Lewis Bordo, Seth T. VVinslow. and 
H. F. Dunham ; engineers, O. G. Kimball, N. M. Hoisington, and 
M. S. Myers. 

Woodstock Park and Surroundings. — This is one of the most attract- 
ive of the many beautiful locations of the village ; and, as well, it is one 
of the most ancient localities of the village, for here, around the green, 
as it was called, was centered the main business enterprises of one hun- 
dred or so years ago. Little did Joab Hoisington dream that an acre 
or two of the best lands of his large estate would ever be converted into 
a public park, or that on his lands would ever be erected one of the 



Village of Woodstock. 255 



prettiest villages in Vermont. Just how the old village "green" hap- 
pened to come into e.xistence would be, perhaps, a subject difficult of 
explanation. Its lands were always a common, and were never called 
upon to yield to the husbandman's labors. It is said that the tract was 
originally covered with a growth of pine trees, and that they were de- 
stroyed by a forest fire that occurred some time after 1770, probably 
about 1772. In later years this tract became the property of Israel 
Richardson, and he, when the court-house and jail became fixed insti- 
tutions of the town, donated lands upon which they should be built, to 
the extent of a little more than an acre and a half. The deed of the 
conveyance bore date of May 29, 1788, but the donation in fact ante- 
dated that time. The court-house was built where the brick house now 
stands, at the corner of South street, and the jail was located farther 
west, about in front of where the Methodist church now is. 

After the old court-house was burned, in 1791, it became necessary 
to build another, and that the surroundings might be complete. Captain 
Richardson was called upon to make another donation of land for public 
purposes, which he at first declined to do, but, under Charles Marsh's 
threat to erect the county buildings in another part of the village, the 
doughty Captain yielded and donated the " common " land to the public, 
to the extent of its present area. Thus, what is now the magnificent 
Woodstock Park was brought into existence, and around its boundaries 
was built up the main business part of the village ; but when the avail- 
able lands here were all occupied, further enlargements for business pur- 
poses built up the lands east of the common, on what is now Central 
and Elm streets. An avenue of travel found its way into the park lands 
by the laying out and building of what is now Central street, being 
opened during the year 1800. This was followed by other thorough- 
fares, some parallel and others lateral, in the east part, which resulted 
in the ultimate transfer of business to that localit}', while around the 
common the old store buildings were replaced with, or converted into, 
dwellings and several public buildings. 

The first attempt at improving the lands of the common was made 
some time previous to 1830, when they were plowed and graded; but 
during the year last stated a fund was raised by subscription for the 
purpose of laying out the park and planting it with maple trees. Then, 



256 History of Windsor County. 

or about that time, wlien this work was completed, the common became, 
properly speaking, a " Park." But when, after the village had become 
incorporated, the " city fathers" attempted to build a plain fence about 
the park for the protection of the young trees, then troubles commenced. 
Some people did not propose to be denied the use of the old common 
for all purposes of travel and convenience, and brought the authorities 
into court as defendants. A long litigation followed and was termi- 
nated in the success of the local go\'ernment. The last fencing, the pres- 
ent iron and stone structure, was built during the year 187S, under the 
direction of Oliver P. Chandler, Justin F. McKenzie and George W. 
Paul, committee, with a fund raised by voluntary contributions on the 
part of generous citizens of the village. 

After the destruction, in 1791, of the old court-house a second was 
built, but not on the same site. Fur the new structure land on the north 
side of the park was used, at the corner where the road crosses the cen- 
ter bridge This was a more pretentious structure than its predecessor, 
but a plain frame building, with a tower on its front, and in the tower a 
bell was placed. But on the 4th of July, 1854, the court house fell a 
victim to the flames, the result of the carelessness of some over-enthu- 
siastic person who was celebrating on that day. The third, the present 
court-house, was erected on the lot where stood, in early times, the 
dwelling of the sisters Myrick, spinsters and garment makers, queer 
characters, in a way, of the village. 

The Norman Williams Public Library. — Here is the most beautiful 
public building of Woodstock ; a perfect gem, an ornament to the vil- 
lage, and a fitting tribute from a grateful son to the memory of kind and 
loving parents. The site whereon this building now stands was the 
home of Norman Williams, one of the substantial and worthy men of 
the village ; and in the "story and a half" house here standing he 
dwelt for fifty years, from 1 818 to 1868. The original house on the site 
was built for the widow of Josiah Cleveland in 1798. In 1883 the old 
house was removed, and in its place Dr. Edward Higginson Williams 
caused to be erected, at his own expense, the stone library building. 
The exterior and interior design and finish of the library are so well 
known that no description is necessary here; that it is one of the most 
ornamental and useful institutions of the village, is all that need be said ; 



Village of Woodstock. 257 

that it is fully appreciated, every person in the region understands. The 
library has a capacity for about fifteen thousand volumes, and on irs 
shelves are now nearly seven thousand, gifts from all sources. In the 
reading-room are elegant portraits of Norman Williams and his wife, 
and in the reception-room is a similar portrait of their son, the founder 
of the institution. Dr. Edward H. Williams. 

Of the ancient structures that once had a being on the park front, 
but few remain. The locality has lost much of its appearance of three- 
quarters of a century ago, and could the resident of that period now 
return he would discover no familiar landmarks to assure him of his 
whereabouts, unless, perhaps, the old Hutchinson and Churchill home- 
steads might appear natural; or the residence wherein dwelt Dr. Gal- 
lup, or the old brick school- house on the opposite side of the park, 
might revive familiar scenes. Another of the ancient landmarks still 
lives, the old Eagle Hotel, but that has been so frequently remodeled 
and enlarged as to have lost all semblance of its former self. And 
should one go to the corner of Elm and Central streets there would no 
more be seen the famous Barker Hotel, with its spacious back yard ; and 
on the opposite side of Central street the old frame row now has dis- 
appeared, and on its site is built the substantial two and three-story 
brick blocks. On the signs, too, over the several places of entrance, 
there appear names that were unfamiliar to the townspeople fifty years 
and more ago. "Church buildings," it is said, "never change." This 
is a rather doubtful statement, or one, at least, that requires a deal of 
explanation to make its truth readily understood. 

The Congregational Chiircli. — The society of this church was un- 
doubtedly the pioneer of the religious institutions of the village, or of 
the town and has its origin in the primitive gatherings to which 
Rev. Aaron Hutchinson occasionally preached in Joab Hoisington's 
barn, or, if in cold weather, the dwelling house of some member of the 
society. After that the society " worshipped " in the little log meeting- 
house, on the road west of the (now) Woodward mills, under the pas- 
toral charge of Rev. George Daman. But the society at length out- 
grew this old structure and, in 1 807-08, built a new frame meeting-house 
on Elm street, on lands donated by Mr. Charles Marsh, on part of which 
his law- office stood. The edifice here has twice been thoroughly re- 
33 



258 History of Windsor County. 



paired: first, in 1859, and again in 1889. The last improvement was 
made through the generous contribution of Mr. Frederick Billings, the 
whole expense being borne by him. More than that, in 1880 he caused 
to be erected, adjoining and annexed to the church edifice proper, a 
beautiful and appropriate memorial chapel. The property now owned 
by the society of the Congregational church is perhaps more extensive 
and valuable than that of any of the several societies of the village, 
consisting as it does of the present elegant edifice and chapel, with a 
large and commodious pastor's residence, the latter being on the east 
side of Elm street. 

In September, 1774, tlie people of the town voted to hire " Mr. 
Aaron Hutchinson " to preach for them, but no society was then organ- 
ized, neither were the gatherings at all denominational ; but at the same 
time a majority of the townspeople inclined to Congregationalism, and the 
teachings of the first minister were supposed to be of that order. The 
first settled pastor of the society was Rev. George Daman, who was or- 
dained December 26, 1781, and continued his relations until the 22d of 
May, 1792, and was then dismissed. 

Following the retirement of Mr. Daman from the pastorate, the soci- 
ety had no settled minister until i8ro, but during the interval had occa- 
sional or supply preaching a part of the time and otherwise united with 
the B.iptist society, which had then been formed. On the 25th of April, 
1 8 ID, Rev. Walter Chapin became pastor of the Congregational church, 
and remained such until the time of his death in 1827, and was succeeded 
b\' Rev. John Richards, he being ordained November 27, 1827, retiring, 
however, February 11, 1831. Rev. Robert Southgate came to the pas- 
torate January 4, 1832, and was dismissed in October, 1836. 

In February, 1828, Rev. Worthington Wright was ordained pastor of 
the church, and continued in that relation for a period of more than 
twelve years, retiring in .September, 1850. Rev. Dr. Jonathan Clement 
next succeeded, July 14, 1852, and remained nearly fifteen years, until 
June 16, 1867. when he was dismissed upon his request. Rev. A. B. 
Dascomb became pastor in December following Dr. Clement's dismissal, 
and continued such until February 3, 1874. In September of the same 
year Rev. Lewis A. Hicks was ordained pastor, and was dismissed July 
13, 1 88 1. The last pastor, now recently retired. Rev. James F. Brodie, 
was ordained February 21, 1882, his pastorate ending in 1889. 



Village of Woodstock. 259 



The Universalist Church. — Universalism in Woodstock became first 
rooted in the withdrawal or rumored secession of Benjamin Emmons from 
the Congregational society, which is said to have taken place somewhere 
about the year 1786. Benjamin Emmons was not only one of the lead- 
ing men of the town and State, but one of the earliest and most influen- 
tial members of the first church society, and his acceptance of the doctrines 
of a new and then pronounced unorthodox belief was the cause of much 
confusion in the old society. About the same time other former mem- 
bers of the parent church left the fold and became identified with the 
new society, among them Captain John Strong, Dr. Stephen Powers, 
Judge William Perry. The new societ)-, too, had converts from other 
denominations than the Congregationalist, and there were some few of 
the townspeople who, perhaps, had leanings toward Universalism at the 
time of their coming here. Considerable accessions to the ranks of the 
society from the Baptist church were also noticeable at about this 
period. 

The Rev. Hosea Ballou was the first minister of the society in this lo- 
cality. He became a preacher of Universalism by ordination in 1794, 
but prior to that time he had been a Calvinistic Baptist. He became 
minister in charge of the Woodstock society, in connection with other 
similar organizations, in the year 1803, a relation that was continued 
until August, 1809, when he left the State and accepted a call to the 
church at Portsmouth, N. H. After Mr. Ballou's departure the society 
had no settled minister for manj' years, but services were frequently held 
during the period, the desk being su]:>plied by various ministers of the 
church, among whom were Joab Young, C. G. Persons, Uriah Smith, 
Jacob Holt, William Bell, and possibly others. 

But during this period, the society having no established leader or 
minister, it suffered severely and became somewhat disorganized. The 
work of again building up and re-organizing fell upon the next settled 
minister. Rev. Russell Streeter, who came to the charge in 1834. As 
well as firmly re-establishing the society, to Mr. Streeter belongs the 
credit of having brought about the erection of a convenient chapel on 
Church street, during 1S35. The parsonage property of the society was 
formerly the home of Dr. Thomas Powers, and was purchased for a min- 
ister's residence in 1877. 



26o History of Windsor County. 



Rev. Russell Streeter severed his connection with the village society in 
1839, and was succeeded in June, 1840, by Rev. Mr. Fay, since which 
time the succession of pastors and supply ministers has been as follows: 
Rev. O. H. Ti'lotson, 1841 to 1847; Rev. D. M. Reed, four years; 
Rev. Jonathan Douglass, 1852; Rev. Chapman, six months; Rev. J. S. 
Lee, 1854; Rev. J. D. Cargiil, 1859 to 1S61 ; Rev. William H. Pattee, 
1862; Rev. Moses Marston, 1862 to 1866; Rev. J. T. Powers, 1867 to 
July, 1870; Rev. Elmer Hewitt, April, i87i,to October, 1876; Rev. O. K. 
Crosby, April, 1877; Lucian S. Crosby, two years; Rev. B. M. Tiilott- 
son, and the present pastor, Rev. J. F. Simmons, who moved to the 
village during the year 1889. 

The Christian Church. — The society of the Christian church in Wood- 
stock had its organization somewhere about the year 1806, and drew its 
membc rship generally from the growing population of the town and par- 
ticularly from the old Baptist society. The first minister of the Christian 
church appears to have been Elias Smith, who preached here some six 
weeks and made considerable additions to the society. Still greater work 
was done by Uriah Smith, under whose ministrations, it seems, two soci- 
eties were in existence in the township. One of the most effective min- 
isters of this church was l'"rcderick Plunimer, who first visited Woodstock 
in September, 18 10, and through whose labors the society was greatly 
increased, and numbered among its members some of the leading fami- 
lies of the locality. The meetings in the village were usually held at the 
court-house, but the worthy and zealous elder prosecuted his labors 
throughout the township and vicinity, wherever a field presented for 
fruitful results. Mr. Plummer continued his missionary labors in the 
vicinity until 18 13. 

• The court-house continued to be used as the principal house of the 
society until the year 1826, at which time Elder Jasper Hazen generously 
purchased for the society the lot of land on Pleasant street, whereon was 
erected, that same year, the commodious brick edifice, in which the first 
service was held in January, 1827. In the tower of this edifice, in 1827, 
Elder Hazen also caused to be placed a clock, which did service until 
1859, but then became worn out and was subsequentl}' sold. However, 
in 1876, another clock was procured to replace the former. This was 
provided through the generosity of l-'rederick Billings, who, on the 14th 




^..^zyZ-v-^ G^ c/tLe^aLc/^^ri^ 



Village of Woodstock. 261 



of July, 1889, executed a quit-claim deed thereof to the village of Wood- 
stock. (The remodeled Congregational church is likewise possessed of a 
clock, the gift of the same person.) I'he Christian church edifice has 
been twice thoroughly repaired : first in i860 and again in 1876. Rev. 
Moses Kidder became minister of the society soon after 1846, and has 
continued for a period of upwards of forty years, and is still engaged in 
that capacity. Prior to Rev. Kidder's coming Elder Jasper Hazen was 
the officiating minister, and his immediate predecessor was Elder Rand. 
To Jasper Hazen attaches the honor of having virtually founded the 
church. The lot on which the building stands he bought, and the edifice 
was erected almost wholly through his personal efforts, and largely with 
his means. And it is said, too, that lie manufactured the brick used in 
its construction. Elder Hazen was born in Hartford, this county. Mr. 
Dana has written at length concerning his life, which see. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church. — The seed of Methodism was sown 
in Woodstock during the closing years of the eighteenth century, by the 
somewhat sudden and une.xpected visit of Lorenzo Dow. He preached 
in the court-house, but his lectures could not have been considered de- 
nominational at that time, for some of the people, even of that church, 
did not look upon Dow as the advocate of Methodism. The )'oung cleri- 
cal aspirant was finally denied the use of the court-house for his meet- 
ings, and left the place in disgust. Many years afterwards he returned 
to Woodstock and again preached, and then formed the nucleus of the 
present society of the town. The first meetingTiouse was built in 
what was known as the South Parish, about the year 1807, but none was 
erected at the North Village until 1835-36, when lands were purchased 
from General Lyman Mower, where the present church building now is, 
and upon which a small frame edifice was erected. In 1865 such radi- 
cal repairs were made that the building was practically reconstructed, 
and was dedicated with appropriate services on the 9th of November, 
1865. The Methodist parsonage on the hill was built in 1852, 

Prior to the time of the erection of the meeting-house, and perhaps 
for some time thereafter, this was but a station or a mission society, and 
the services were conducted by circuit or local preachers. From the 
time of building the first edifice, 1836, the succession of pastors in charge 
of the society of the Methodist Episcopal church has been as follows: 



262 History of Windsor County. 

Rev's. S. Ouimby, A. G. Button, T. Twitchell, R. H. Spaulding, 

Copeland, W. J. Kidder, Lewis Hill, A. V. Howard, I. H. Patterson, 
J. W. Spencer. C. Kellogg, D. Field, S. G. Kellogg, Z. Haynes, C. Fales, 
L. C. Dickinson, A. L. Cooper, Albert L. Pratt, Joshua Gill, Ira La 
Barton, P. Merrill, A. C. Stevens, N. VV. Wilder, A. M. Wheeler, J. W. 
Gurnsey, O. M. Boutwell, T. P. Frost, L. L. Beman, A. J. Hough, A. H. 
Webb, Joseph Hamilton, L McAnn. 

5/. James's Clinrch, Protestant Episcopal. — The parish of St. James's 
church was organized during the early part of the year 1827, through 
the efforts and influence of a number of the leading citizens of the village 
and vicinity. The church did not experience the vicissitudes incident to 
the early life of some other of the institutions of the place, but was estab- 
lished and built up at a time when the people were prepared for it and 
able to accomplish its work. The early services of the church were usu- 
ally held in the court-house, and occasionally the Congregational edifice 
was placed at the disposal of the new society. Rev. Joel Clap seems to 
have been the missionary laborer in this field, his services commencing 
during the latter part of 1S25. The ne.xt year measures were taken for 
the erection of the church, which, according to the original design, was 
to have been of stone, but the plan was afterward changed and the 
structure built of wood. The stone, which were delivered on the ground, 
were used for the building of the double houses standing east of the li- 
brary building, facing the park. 

The church was completed and occupied for services in December, 
1827, and was consecrated in September of the next year by Bishop 
Griswold andassistants of the diocese of Vermont. The parish purchased 
the rectory property in 1854. Rev. Joel Clap continued as rector of the 
parish until 1832, and was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin C. C. Parker in 
October, 1833. and the latter in turn in 1839 by Rev. John Grigg. On 
June 12, 1840, Mr. Clap returned to the church, and continued until 
1847, retiring on December ist, and being immediately succeeded by 
the Rev. M. A. Herrick, the latter remaining until February, 1861. Next 
came Rev. Joseph N. Mcllwaine, in October, 1 861, who officiated as rec- 
tor until July, 1866, when he was sent to another field. The Rev. 
Roger S. Howard was next sent to this parish, July, 1867, and remained 
until June, 1869. Following the retirement of Mr. Howard the parish 



Village of Woodstock. 263 

was supplied for a few years by James O. Drtimm, a deacon in orders, 
commencing in 1870 and until 1872, and from that time to October, 
1873, by James A. Hughes, also a supply. In December, 1874, Rev. 
N. G. Allen succeeded to the rectorship, and remained until 1877, being 
followed November 1st, of that year, by the present rector. Rev. Francis 
W. Smith. 

Schools of Woodstock. — The village of Woodstock is as well provided 
with school buildings, and with the proper facilities for affording an ex- 
cellent high school education, as can be found in any municipality of 
the State having no greater population than this. Three commodious 
school -houses now exist in the village for the accommodation of pupils, 
and these are respectively known as the primary, intermediate and the 
high schools. The primary school, as the schools are now arranged, is 
on River street; the intermediate on Lincoln street; and the high 
school, "on the hill," has both primary and high school departments. 

Education in Woodstock, or in the immediate vicinity, had a begin- 
ning as humble as that of any other of its institutions. The first school- 
house was built in what is now the east part of the village, where stands 
the present residence of Prosper Merrill, about the year 1797. But the 
district soon outgrew this ancient building and the provision for another 
became a matter of necessity. For the purpose, during the year 1812, 
the building committee, comprised of three men, Lyman Mower, Sylves- 
ter Edson and Eben King, selected lands on the common, just west of 
where the court-house then stood, and here caused to be built the first 
really substantial school-building of the village. This was a plain, 
substantial two-story brick building and answered the purpose of prin- 
cipal school from the time of its erection down through the years 
of the village's early growth to the time of incorporation, 1836; and 
thence until the time of its sale or exchange for the present high school 
land, which exchange was made on April 7, 1853, between the com- 
mittee of District No. 8 and Lyman Mower. The old school building 
was converted into a dwelling house and is now the residence of W. L. 
Daman. 

Soon after the exchange with Mr. Mower the village caused the pres- 
ent elegant and commodious high school building to be erected. These, 
of course, have been the public schools, those established and supported 



264 History of Windsor County. 

at the general expense ; but, in addition to tliem, there have been started 
in the village at various times select or private schools, and some of 
these were institutions of considerable prominence during the period of 
their existence. 

Banking Institutions of Woodstock. — As long ago as the year 1806 
the Legislature passed an act that brought into existence the Vermont 
State Bank, an institution to be directly under the control and patronage 
of the State, but provided with officers and directors in the several 
localities in which its branches were established. The Vermont State 
Bank at first consisted of two branches, one at Middlebury and the 
other at Woodstock. The first officers of the bank were Titus Hutch- 
inson, [jresident, and Job Lyman, cashier for Woodstock branch. The 
directors appointed for the Woodstock branch were John Mattox, Titus 
Hutchinson, Elias Lyman, Mark Richards, James Tarbox, Benjamin 
Swan and Alex. Campbell. 

"The next year (1807) '^"'o additional branches were established, one 
at Burlington and the other at Westminster. All the stock of the bank, 
and all the profits arising therefrom, were to be the property of the 
St.ite, and all the concerns of the bank were to be under the control and 
direction of the Legislature forever. The immediate management of 
the bank was to be committed to thirteen directors, to be chosen an- 
nually by the Legislature, and who were to elect one of their number 
president of the bank." It was under these provisions that Titus Hutch- 
inson was elected president, as above stated. 

"The bank at length went into operation, but the anticipations of the 
people were not to be realized. What had appeared so fair and plaus- 
ible in theory was found to work very badly in practice, and, although 
a history of the Vermont State Hank would afford an instructive lesson 
to the present and future generation, we have neither materials nor 
room for it here. Suffice it to say, its affairs were soon found to be in 
inexplicable confusion, and the institution insolvent. Various acts of 
legislation were resorted to for sustaining it, notwithstanding which its 
condition grew worse and worse, and within five j'ears from its estab- 
lishment affairs were put in train for winding up its concerns. The 
Legislature in iSi [ passed an act directing the removal of the West- 
minster branch to Woodstock, and the next year for the removal of the 



Village of Woodstock. 265 



branches at Burlington and Middlebury to the same place, and also or- 
dering all bills of said bank to be burned, except what were necessary 
for the payment of checks due from the bank-. In 1814 an act was 
passed ordering the treasurer of the State to burn all the bills of the 
State bank in his possession, excepting such as he deemed necessary to 
meet demands upon the treasury." ^ 

The Bank of Woodstock. — The unfortunate ending of tlie old Vermont 
State Bank did not Seem to have any lasting effect upon the people, who 
one time declaimed against such institutions in general, for, when the 
Bank of Woodstock was incorporated, November 9, 183 i, and the stock 
books opened at Barker's Hotel, more by far than two thousand shares 
were subscribed for and the requisite cash paid into the hands of the 
committee. On the 5th of April the stockholders elected a board of di- 
rectors as follows : Lyman Mower, Charles Dana, George W. Rice, Si- 
mon Warren, and John Pettes. The directors then elected Lyman 
Mower president, and Lyndon A. Marsh, cashier of the bank. Thus the 
old Bank of Woodstock was brought into existence and commenced 
business, but never was known as a highly prosperous concern. But 
without any comment on the vicissitudes it experienced during the pe- 
riod of its existence, it is sufficient to state that its affairs were wound 
up and it passed out of being with the e.xpiration of its charter, being 
succeeded, merged into, or absorbed by 

The Woodstock Bank. — On the 26th of October, 1844, the Legisla- 
ture of Vermont incorporated an institution by the name of Windsor 
County Bank, to have its principal place of business at Woodstock; but 
one of the conditions of the charter was that the bank should not begin 
its business operations before the 1st of January, 1847, and not later 
than the ist of May of the same year. Its capital stock was fixed at 
$60,000 in two thousand shares. But on the 22d of October, 1845, 
the Legislature passed another act, by which the former was amended, 
and the name changed to Woodstock Bank, by which name it was 
known when its doors opened for business in January, 1847. This bank 
was well managed and did a successful business under the presidency of 
Oliver P. Chandler, and the cashiership of Eliakim Johnson. Before the 
charter of the Woodstock Bank expired the National banking act had 

I" Thompson's Vermont." 
3i 



266 History of Windsor County. 

gone into effect, and the directors of the bank decided to avail them- 
selves of the provisions of the act, and not ask for a renewal of their 
charter under the State law. 

Tlie Woodstock National Bank. — This bank was the direct outgrowth 
of the Woodstock Bank, just mentioned, and was incorporated April 17, 
1865, witli a capital stock of $100,000. Its first officers were: Presi- 
dent, Oliver P. Chandler ; vice-president, Philo Hatch ; cashier, Elia- 
kim Johnson; directors, Oliver P. Chandler, John Porter, Philo Hatch, 
Julius Converse and Eliakim Johnson. Mr. Chandler resigned from the 
presidency and direction of the bank in January, 1869, and was suc- 
ceeded by Frederick Billings, who still remains in that office. The orig- 
inal cashier, Mr. Johnson, continued in the position of cashier until his 
death, October 21, 1862, upon which Henry C. Johnson was elected 
cashier, and has so remained to the present. On January 14, 1873, 
William E. Hazen was appointed assistant cashier, and in August, 1875, 
was succeeded by the present incumbent, Frederick W. Wilder. 

As has been stated, the original capital stock of the bank was fixed at 
$100,000, but on the 14th of July, 1865, it was increased to $150,000, 
and, again, on January 11, 1867, to $200,000. On June 10, 1872, the 
stock was still further increased to $300,000. The Woodstock National 
Bank has a present surplus of some $60,000, and is officered and man- 
aged as follows : President, Frederick Billings ; vice-president, Oliver P. 
Chandler ; cashier, Henry C. Johnson ; assistant cashier, Frederick W. 
Wilder ; directors, Frederick Billings, Oliver P. Chandler, Frank N. 
Billings, William E. Johnson, William E. Dew-ej'. 

Tlic Ottauqitcchee Savings Bank. — This institution, the only savings 
bank ever established in the village, was incorporated November 13, 1847, 
and opened its doors for business in January, 1848, under the manage- 
ment of the following board of trustees and officers : Trustees, Thomas 
E. Powers, Thomas Russell, Owen Taft, Joel Eaton, Lyndon A. Marsh, 
Henry W. English, Charles S. Raymond, Nahum Haskell, Charles W. 
Warren, Oel Billings, Reuben Daniels and Otis Chamberlin. Officers : 
John Porter, president; Amnii Willard, vice-president ; I-llihu Johnson, 
treasurer ; Norman Williams, secretary. 

The Ottauquechee Savings Bank has ever been looked upon and re- 
garded as one of the substantial business institutions of the village, one 



Village of Woodstock. 267 

that has ever been well managed, and a source of profit to its managers 
and depositors as well. When started, and for a number of years thereafter, 
it was usual to open the bank for business on but two days of the week, 
but the business of the concern at length became so extensive, and de- 
positors to numerous, that the doors were opened every business day of 
the week. The bank, too, owns the building at present occupied, having 
acquired the same by conveyance from Morris Fairbanks. The deposits 
of the bank at present amount to about $530,000. The present officers 
are as follows : James B. Jones, president ; Crosby Miller, vice-president ; 
Charles F. Chapman, secretary and treasurer; trustees, James B.Jones, 
Alvin Hatch, Edwin Hazen, Norman Paul, Crosby Miller, Charles H. 
Maxham, Henry W. Walker, William S. Dewey, J. Walker Parker, Frank 
S. Mackenzie, William S. Hewitt ; board of investors, James B. Jones, 
Alvin Hatch, Edwin Hazen, Norman Paul, Charles F. Chapman. 

Industries. — As a manufacturing center Woodstock has never attracted 
any considerable attention, nor does there seem ever to have been a great 
desire on the part of the people here to build up such enterprises, al- 
though the facilities for cheap and abundant water-power along the Que- 
chee and South branches are all that could be desired for manufacturing 
purposes. But however inconsiderable may have been the manufactur- 
ing industries of the village, the place has by no means been entirely de- 
void of them, and those that have been carried on were of some impor- 
tance and extent. 

Manufacturing in the vicinity of the village, or what afterwards became 
the village, may be said to have commenced when Joab Hoisington put 
into operation a saw and grist-mill, somewhere about the year 1776. But 
the product of these mills was used entirely in the home market. The 
first considerable industry of prominence was the oil-mill of Jacob Wilder, 
which was established during the latter part of 1792, and had its seat of 
operation on the South branch- of the Ouechee, not far from the village 
proper ; but this old establishment experienced all the vicissitudes any 
industry could well be subjected to ; passed through various owners, and 
was the seat of various munufactures, being finally converted into a foun- 
dry by R. D. Granger, and by him sold to Daniel Taft, and then moved 
from the locality to become a part of the Taft industry at Taftsville. This 
was about 1836. 



268 tiistoRY OF Windsor County. 

In the west part of the village, on the north side of the river, stands a 
large brick building, a monument to past prosperity and subsequent ad- 
versity, and which is generally known as the old Woodstock woolen- 
mills, or the Woodward Mills. In former times this location was known 
as Mower's Mills, although the water at this point was first diverted and 
utilized about the year 1790, when Dr. Powers built the dam and erected 
a saw and grist-mill. This property passed to the ownership of Henry 
Mower & Co. in 1803, and five years later to Samuel Chandler. From 
this time forward, for some twenty-five years, the property underwent 
many changes in proprietorship as well as manufactures, and finally, in 
1835, was purchased by the Woodstock Manufacturing Company, a cor- 
poration having an authorized capital stock of large proportions, and, 
what was still better (for certain purposes), a shrewd manager named 
Samuel Ford, by whose persistent efitbrts a number of local capitalists 
were induced to make investments in the enterprise. This company 
erected the extensive brick factory building and others in the neighbor- 
hood, for the use of the company and its employees. The company, 
however, never developed manufactures to any great extent, but did suc- 
ceed in building up an indebtedness of splendid proportions, upon which 
the property was sold to Solomon Woodward in 1847 to be used as a 
woolen factory. Extensive alterations and repairs to the building and 
adjoining property were made, among which was the removal of the old 
saw and grist-mills, and the erection of more substantial structures in 
their places. Mr. Woodward continued business here until about the 
year 1877, but the returns were not particularly gratifying, especially 
during the later jears of operations, and the property finally passed into 
the estate of the late A. T. Stewart, of New York, and then into the 
charge of Judge Hilton, and now the whole Stewart- Hilton property, 
here and elsewhere, is the subject of litigation, cannot be transferred or 
perfect title given. 

Near the site where now stands the e.xtensive tannery buildings and 
works of B. F. Standish, Elder Jasper Harvey, in 1832, located the 
building formerly known as the West meeting-house, which he had pur- 
chased and moved here, and converted into a tannery. It was operated 
by Clement & Stillson for a few years, changed hands frequently, and 
finally became the property of Perkins & Standish. The buildings were 




iTi/^yi^ iSt.-j-'v^ 




Village of Woodstock. 269 

destroyed by fire in September, 1873, but a new and more commodious 
tannery was soon afterwards built by Mr. Standisli, who has carried on 
the business ever since. Concerning tiie Standish tannery, it may be 
said to be about tiie only present industry of the village, the product of 
which is shipped to and sold in other than local markets. 

The Woodstock Gaslight Company, one of the two local imorovement 
companies of the village, was chartered by an act of the Legislature on 
the 9th of November, 1855. During the succeeding year the company 
was in full operation, although a number of years passed before the 
street and service pipes were laid to their present extent. The first 
board of directors was composed of Thomas E. Powers, Solomon Wood- 
ward and George Mellish. Mr. Powers was cliosen president of the 
company. 

Hotels. — The history of hotel life and business in Woodstock- village 
commenced when Joab Hoisington procured an inn or tavern-keeper's 
license from the Cumberland County Court in 1772, and arranged his 
humble log cabin for the accommodation of the traveling public. This 
worthy resident must have recognized the necessity for such a house of 
entertainment and rest for the wayfarer, but just how long he acted in 
the capacity of host or landlord is not known, but it was only for a short 
time, a few years, perhaps. 

In 1787 Captain Richardson erected a tavern on the park tract, but 
the building was afterwards moved to a location further north, off the 
common, and is still standing, ne.xt east of the Hatch House. Its use 
for tavern purposes was discontinued about 1822. In 1793 two hotel 
buildings were put up in the village, one on the corner where now stands 
the Churchill dwelling, but which was only used as a tavern for a short 
time, and the other on the site of the present Eagle Hotel ; in fact, the 
same building, although during the nearly hundred years of its exist- 
ence it has been so frequently repaired and remodeled as to have lost 
all of its original appearance. It was built by Captain Richardson, and 
was a plain, two-story frame building with a single story extension. It 
afterward became the property of Titus Richardson, who, in 1822, built 
the brick addition on the east end of the house. In 1830 Cutting & 
Phillips were proprietors, under whom the piazzas were built and the 
house enlarged by building a third story. Under their ownership, also, 



ij6 History of Windsor County. 

the house was christened " Eagle Hotel," and a gilded eagle " hung 
out" for a sign. In 1867 another story was added to the main part of 
the house. In 1848 the brick addition on the east was sold to the Sons 
of Temperance for a liall, and was so used until the early part of 1885, 
when it was destroyed bj' fire. Mr. F. B. Merrill tiien bought the 
property, rebuilt the burned part, and made it a part of the hotel. He 
retired from the proprietorship of the hotel in 1889, being succeeded by 
Arthur B. Wilder, who is now its proprietor. 

Another of the old hotel buildings of the village was that which was 
erected at the corner of Elm and Central streets, by Elisha Taylor in 
1796, and known as the Village Hotel. In 1S19 this became the prop- 
erty of Robert Barker, and was one of the most popular resorts in the 
town. In 1835 it was sold to Samuel Whitney, and by the latter, in 
1856, to Oilman Henry, both of whom were proprietors of the hotel 
during the periods of their ownership. Tiie old building experienced 
nearly as many changes as did the rival house, the Eagle, for one land- 
lord seldom allows himself to be outdone by a competitor. But, un 
fortunately for the old Village Hotel, and possibly for its owner, too, the 
whole concern was, in March, 1867, destroyed by fire, and in its place 
there was erected the present substantial business block. 

The "Park Cottage" Hotel, now owned and managed by "Landlord " 
Fales, is one of the later-day institutions of the village, having been 
made over into a hotel in 1884. The old building here has been vari- 
ously used: was erected early in the century, and occupied as a store, 
saddler's shop, school-house, dwelling, and finally put to its present 
occupancy by Mr. Fales in 1884. 

T/tf Woodstock Acqiieduct Company. — The subject of supplying the 
village of Woodstock with pure and wholesome water from some of the 
outlying streams of the town began to be agitated about the )-ear 
1878, and the matter was made the subject of consideration at the vil- 
lage meeting held in January, 1879. At that meeting Oliver P. Chand 
ler, Justin F. Mackenzie and Charles Chapman were chosen a commit- 
tee to " inquire as to the feasibility of obtaining a supply of water from 
Blake Hill, or other hills of the vicinity." The committee made diligent 
examination into the matter of their duty, and on January 5, 1880, re- 
ported to the meeting the results of tlieir investigations, together with 



Village of Woodstock. 271 

an estimate of the probable expense of the entire enterprise, which they 
placed at seventeen thousand dollars. The report was accepted and 
ordered to lie on the table. It may be stated, further, that the report 
remained on the table, and the village made no further discussion of the 
project. 

In the year 1880 a number of enterprising citizens of the village pro- 
cured from the Legislature an act of incorporation of the Woodstock 
Acqueduct Company, having a capital stock of $36,000, in shares of 
$50 each. The company, however, did nothing in the matter of carry- 
ing out the object of its incorporation until the year 1887, when a reser- 
voir was built on Thomas Brook, and water mains laid from that point 
to and through the streets of the village, under the management and 
direction of the following persons: J. J. Randall, designing engineer; 
T. William Harris, constructing engineer and subcontractor; con- 
tractors, R. D. Wood & Co. The main pipe from the reservoir is 
of eight-inch iron, while the street pipes are six and four inches in diam- 
eter, the latter size predominating. The company now has about seven 
miles of main laid, and is patronized by about one hundred and sixty 
water takers. The village is supplied with twenty-eight hydrants, located 
at convenient points, ready for instant use in case of fire. 

The company is under the following management : President, Frank 
N. Billings; vice-president, Frank S. Mackenzie; secretary, H. C. 
Phillips ; treasurer, Frederick W. Wilder. 

The Windsor County Agricultural Society. — While this organization 
may be, perhaps, one of the institutions of the county rather than of the 
village, it has always had its chief seat of operation and its location for 
annual exhibitions in or near Woodstock, and has come to be regarded 
as one of the established institutions of the locality; and, so being, it is 
proper that some mention be made of it in this connection. 

As far back as the year 1820 there was organized what was known 
as the Agricultural Society for the County of Windsor ; and in that 
year officers were chosen as follows: President, William Jarvis; vice- 
presidents, Zebina Curtis.Jabez Proctor and Titus Hutchinson ; secretary, 
Norman Williams. The first exhibition given under the direction of the 
society was that of September 20, 1821. The society held one or two 
annual exhibitions and then quietly passed out of existence. 



272 History of Windsor Countv. 

In 1846 a new society, tlie present one, was organized, and from that 
time to the present has given an annual exhibition. In 1855 the present 
"fair grounds" were purchased, and here the society liave erected 
buildings sufficient for the accommodation of all stock and other exhibits, 
of every character, that may be offered. It has been the great aim of 
the gentlemen that comprise the society to offer to exhibitors as good 
inducements by way of accommodations and premiums as docs any 
similar organization in the State ; and that their efforts in this direction 
have been entirely successful is attested by the fact that the attendance 
and display at the annual meetings of the society are not inferior to those 
of any other county. The premises and buildings, too, are kept in the 
best condition possible, and premiums are paid in full, without con- 
ditions. During the year 1889 various improvements were made, at an 
expense to the society of three or four thousand dollars. The officers 
of the society are as follows: President, Joseph C. Parker of Hartford ; 
first vice-president, Edwin C. Emmons of Woodstock; second vice- 
president, ^^omer \V. Vail of Pomfrct ; secretar)', Henry B. Reed of 
Woodstock; treasurer, Norman Paul of Woodstock. 

Masonic. — The first Masonic organization that found a resting place 
in Woodstock is understood as having been Warren Lodge, which was 
instituted in the year 1804; and of which Alexander Hutchinson was 
master; Benjamin Emmons, senior warden; William Perry, junior war- 
den; l?enjamin Swan, treasurer ; and William Strong, secretary. The 
lodge dissolved its organization and surrendered its cliarter in the \'ear 
1827. This was followed by another similar organization which has 
been called " Washington Mark Master's Lodge," and which was in 
existence for some ten or fifteen years prior to 1829 

Woodstock Lodge, No. ^i, F. and A. M., was granted a dispensation 
by the Grand Lodge on the 13th of January, 1853, and was chartered on 
the 1st of January, 1854. The lodge was organized under the dispen- 
sation, and the following were its first officers: Luben Putnam, W. M.; 
O. H. McKenzie, S. W.; Eben Tracey, J. W.; John A Pratt, secretary ; 
Joel Eaton, treasurer; Augustus Palmer, S D.; Daniel Taft, jr., J. D. 

Past Masters. — Luben Putnam, O H. McKenzie, Ebenezer Tracey, 
Augustus Palmer. Edwin llutchinson, Edwin Hazen, Joseph S. Rich- 
mond, OwcnT. Marsh, Rtbcrt S. Southgatc J>ihn S. Eaton, Orlando \V. 



Town of Woodstock. 273 

Sherwin, Ezra H. Lovell, Joseph S. Richmond, Charles M. Marsh, E. P. 
Tewksbury, George H. Moss, James W. Hazen, J. K. Hoadley. 

Present Officers. — C. R. Montague, W. M.; George W. Marble, S. W.; 
George Aitken, J. W.; W. S. Hewitt, treasurer; F. R. Jewett, secretary; 
C. F. Merrill, S. D.; F. B Dana, J. D.; M. E. Hapgood, S. S.; W. H. 
Brown, J. S.; A. B. Jaquith, tyler. 

Ottanqiiechee Chapter, No. 31, R. A. M. — An application for a dispen- 
sation for a chapter of Royal Arch Masons was made to the Grand 
Lodge of this State in March, 1867 ; and on the i8th of October follow- 
ing a charter was granted that established Ottauquechee Chapter, No. 2i- 
The petition was signed by D. L. Howe, Nathan Gushing, Edwin Hazen, 
J. S. Richmond, Ira Wood, Nathan Woodbury, O. E. Ross, Norman 
Williams, Julius Converse and Lyman Mower. The first officer^ were 
J. S. Richmond, H. P.; Edwin Hazen, K.; O. E. Ross, scribe; Luben 
Putnam, C. H ; D. L. Howe, P. S.; Nathan Gushing, R. A. C; Lyman 
Mower, M. 3d V.; Ira Wood, M. 2d V.; Daniel Taft, M. 1st V.; Julius 
Converse, treasurer; Nathan Woodbury, secretary; Joseph Churchill, 
tyler. 

Past High Priests. — Joseph S. Richmond, Edwin Hazen, Owen T. 
Marsh, O. VV. Sherwin, W. J. Boyce. Officers for 1889: W. J. Boyce, 
H. P.; E. P. Tewksbury, king; O. L. Richmond, scribe; C. VV. Say- 
ward, treasurer; G. H. Mass, secretary; A. N. Logan, C. H.; C. R. 
Montague, P. S.; O. L. Seaver, R. A. C; W. H. Seaver, M. 3d V.; 
George Aitken, M. 2d V.; W. F. Jones, M. ist V.; I. C. Mower, senti- 
nel. Present membership, 70. 

Grand Army of the Republic. — The first steps in the matter of organ- 
izing a post in Woodstock were taken during or about the year 1S81, and 
the result was the grantingof a charter by the State Department, G. A. R., 
to Sheridan Post, of Woodstock. This post was at one time a flourish- 
ing organization, at least so far as membership was concerned; but on ac- 
count of certain regulations that required too much time, it was thought 
to become a full member, (passing through the several degrees — recruits, 
soldiers, and veterans,) the post became unpopular, lost its organization, 
and finally passed out of existence. 

George C. Randall Post, No. 82, Department of Vermont, G. A. R., 
was organized at Woodstock, December 15, 1884, with the following of- 
35 



274 History of Windsor County. 

ficers: Colonel Thomas O. Seaver, commander; William C. Whipple, 
S. V. C; Edwin C. Emmons, J. V. C; Dr. Henry Boynton, surgeon ; 
John S. Eaton, officer of the day ; Lucius W. Wilson, officer of guard ; 
Henry H. Woodbury, adjutant; John Oilman, Q. M ; George W. Paul, 
Sergt.-Maj.; Charles H. English, Q. M.-Sergt; Rev. H. A. Van Dusen, 
chaplain (appt. January, 1885). 

Randall Post has a present membership of one hundred and sixteen 
persons, which includes nearly every ex-soldier of the village and vicin- 
ity. Regular meetings are held each month, on the Saturday before the 
"moon fulls." An annual camp-fire is held on the 22d of February, 
and Memorial Day is regularly observed. 

Present Officers. — Henry Boynton, M. D., commander; E. C. Em- 
mons, S. V. C; W. C. Vaughn, J. V. C; H. H. Woodbury, Adjt; Na- 
than Cutting, O. M ; Lucius W. Wilson, O. D.; Andrew McKain, O. G.; 
Henrj' B. Reed, surgeon; George W. Paul, Sergt. -Major ; Charles H. 
English, O. M.-Sergt. 

Connected with the post is a Relief Corps known as "Randall W. R. 
C, No. 26," comprising about forty ladies of Woodstock and adjoining 
towns. 

The Town Representatives. — The position of Representative in the 
General Assembly is without doubt the principal town office ; and as 
other chapters have contained the succession of incumbents of this office, 
it is proper that the same be given in this connection, that is, the names of 
the several persons who have been elected to the General Assembly from 
the town of Woodstock, as follows: 1778, (March) John Strong, Joseph 
Safford ; 1778, (October) John Sirong, Phineas Williams ; 1779, Phineas 
Williams, John Strong ; 1780, John Strong, Warren Cottle ; 1781, Jesse 
Safford, Warren Cottle; 1782, John Strong, Jabez Cottle ; 1783, Jesse 
Safford, Phineas Thomas ; 1784, Jabez Cottle, Jesse Safford ; 1785, Jesse 
Safford; 1786-7, Benjamin Emmons ; 1788, Jesse Safford ; 1789, War- 
ren Cottle; 1790, Jesse Saftbrd ; 1791, Jesse Safford (January), Benja- 
min Emmons (October); 1792-94, Benjamin Emmons; 1795, Jabez 
Cottle; 1796, Benjamin Emmons ; 1897-8, Jesse Williams ; 1799, Jabez 
Bennett; 1800-1803, Benjamin Emmons; 1804, Titus Hutchinson; 
1805, Jabez Cottle; 1 806-10, Titus Hutchinson; 181 1, Joseph Wood ; 
1812, Titus Hutchinson; 1813-15, Henry C. Denison ; 1816-17, Ste- 



Town of Windsor. 275 



phen Farnswortli ; 1818-19, Daniel Dana; 1820, Rowland Simmons; 
1821, Titus Hutchinson; 1822-3, Jasper Hazen ; 1824-5, Titus Hutch- 
inson; 1826, Richard M. Ransom; 1827, Billy Brown; 182S, Richard 
M.Ransom; 1829, Sylvester Edson ; 1830, Lysander Raymond ; 1831, 
Billy Brown ; 1832-33, Jason Kendall; 1834, Daniel Taft ; 1835, Lysan- 
der Raymond ; 1836, Tracy Brigham ; 1837-8, John Moulton ; 1839- 
41, Oliver P. Chandler; 1842-4, Andrew Tracy; 1845-6, Nathan T. 
Churchill; 1847-9, Julius Converse; 1850-52, Thomas E. Powers; 
1853-4, Peter T. Washburn; 1855-6, Thomas E. Powers; 1857-9, 
George R. Chapman; 1860-61, Eliakim Johnson; 1862-3, Oliver P. 
Chandler; 1864-5, Lewis Pratt ; 1866, Charles Marsh; 1867-8, Julius 
Converse; 1869-71, Lorenzo Richmond; 1872-5, Henry Boynton ; 
1876-7, Warren C. French; 1878-9, Horace C. Lockwood ; 1880-81, 
Justin F. Mackenzie; 1882-3, Larnard C. Kendall ; 1884-5, George B. 
French; 1886-90, Charles P. Marsh. 



CHAPTER XV. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WINDSOR, AND OF THE INCORPORATED 
VILLAGE OF WINDSOR. 

DURING that period of our country's history that has always been 
referred to as the period of the early French wars, the valley of the 
Connecticut River was a prominent and frequently traveled thoroughfare 
for the passage of troops and other smaller bodies of armed men be- 
tween the New England colonies on the soutli and the upper Connecti- 
cut country, the Canadas, and the Champlain region on the north and 
northwest. Thus the vicinity wherein is situate the present town of 
Windsor became known to the pioneers of New England long before 
any settlement was made in the locality, and before any provincial gov- 
ernor had assumed to make grants of towns in the region of Vermont 
east of the Green Mountains. 

In 1724 the New England colonies had become sufficiently large to 
warrant an extension of settlement in various localities, to the northward, 
and some of the venturesome spirits moved up the valley of the Connec- 



276 History of Windsor County. 

ticut and planted a settlement and built a fortress, which they called Fort 
Diimmer, under the belief that the location lay within the provincial 
boundaiies of Massachusetts. This action opened anew a controversy 
that had previously existed between the authorities of the provinces of 
New Hampshire and Massachusetts relative to the boundary- lines be- 
tween them ; and this dispute was finally terminated by the royal decree 
of 1740, by which the north line of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, 
as it was called, was fixed upon as being somewhat to the southward of 
the Dummerston settlement, and the latter was therefore brought within 
the jurisdiction of New Hampshire, and has ever since been conspicuous 
in history as the first civilized settlement within the borders of what 
afterward became the State of Vermont. 

In the year 1741 Benning Wentworth became governor of the prov- 
ince of New Hampshire. He must have known of the controversy be- 
tween his own province and Massachusetts, and of its determination the 
year before his appointment ; and there are very good reasons for the 
belief that he understood the provincial government of New York to 
claim the right of jurisdiction over the lands north of the Massachusetts 
north line, and eastward as far as the Connecticut River, although the 
governor of New York had made no considerable grants in this territory, 
and therefore, not being occupied, no direct acts of jurisdictional exercise 
could well be made. But Benning Wentworth, if his biographers' state- 
ments are to be relied upon, loved gain as he loved power ; performed 
acts sometimes questionable in character and took the chances of results, 
and made grants of towns for consideration and reserved to himself 
considerable tracts in each for his own personal emolument. But it 
must in no manner be assumed that his grantees were parties to his 
methods, for such was not the case ; but that he enriched himself at 
their expense cannot be disputed. 

On the 3d of January, 1749, Governor Wcntwortli made a grant of a 
town of land on the extreme western boundary of what he assumed 
to be his territory, making a contmuation of the Massachusetts west line 
the western boundar\' of the tract, and this he named "Bennington," in 
allusion to his Christian name. This being done, he acquainted the 
governor of New York with his action, asking that officer in brief what 
he thought about it. This was followed by a controversy between these 



Town of Windsor. 277 



provinces that was continued until the year 1764, at which time the 
decree of the king fixed the eastern boundary of the province of New 
Yorlc at the west bank of the Connecticut River; and from that time 
forth Benning Wentworth took no part in the controversy that ensued 
between the actual settlers under his charters and the aggressive prov- 
ince of New York. He offered them no protection or assistance ; gave 
them no advice nor comforting assurance ; but left them to work out 
their own salvation as best they could After the charter of Bennington 
town, Governor Wentworth made occasional grants of other towns, 
but not many until about 1760 or 1761, when, fearing the influ- 
ence of New York with the king, he went boldly and rapidly into this 
business, chartering towns right and left, despite the protests from New 
York, so that, by the time the king's order of 1764 was promulgated, 
nearly all the then inhabitable lands west of the Connecticut had been 
granted by him. 

Charter of Windsor. — On the 6th of July, 1761, Governor Wentworth 
issued cliarters for three towns of land on what was then and for 
years afterward known by the general name of New Hampshire Grants, 
which three towns were respectively named Windsor, Reading and 
Saltash, the name of the latter, however, being subsequently changed to 
Plymouth. These towns embraced a strip of land approximately six 
miles wide, north and south, and extended from the west bank of ;he 
Connecticut River to the mountainous region of the interior, for of such 
is the charter of Plymouth. 

The charter by which the town of Windsor was brought into exist- 
ence was not materially different from the great majority of the towns 
granted by Governor Wentworth, and contained the customary reserva- 
tions of land: the five hundred acres for the use of the grantor himself, 
which was to be accounted two shares; one whole share for the incor- 
porated society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts ; one 
whole share for the first settled minister of the gospel ; one share for a 
glebe for the Church of England as by law established ; and one share 
for the benefit of a public school in said town. In the charter fifty-nine 
grantees were named, and the lands of the town were to be divided into 
si.\ty-five shares, inclusive of those reserved for the purposes set forth 
above. Another provision of the charter was to the effect that the first 



278 History of Windsor County. 

meeting of the proprietors "for the clioice of town officers, agreeable to 
the laws of our said province, shall be held on the first Wednesday of 
August (1761), which said meeting shall be notified by Samuel Ashley, 
esq., who also is appointed moderator of the first meeting," etc. 

The first movement on the part of the worthy proprietors after re- 
ceiving their charter was to meet and organize and choose town officers 
according to the grant; but it is hardly thought that the first meeting 
was held as directed b)- the charter, for there is no record of such meet- 
ing, and the general tenor of the records of a meeting held in September, 
1761, would lead to the impression that this was the first meeting. And 
these old prorietors had a rather loose manner of recording the trans- 
actions of their meetings, the minutes being made on any sheet or scrap 
of paper that happened to be most convenient, and it was not until the 
year 1 769, or about that time, that the proprietors made any move in 
the matter of procuring a record book in which to enter their proceed- 
ings ; and it was not procured then, apparently, as the minutes are found 
on pieces of paper until the year 1771, after which and well on toward 
1789 no records of proprietors' or town meetings are to be found. 

The first meeting of the proprietors, just referred to, was held at the 
house of Hilikiah Grout, innholder, in Winchester, New Hampshire, 
" agreeable to an act passed in said pro^/ince of New Hampshire, em- 
powering proprietors to call meetings." Upon this occasion the as- 
sembled proprietors chose Colonel Josiah Willard, moderator; Dr. 
Thomas Frink, proprietors' clerk; Lieutenant Joshua Lyman, Lieuten- 
ant Samuel Ashley and Dr. Thomas Frink, assessors ; Colonel Josiah 
Willard, collector; and Lieutenant Samuel Ashley, treasurer. Also, 
Colonel Josiah Willard, Captain Zedekiah Stone, Lieutenant Samuel 
Aslile)', Philip Mattoon. Josiah Willard, jr., Josiah Willard, Samuel 
Stone and Simeon Alexander were chosen a committee " to view and lot 
out said town." And it was voted to pay Colonel Josiah Willard three 
dollars on each right to defray tlie charges of the charter and plan ; 
also voted to raise three dollars on each right to defray the charges of 
" lotting out said land and other incident charges." 

The next meeting of the proprietors was held at the house of landlord 
Hilikiah Crouton the I2th of April, 1762, at which time Lieutenant 
Samuel Ashley was chosen moderator. From the fact that it was then 



Town of Windsor. 279 



voted "to draw house lots and meadow lots as laid out on the plan," it 
is to be assumed that the committee chosen at the former meeting had 
completed the work of viewing and laying out the town, at least far 
enough to permit the first drawing of lots. But at this meeting Captain 
Zedekiah Stone and David Page were added to the committee " for the 
building of mills and laying out roads," which committee was the same 
referred to as authorized to view and lay out the first division of town 
lots. At a meeting held August 24, 1763, at Hilikiah Grout's house. 
Seth Field was chosen moderator. The principal business of this meet- 
ing was the proceeding by which it was voted " to grant Israel Curtis 
fifty acres of land adjoining the Mill Brook, so called, in the town ol 
Windsor, in what form he thinks best, leaving the common land in good 
form ; and leaving ten acres between said brook and house lot number 
forty-one for a meeting-house place, training field and burying yard ; 
reserving suitable roads in said land for the use of the town, six rods 
wide. Said ten acres to be left adjoining the south side of the house lot 
number forty-one. This done in case the above named Israel Curtis 
shall give a bond to the committee to see that mills are built, of one 
hundred pounds sterling money of Great Britain, to build a saw-mill in 
said town of Windsor by the ist day of August, 1764, and to build a 
grist mill as soon as there shall be twenty inhabitants that shall raise 
one acre of grain apiece in said town ; and that said Curtis shall have 
the privilege of said Mill stream, so called." 

Thus the reader will observe that the proprietors were industriously 
engaged in preparing the way for settlement in the lands of the town, 
by laying out lots, cutting roads, constructing bridges and building 
mills, even before there was a single occupant upon the soil, holding 
under color of title. During this and the preceding year these pre- 
liminary measures were arranged for, and the work of carrying them 
into effect was performed as soon as practicable. In 1764 the first set- 
tlement in the town is generally understood as having begun ; and that 
by the arrival of Captain Steele Smith and his family. This is accord- 
ing to the statements of nearly all past writers of the town's history ; 
and since the most recent publication on the subject no new facts are de- 
veloped that would incline to a different view of the matter. It may be 
remarked, however, that a recent authority has stated that Captain Steele 



28o History of Windsor County. 

Smith was accompanied by two other pioneers, one of wliom was Joab 
Hoisington and tlic other Solomon Emmons, and that tlieir coming here 
was in company ; that on arriving, Captain Smith did leap from the 
canoe and cut the proverbial first tree in tlie town. But it is quite 
questionable whether the honor, if such it be, of cutting the first tree 
properly belonged to the worthy captain, for the proceedings of the 
proprietors' meetings would tend to show that the committee must have 
made some improvements before 1764, that in their performance would 
have necessitated the cutting of a number of trees. But the tradition 
of Captain Smith having cut the first tree is so long established that it is 
come to be looked upon as a fi.xed fact, and we are not disposed to de- 
stroy so romantic and pleasant an allusion by the advocacy of an oppos- 
ing theory, however strong may be the facts in support thereof 

On the subject of pioneer settlement Zadock Thompson, a recognized 
anthorit)', says: "The first permanent settlement in the town was com- 
menced by Captain Steele Smith, who removed his family from Farm- 
ington, Conn., to this town, in August, 1764. At that time there was 
no road north of Charlestown, N. H. The next season Major Elisha 
Hawley, Captain Israel Curtis, Deacon Hezekiah Thompson, Deacon 
Thomas Coojier, and some others, came on and began improvements. 
Tiiere was, however, a man by the name of Solomon Emmons, and his 
wife, who had erected a hut, and were living here when Captain Smith 
arrived, but had not purchased the land, or made any improvements 
with a view to a permanent settlement. Mrs. Emmons was the first and 
for some time the only white woman who resided in the town." 

Whether or not Joab Hoisington and Solomon Emmons weie with 
Captain Smith when he came to the town is a question that cannot be 
settled at this time; nor is it a matter of any considerable importance. 
Joab Hoisington, whenever his coming may have been, was at all events 
a pioneer, and as such one of the foremost 6f the town and county. 
During his stay in the town, it is said, there occurred an unfortunate ac- 
cident, in this manner : He and a companion named Bartlett were hunt- 
ing in the forest, and for the purpose of covering as much ground as pos 
sible they separated. After a time Hoisingl:on heard a rustling among 
the leaves and branches in the dense woods, and saw what he supposed 
was a bear, at which he fired with fatal result, but the victim of his shot 




SL/5"^^<-^-^ ^>vt-^-*-x^ 



Town of Windsor. 281 



was his companion, Bartlett. About the year 1771 Joab Hoisington 
left Windsor and took up his abode in Woodstock, where he purchased 
lands to the extent of something like a thousand acres, and on which the 
pleasant village of Woodstock is now situated. His log house stood on 
the corner at the east end of the park, where is now the large white 
dwelling known as the Major Nathan Churchill house. Hoisington was 
an officer of the upper regiment of militia, and stationed at Newbury, 
where, in 1777, he died. Returning briefly to the proprietors' proceed- 
ings relating to the town, it is found that on the 25th of July, 1764, 
a meeting was held at the house of Samuel Stevens, in Charlestown, N. H., 
at which time nothing of importance was done, and the meeting ad- 
journed until the 28th of August, of the same year, then to assemble at 
the house of Captain Israel Wyman, innholder, at Keene. But it ap- 
pears that on the 29th of July another meeting was held, at which time 
Dr. David Taylor was chosen proprietors' collector, and Lieutenant Sam- 
uel Hunt, Steele Smith and Enos Stevens, assessors. 

A Change of Jurisdiction. — As is already very well understood, the 
town of Windsor was brought into existence by the charter of Governor 
Wentworth, of date the 6th of July, 1761 ; and under the authority and 
power of that charter the proprietors acted and did all that has been re- 
ferred to and narrated on the preceding pages. But at the time that 
charter was made, and prior and subsequent thereto, the province of New 
York had claimed the ownership in and right to jurisdiction over all the 
lands and territory of the Green Mountain region west of the Connecti- 
cut River. This claim was of course disputed and contested by the pro- 
vincial authorities of New Hampshire, and the result was a long and bit- 
ter controversy, a war of words between the governors of the respective 
provinces, with the final result of an appeal to the king by the governor 
of NewYork, which proceeding was consented to and acquiesced in by the 
governor of New Hampshire. As far as these provinces were concerned 
the controversy was terminated by the royal decree of July 20, 1764, by 
which the west bank of the Connecticut River was determined upon as 
the eastern boundary of the province of New York. 

This action of itself would have worked no injury to the proprietors of 
Windsor, for it could not be a matter of much importance to them 
whether they belonged to the jurisdiction of New Hampshire or to that 

36 



2'82 History of Winusur County. 

of NevvYork, but had the preferences been consulted they unquestionably 
would have pretcrred remaining a part of the former province, as they 
were largely from that locality, accustomed to its forms of government, 
and bound to its people by the ties of relationship and affection. But, 
upon the receipt of the royal determination, the governing authorities of 
New York took it upon themselves to attempt to annul and set aside the 
New Hampshire charters, and to make new grants and patents of the 
lands to parties allied to the New York interest, without any offer even 
of compensation to the original proprietors, without consulting their 
wishes or inclinations, and having not the slightest regard for them, or 
for their grantees, in actual possession of the chartered lands. 

This extraordinary procedure it was that led to that famous organiza- 
tion known as the Green Mountain Boys — a band of determined men, 
who refused to yield to the New York authority and allow themselves to 
be dispossessed of their lands without paj'ment therefor, or for the im- 
provements put upon them at the expense of years of toil and hardships. 
But we have little or nothing of the deeds of those men to record as 
transpiring within the limits of this town. That was a part of the his- 
tory of the region of the State west of the mountains, for the localitj" of 
the Connecticut valley country was so far removed from the scenes of 
actual strife and contention that its inhabitants were not called upon to 
participate in the events then transpiring, nor were the people here di- 
rectly attacked in their possessions. Be it said, however, to the honor of 
the proprietors of the town of Windsor, that they were in full sympathy 
with the cause for which the Green Mountain Boys were battling, al- 
though they were powerless to render that cause any substantial assist- 
ance ; and being so singularly situated, they were compelled to resort to 
more peaceful methods in order to secure to themselves and their grant- 
ees the quiet and peaceable possession and enjoyment of the lands of the 
towns. 

For the purpose of accomplishing this object some of the leaders of 
the proprietors at once began to bestir themselves, with the result that 
on the 29th of October, 1765, a petition signed by Zedekiah Stone, 
Nathan Stone and David Stone, in " behalf of themselves and twenty 
other persons," says Governor Tryon's charter, was " presented unto our 
trusty and well-beloved Cadwallader Colden, Esquire, our Lieutenant- 



Town of Windsor. 283 



Governor, and then our commander-in-chief of our said province of New 
York, and read in our council for our said province of New York, on the 
29th day of October, wliich was in the year of our Lord one thousand 
seven hundred and sixty-five," etc. And further this formidable docu- 
ment, relating to the matter of the petition, says: " That the petitioners 
and their associates held the same by the said pretended grant of the 
government of New Hampshire, and thinking their title good, settled 
about sixteen families thereon. That they were willing and desirous to 
secure their property, possessions and improvements, by holding the 
same under the government of our said province of New York, and make 
further settlements upon the said tract ; and therefore the petitioners did, 
in behalf of themselves and associates, humbly pray that our said Lieut. - 
Governor would be probably pleased by our Letters Patent to grant to 
the petitioners and their associates, their heirs and assigns, the said tract 
of land containing upwards of 23,600 acres, and that the same might be 
erected into a township by the name of Windsor, and vested with the 
same powers and privileges as other towns in our said province of New 
York had and did enjoy. Which petition having been thus referred to 
the committee of our council for our said province of New York, our same 
council did, afterwards, on the same day, in pursuance of the report of 
the said committee, humbly advise our consent that our said Lieut-Gov- 
ernor should by our Letters Patent, grant to the said petitioners, associ- 
ates and their heirs, the tract of land aforesaid, under the Quit-rent pro- 
visos, limitations and restrictions prescribed by our royal institutions." 
But it appears that letters patent were not issued to Zedekiah, Nathan 
and David Stone, in behalf of themselves and their associates, as contem- 
plated by the petition presented on the 29th of October, 1765; nor were 
any letters patent granted, that became operative, until the 28th of March, 
1772. By an indenture deed bearing date the 9th day of October, 1776, 
the lands of the town of Windsor were conveyed by the associated pro- 
prietors and their grantees to Nathan Stone, which conveyance, It is un- 
derstood, was in the nature of a deed in trust to Nathan Stone, that he 
might act as sole owner of all except the reserved rights in the town, in 
the matter of procuring the charter from the provincial governor of New 
York ; but nowhere in the body of the instrument does it appear that 
Colonel Stone became vested with a title other than one in fee simple 



284 History op Windsor County. 



absolute. This deed was signed and sealed by Enos Stevens, Martha 
Stone, VVillard Stevens, David Stone, Joshua Willard, Samuel Hunt, 
Israel Curtis, Zedekiah Stone, Samuel Stone, Thomas Cooper, Joab Hois- 
iiigton, Joel Stone and Steele Smith ; and it purports to have been signed, 
sealed and delivered in the presence of Andrew Norton, John Evarts, 
John Benjamin, Benjamin Wait and Caleb Stone. The deed was ac- 
knowledged by John Benjamin, one of the subscribing witnesses before 
Joseph Lord, one of the judges of the Court of Common" Pleas of the 
county of Cumberland, and one of his majesty's justices of the peace. 
Martha Stone and Willard Stevens signed the deed, but are not named 
in the acknowledgment. 

In addition to the conveyance itself the receipt of the consideration 
money, ten pounds, is acknowledged to have been paid by Colonel Stone 
to tiie persons following, each signing for iiimself, or herself, viz.: Andrew 
Norton, John Evarts, John Benjamin, Benjamin Wait, Caleb Stone, Will- 
iam Shepard, Thomas Sargeants, Samuel Stone, Joel Stone, Joab Hois- 
ington, Israel Curtis, Zedekiah Stone, Steele Smith, Samuel Hunt, Martha 
Stone, David Stone, Joshua Willard, Enos Stevens and Willard Stevens. 

Thus clothed with a deed in fee simple of all of the town's lands, Col- 
onel Nathan Stone again paid court to the government of New York, 
joined hands with William Swan and others, and finally succeeded in ob- 
taining letters patent for the township of Windsor, which bore the date 
of March 28th, 1772, and were issued to said Nathan Stone and William 
Swan, and their associates, as follows : " Waldron Blair, John Abel, Will- 
iam Puntine, Michael Nan, John McGinnis, Richard McGinnis, Robert 
McGinnis, Patrick Walsh, James Abel, Edward Collum, Marinus Low, 
Edward Patten, Andries Reigher, George Klein, Thomas Lupton, Dun- 
can Robertson, Samuel Stevens, John Pessenger, George Luncom, Fran- 
cis Groome and James Cobham." 

The area of the town as mentioned in Governor Wentworth's charter 
was 23,500 acres, while according to the New York charter the entire 
area was placed at 24,500 acres, or 23,000 acers exclusive of all allow- 
ances and reservations. Subsequently in making a survey of the town, 
in order to acquire the prescribed acreage, it was found necessary to 
overlap the lands of the town of Reading on the west. This led to a 
dispute between the icspective proprietors, which was finally terminated 




W. M. HUNT, PINX. 



W. J. LINTON. DEL. ET SC. 



PORTRAIT OF MR. ALLAN WARDNER 

Original in the Possession of Mrs. W. M. Evarts, New York. 



Town of Windsor. 285 



in the acquisition to Windsor of a considerable tract of Reading's ter- 
ritory. 

The charter granted by Governor Tryon reserved what was known as 
"the Governor's lot," a parcel of five hundred acres, which was distin- 
guished by the name of the " first lot" ; also a lot "for the use of the 
incorporated society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts," 
known as the "second lot," containing three hundred acres of land with 
the usual allowances ; also a lot " for a glebe for the use of the minister 
of the Gospel," to be known as the " third lot," containing three hundred 
acres and allowances ; also a lot to be known as the " fourth lot," for the 
use of a school-master, but the poor pedygogue was cut off with a 
single hundred acres, with allowances; also a lot for the first settled 
minister, the " fifth lot," having an area of three hundred acres. These 
public rights were designed to be chosen from the average lands of the 
town, but there came a time when one plan or survey was missing, and 
another substituted in its place ; and on the latter the reserved tracts 
were found to be located on the almost inaccessible heights, Ascutney 
Mountain, in a locality noted for the general worthlessness of its lands. 

On the 31st of March, 1772, three days later than the date of Gov- 
ernor Tryon's letters patent of the town, Colonel Stone secured a deed 
of conveyance of the interests held by his associates under the charter, 
all of whom were residents of the city of New York. The moving con- 
sideration of this conveyance was the sum of ten shillings paid by Stone 
to each of the grantors And on the 19th of April, 1774, Goldsboro 
Banyar executed to Nathan Stone a lease of a tract of land in the north- 
west corner of the town, embracing eleven hundred and forty-five acres. 
This lease is believed to have been in the nature of a contract for the 
sale of the land to Stone, for the rental consideration was but a nominal 
sum, five shillings and one pepper-corn, the latter if demanded. On 
the next day, April 20th, Goldsboro Banyar deeded this rented tract to 
Nathan Stone, the consideration of the conveyance as expressed in the 
indenture being the sum of four hundred and thirty- five pounds. 

It will be seen that the conveyance from the New York proprietors 
to Nathan Stone vested in the grantee the greater part of the lands of 
the town of Windsor, the same lands that had been previously deeded 
to Colonel Stone by the associated proprietors under the New Hamp- 



286 History of Windsor Countv. 

shire charter ; which last named conveyance was understood as being a 
trust deed for tlie benefit of the grantors therein ; in fact an instrument 
that virtually made Colonel Stone the trustee or agent of the proprietors 
for the purpose of enabling him the better to obtain the New York 
patent, which was finally executed and issued on the 28th of March, 
1 772. Then, true to the trust reposed in him, Nathan Stone reconveyed 
to those interested in the lands of the town, either as proprietors or as 
grantees of the proprietors, and to others, actual settlers on the lands of 
the town, various parcels according to tiie several and respective inter- 
ests of each in the lands. These conveyances were made during the 
month of November, 1772, and the names of the persons to whom the 
deeds were executed were as follows: 

Caleb Benjamin, Jeremiah Bishop, Samuel Patrick, Joseph Woodrufif, 
Benjamin Bishop, Levi Stevens, Samuel Seers, Peter Levens, Isaiah Burk, 
Ebenezcr Curtis, Solomon Burk, Samuel Root, Watts Hubbard, George 
Sto(w)e, Andrew Blant, Lazarus Bannister, John Benjamin, Samuel 
Chase, Rev. James Wellman, Dudley Chase, Phineas J^ean, Benjamin 
Wait, Ebenezer Hoisington, Captain William Dean, Elnathan Storey, 
Hezekiah Thompson, Benjamin Spaldwin (or Spaulding), Elisha Haw- 
ley, jr., Timothy Stanley, Thomas Wilson, Elisha Hawley, sr., Asa 
Smeed, Ebenezer Davis, Elihu Burk, Nehemiah Lincoln, William Smeed, 
sr, William Smeed, jr., Joseph Barrett, Jacob Hastings, Asaph Butler, 
Nathan Atkins, Joseph Patterson, Thomas Cooper, John Chandler, 
Andrew Norton, Alexander Parmlcy, Steele Smith, Mary Hubbard, 
Elisha Hubbard, David Cook, Samuel Cook, Samuel Stone, Dr. David 
Hale, Elizabeth Curtis, Solomon Emmons, Ebenezer Hayward, Fisher 
Gay, Joseph Bull, Thomas Fearsall, Goldsboro Banyar (of New York), 
Henry Crieger (of New York), Dr. David Taylor, Colonel Nathan Stone, 
Willard Dean, Isabel Patrick, Zedekiah Stone, esq., and Barnabas 
Dunham. 

As has already been stated, the deed from the proprietors and set- 
tlers of the town of Windsor to Nathan Stone bore the date of October 
9, 1766, and by that conveyance the grantee became vested with all and 
singular of the right, title and interest therein of the grantors ; but not- 
withstanding that, the proprietors seemed to have moved right along in 
clearing, developing and improving the lands of the town, in the same 



Town of Windsor. 287 



manner as if the title still remained in their respective selves. There 
appears to be no record of the proceedings of the proprietors for the 
years 1765 and 1766, and for that loss there can be no comment in this 
chapter upon what was done during those yeais, although it is quite 
probable that the first meeting within the town was held in one or 
the other of them. Certainly would the settlers have been entitled to 
have the meetings held here if the statement in proprietors' petition to 
New York's governor was correct, for it was there stated that under the 
New Hampshire charter there were settled in the town "about sixteen 
families," while had there been the representatives of the sixteenth part 
of the original shares of the town, that would have been sufficient to 
warrant the holding of meetings in the territory. 

The first record evidence of a meeting in the town (which can be 
found) is that contained in the proprietors' minutes for 1767, when, on 
the 3d day of November, a meeting was held at the house of Thomas 
Cooper, at which time Mr. Cooper was chosen clerk. The business of 
the occasion was not of special importance, relating to the laying out 
of lots in the town. Another meeting during the same year was held, 
also at Thomas Cooper's, on the 17th of December, when Benjamin Wait 
was chosen moderator; Captain Samuel Stone, Israel Curtis, and Ser- 
geant Andrew North, assessors; Thomas Cooper, treasurer; and 
Colonel Nathan Stone, collector. At this time it was voted to give 
Joseph King twenty pounds, to be paid in day's labor, to build a bridge 
across " Mill Stream," between the dam of the grist-mill and saw-mill. 
The building of this bridge was not done, apparently, by Mr. King, for the 
proceedings of a meeting held October 3, 1768, show that Andrew Nor- 
ton and Joab Hoisington were appointed a committee to build the 
bridge over Mill Brool:. One fact is established by the above " vote," 
and that, that a saw-mill and a grist mill were built in the town as early 
at least as the year 1768; and earlier extracts from the proprietors' pro- 
proceedings show that in August, 1763, Israel Curtis was appointed to 
build the saw and grist-mills, and was obliged to give a bond for the 
faithful performance of the work. 

In 1769, at a meeting held April 6, the proprietors voted "to buy a 
book " in which to record the proceedings of their meetings ; and they 
charged Israel Curtis with the duty of procuring the book, he to take 



288 History of Windsor County. 

pay in a lot of land, the price of the book to apply on his contract of 
purchase, and he to pay the difference, wiiich the minutes recorded as 
"boot money." Whether or not the worthy settler, Israel Curtis, ever 
procured the book is not known ; neither is it known whether the pro- 
prietors ever obtained one from any source. The records, such as now 
exist, of the transactions of the proprietors, even down to and including 
the year 1 77 1, are written upon separate sheets of paper, and are tied 
in a single small package; and they are so old and worn as to make 
their ready handling almost impossible. The}' stop with the year 1771 ; 
and subsequent to that time, and until 1786, there appears to be no 
records of the proprietors' or inhabitants' meetingsof any kind that throw 
any light on the proceedings had during the interval. The record of 
conveyances, however, of the town are exceedingly well kept and pre- 
served. 

The most interesting period in the history of the town of Windsor 
was that in which occurred the Re\olutionary war, and the struggle, 
during the same time, on the part of the people living on the so-called 
New Hampshire Grants to establish for themselves an independent gov- 
ernment or State, that eventually became known by the name of Ver- 
mont. But it was not that the citizens of this particular locality took a 
more active part in the occurring events of that period than did any 
other towns of the State, for such is not understood to have been the 
case; but, at the same time, the town of Windsor was destined to be- 
come prominent in the affairs of the State, and to occupy a position of 
singular notoriety, the result of circumstances alone, and not that the 
town possessed political leaders and statesmen of distinguished ability, 
although she was not whoU)' destitute of men of that mark. 

The town of Windsor first began to attract attention from the other 
regions of the grants when the petition was made and presented that re- 
sulted in the New York charter; and that action was presumed to be 
prima facie evidence, in some minds, at least, that the people of the town 
considered themselves allied to the interests of New York. It was so 
looked upon in certain cpiarters, but it was an altogether mistaken belief, 
for there was no town east of the mountains whose people were more in- 
terested in the cause for which the Green Mountain Boys were contend- 
ing than those of Windsor, but from this remote locality it was not ex- 



Town of Windsor. 289 



pected that the people of the town would become active participants in 
the struggles then enacting, and what was more to the point, the peti- 
tioners did not receive their charter until after many of the more impor- 
tant events had occurred. But when it became an understood fact that 
the people on the grants were organizing with the intention of forming a 
new and independent State, the residents of Windsor joined with the 
move and actively participated in all that occurred tending to the end 
sought to be accomplished. 

At the convention held at Dorset on the 26th of July, 1775, and on 
the i6thof January and the 24th of July, 1776, the town of Windsor does 
not appear to have been represented, but at the adjourned session held 
at Dorset on the 25th of September, 1776, Ebenezer Hoisington appeared 
as a delegate from the town ; and as such he is found to be upon the com- 
mittee appointed to prepare the covenant or compact by which the dele- 
gates pledged themselves and their constituents for the " security of their 
common liberties and properties in conjunction with the free and inde- 
pendent States of America." Besides this Ebenezer Hoisington was on 
other important committees, among them one chosen for the purpose of 
preparing a "citation to send to the State of New York to know if they 
have any objection against our being a separate State from them." And 
at the Westminster conventions of October 30, 1776, and January 15, 
1777, Mr. Hoisington was present representing his town ; and on the 
latter occasion was chairman of the committee appointed to examine and 
report the feeling in the towns east of the mountains relative to the for- 
mation of the new State, which report was that " We find by e.Kamina- 
tion that more than three-fourths of the people in Cumberland and 
Gloucester counties, that have acted, are for a new State ; the rest we view 
as neuters." More than this, the town was honored by having its rep- 
resentative on the committee chosen " to prepare a draught for a decla- 
ration for a new and separate State." When the business of this con- 
vention was finished, it was adjourned to meet at the meeting-house in 
Windsor on the 4th day of June, 1777. 

That the reader may have a clear understanding of the sentiment that 
prevailed in the town relative to the subject of forming a new and inde- 
pendent State, it is quite proper that a slight digression be made from 
the general narrative in order to sufficiently explain the situation at that 
37 



290 UrsTOKY ()!• Windsor County. 

time. It is well known that this town, in 1777, and even prior thereto, 
formed apart of Cumberland county under the jurisdiction of New York; 
that there was not an entire unanimity of sentiment in this region gen- 
erally, in favor of the new State ; and that New York was using her every 
art to induce the people of the region to oppose the measures then being 
taken looking to the new formation, and, as a part of the New York pro- 
ceeding, ihe inhabitants of all the towns had been warned against the 
participation in the conventions of the people on the grants. The duty 
of keeping the people "straight " toward New York was incumbent upon 
the Cumberland County Committee. How well this committee suc- 
ceeded in inducing the people of Windsor to be faithful to New York 
will be observed from the following: 

" At an Annual Town Meeting held at the Town house in Windsor on 
the twentieth Day of May past, (1777) after the Choice of a Moderator 
it was put to Vote whether the Town would proceed to Act according to 
the Orders from the State of New York ; Voted in the Negative by a 
great Majority. 

" Ebenezer Curtis, Toxvn Clark. 
"To the Chearman of the County Committee." 

And further : "Whereas I the Subscriber are the member of the County 
Committee of Cumberland to represent the town of Windsor in Conven- 
tion this third day of instant, June, Do now in behalf of sd town Enter 
my protest against any proceeding under the State of New York either 
directly or indirectly as to any Jurisdiction over sd town. 

" Ebenezer Hoisington." 

At the meeting-house in Windsor on the 4th of June, 1777, the ad- 
journed convention assembled, as provided by the resolution previously 
adopted. From the records that exist, it appears that Ebenezer Hois- 
ington represented the town in the capacity of delegate, but it is entirely 
probable that the greater part of the townspeople were also present as 
interested spectators on this most auspicious occasion. The principal 
business of this convention was to revise the declaration of State inde- 
pendence, adopted at Westminster, setting forth " the reasons which im- 
pelled the inhabitants to such separation," (omitted from the former 
declaration,) and changing the name of the new State from NEW CON- 
NECTICUT to Vermont. Further than this it is said, on the authority 



Town of Windsor. 291 



of the Vermont Historical Society's collection, that a committee was 
appointed to make a draft of a constitution. 

At this convention the new State, by its representatives assembled, as- 
sumed e.xclusive jurisdiction over the entire territory of the New Hamp- 
shire Grants, and, as a part of that proceeding, resolved that the Com- 
mittees of Safety of the counties of Cumberland and Gloucester desist 
from the further exercise of their authority under the direction of the 
State of New York. The chairman of this convention was Joseph Bow- 
ker of Rutland, and the secretary was Dr. Jonas Fay of Bennington. 
Lieutenant Martin Powel of Manchester was the assistant clerk. 

This convention of June 4th, according to the resolution adopted at 
Westminster, was appointed to reconvene at the " meeting-house " in 
Windsor, the published account in the Connectiait Coiirant of April 14, 
1777, stating to that effect ; but the proceedings of the convention itself, 
as published in the " Governor and Council," referred to the meeting as 
" being all convened at the town house in Windsor." This may be ex- 
plained by the fact that it was usual to refer to the meeting-house as 
the town house, as the first meeting-house in nearly all the towns was 
erected at the public expense, and instead of being the property of any 
church or other society, it was the property of the town ; and therefore 
its designation as town house was entirely natural and proper, it being a 
town house as well as meeting-house. But the resolution of the June 
convention that provided for the next assembling of a similar body, 
said : " That it is hereby recommended to the freeholders and inhabit- 
ants of each town in this State to meet at some convenient place in each 
town on the 23d day of this instant June and choose delegates to attend 
a general convention at the incciing- house in Windsor, within the said 
State, on the 2d day of July next, to choose delegates to attend the gen- 
eral Congress, a Committee of Safety, and to form a Constitution for 
the State." 

In accordance with the resolution the delegates assembled at Windsor 
on the 2d of July, 1777, and upon that occasion the first constitution of 
the State was adopted ; but not without some interruption, for while the 
convention was considering the provisions of that important subject, 
news was received of the evacuation of Ticonderoga and the threaten- 
ing invasion of the British army under General Burgoyne. This intel- 



292 History ok Windsor Countv. 

ligence threw the convention into complete disorder, and many of the 
delegates, especially those from the western towns, were for instantly set- 
ting out for their homes before completing the business in hand. But 
the intervention of a severe thunder-storm prevented their departure, 
thus giving them time to reflect upon their hasty determination. They 
then resumed consideration of the constitution, discussed it, "paragraph 
by paragraph," says Ira Allen, " for the last time." Then, after the ap- 
pointment of a Council of Safety to administer the affairs of the State 
for the time being, th.e convention adjourned. In this memorable as- 
sembly Ebenezer Hoisington is understood as having represented tiie 
town of Windsor. 

Thus was the town of Windsor prominently associated with some of 
the most interesting and important events connected with tlie early his- 
tory of the State of Vermont. But it was not that the town or its rep- 
resentatives were more forward in this business than other towns, but 
rather tliat those events happened to be enacted in the town. This con- 
stitutional convention was appointed to be held in the meeting-house at 
Windsor, but it is conceded to have been assembled in the building that 
stood at the corner of what is now Main and Depot streets. And tlie 
old building still stands, though moved a few rods eastward of its origi- 
nal location, and to this day is known as the " Constitution House.'' 
Some of the older residents of the present day are of the opinion that it 
was built for a hotel, and was completed in time to receive the conven- 
tion, or at least the delegates; that the convention was held within its 
walls, from wliich fact it was christened the " Constitution House." 
But tiiere appears to be a lach of positive understanding concerning the 
true origin and purpose of the building. Can it be that this was the 
"meeting-house," or the " town house," referred to in the resolutions 
quoted heretofore ? Can it be a fact that its lumber was sawed at the 
old mill built by Israel Curtis in pursuance of the contract made witii 
the proprietors in 1763 ? Who knows? 

While the subject of the old Constitution House is one of no great im- 
portance, and one that needs no extended comment in this chapter, it is 
proper to say that it was a hotel building, and was for a number of 
years, and during this particular period, under the management of Elijah 
West The early legislative sessions weie hjld here, and as late as 1786 



Town of Windsor. 293 



there appears on record an order for payment for its use by the State, 
viz.: " Resolved that the Treasurer be and he is hereby directed to pay 
Mr. Elijah West of Windsor for the use of his room, firewood, etc., for 
the use of Council this Session, the sum of one pound out of the hard 
Money Taxes." Perhaps an impertinent inquiry, but what can the 
above " etc." refer to ? 

After Elijah West, the next landlord was worthy Samuel Patrick, and 
the latter was succeeded by his son, also Samuel by pame, but better 
known as the "Captain." Then, about 1840, Captain Patrick retired 
and Thomas Boynton became host. Subsequent to his turn other land ' 
lords succeeded to its management, but the old building as a hotel be- 
came unprofitable ; was put to use for various mercantile and mechani- 
cal purposes; and, finally, was moved to the rear of the lot, now being 
occupied for tenements. 

It can hardly be considered essentially within the province of this 
chapter to discuss at length the proceedings of the various executive and 
legislative bodies of the State that held their sessions at Windsor. Those 
were affairs of general rather than local history. The reader must 
therefore be content with a mere mention of the dates upon which those 
assemblages were called together at the town. Prior to 1808 the execu- 
tive and legislative bodies of the State had no fi.Ked habitation, and it 
was customary for them to meet at such places as best suited the gen - 
eral convenience, most frequently, however, at Windsor and Bennington. 
In 1808 Montpelier became the State capital, since which the seat of 
government has been at that place. Other than upon the occasions al- 
ready mentioned, the sessions of the Governor and Council with the 
General Assembly of Vermont iiave been held in Windsor as follows : 
In 1778, on March 12th and October 8th; 1779, June 2d ; 1781, Feb- 
ruary 8th and April 4th ; 1782, June 13th ; 1783, February 13th ; 1785, 
October 13th; 1786, March 25th; 1791, October 13th; 1793, Octo 
ber loth ; 1795, October 8th; 1797, October 12th; 1799, Octo- 
ber lOth; 1804, January 26th. 

During the Revolution. — The part taken by the people of Windsor 
during that period of its history that was known as the Revolutionary 
war, was an important one, but the records are so meager that nothing 
of value can be found by which the names of the soldiers of the town 



294 History of Windsor Countv. 

can be accurately ascertained. That there were men of the town, and a 
good number of them, too, who were actively identified with the mili- 
tarv history of the period cannot be questioned, but nothing appears of 
record by which they can be singled out and mentioned. For the pur- 
pose of bringing the names of some at least of them to mind, the writer 
makes free to copy from the historical address of Rev. Dr. Cutting, de- 
livered upon the occasion of the Windsor centennial celebration of the 
4tli of July, 1876, as follows: 

"The military history of Windsor belongs among the essential themes 
of this day. The fame of Seth Warner's regiment was shared by men 
of this town. After the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, after the 
capture of Ticonderoga by Allen, Captain John Grant of that regiment 
came in the summer of 1775 to Windsor for recruits Among those 
who enlisted under him were Asahel Smith, Jolin Heath, Zenas Lull, 
Joshua -Slayton, and William Hunter, the last named enlisting as a ser- 
geant, and becoming the orderly of the company. Laying down their 
sickles, — for an old narrative says it was 'reaping time,' — they proceeded 
to join their regiment at Crown Point, and descending the Lake to Can- 
ada, took part in the brilliant operations which resulted in the capture 
of St. John's and Montreal, and in the flight of Carlton to Quebec. 
Young Hunter, then twenty-one years of age, was attached to the per- 
son of General Montgomery, and for his good conduct at the siege of 
St. John's received a commission as first lieutenant. The time for 
which the men had enlisted having ex]jired. Hunter came back to Wind- 
sor in December of that year for more recruits. There were already 
militia companies in the town, and there is a record of the drill of one of 
them by Lieutenant Hunter after his return at that time. His mission 
was successful. Early in January, 1776, on the broad easte.n slope of 
'the Hill,' of the West Parish, then at the house of Samuel Root, Hunter 
mustered his recruits, of whom are preserved the names of Ebenezer 
Hoisington, Phineas Killam, John Heath, Joel Butler, Asa Smead, Jona- 
than Hodgman, and 'an elderly man named Emmons.' These, with 
perhaps as many more, he marched away on snow-shoes to Skenes- 
borough, now Whitehall, whence descending the lake on the ice, they 
reached the army destined to Quebec, and finally encamped on the Plains 
of Abraham. In the disastrous retreat of the ensuing spring, Warner's 



Town of Windsor. 291; 



regiment was the last on the field, and kept the rear. It was on this re- 
treat that Lieutenant Hunter, discovering a sick Cornish soldier who had 
laid down to die, inspired with hope the despairing man's heart, and lift- 
ing him on his back, carried him three miles to the bateaux and saved 
his life. During the remainder of the war the militia of Windsor were 
perpetually on the alert, and were frequently called into service. Under 
Captain Benjamin Wait and Major Joab Hoisington they were of the 
troops who kept back the English and Indians from the northern towns, 
and when Royalton was attacked and burned, marched in such numbers 
as to repel and punish the invasion, that most of the women of Windsor, 
left unprotected, fled with their children to Cornish until the return of 
the men. Declining a captaincy in the Continental service. Hunter be- 
came lieutenant of the Windsor company, under Captain Samuel Stow 
Savage, and succeeded liim as captain in the year 1789." 

Wiiuhor as a Coiutty Seat. — In this connection it will not be consid- 
ered necessary to refer more than incidentally to the erection into coun- 
ties of the territory of the new State, which erection was made one of 
the first duties of the General Assembly at its early meeting at Windsor, 
as such proceeding had no special relation to the town's history. But 
in February, 1781, at a session of the Governor and Council with the 
General Assembly at Windsor, the counties which were created in 1778 
were divided, and out of old Cumberland were erected Windham, Wind- 
sor, and Orange counties. Each of these was soon thereafter organized 
by the election of county officers ; and by virtue of an act passed at the 
same session, Windsor was designated as the shire town of Windsor 
county. But this designation was intended to be more for temporary 
purposes than otherwise. At that particular time there was considerable 
agitation and discussion concerning the formation of a union with certain 
towns of New Hampshire, which, should it be consummated, would 
place the town of Windsor in a nearly central position incase the towns 
east were annexed to the county. This was done subsequently. As 
the lines of the county then stood, Windsor could justly lay claim to the 
county buildings. But this union was soon dissolved, and then this was 
a border town ; and so being, the chances of its being designated as the 
permanent shire town were decidedly lessened. All this time Woodstock, 
through its leading men, and it had not a few of them, was claiming the 



296 HisTOKY OF Windsor Countv. 

county buildings, and upon good grounds, too, for it was near the geo- 
graphical center of the county, and a town of considerable population 
and importance. The result of this was the division of the county into 
half shires, and Windsor and Woodstock the half shire towns. But in 
1786 the latter town was designated as the county seat ; and in 1787 
the Legislature enacted " that the court should sit alternately at Wind- 
sor and Woodstock." In 1791 the Legislature passed another act by 
which the half-shire character of Windsor should be continued in force 
for three years from that time. 

The court- house in Windsor was built during the )-ear I 784, although 
the town as a shiie was then three years old. And it was built at the 
expense of the townspeople and not a charge against the county. The 
old building still stands on State street, having been moved from its 
original location near where the high school building now is ; and it does 
duty to-day as a place of residence. 

Town Organization. — It is a lamentable fact, but nevertheless a truth, 
that the first record book of the town, that which should contain the 
proceedings of the town and freemen's meetings, is missing from the 
clerk's office, and no person appears to be able to account for its where- 
abouts. And it is no more than probable that this record has been out 
of the office for many years. This loss renders it quite impossible to 
determine the date of town organization. The town must, however, 
have been organized about the time of the granting the letters patent 
from New York, which was in 1772. It is a fact, too, that the old 
records and documents of the town were loosely and carelessly kept, 
without any system. Tiiis is shown by the fact that in the oldest 
record now in existence, that commencing with the year 1786, there are 
proceedings on the [lart i>f the inhabitants by which committees were 
chosen to wait on certain persons and treat with them relative to the 
return to the clerk's office of books and papers tliat properly belonged 
there. 

The first town meeting of which theie is any record was held on the 
17th of February, 1786, and was warned by Briant Brown, then the town 
clerk. The officers chosen at that meeting were as follows : Moderator, 
Stephen Jacobs ; town deck, Briant I^rown ; selectmen, Briant Brown, 
Colonel Benjamin Wait, Stephen Jacobs, esq.. Lieutenant Charles Leav- 



Town of Windsor. 297 



ens, and Thomas Cooper, esq.; treasurer, Briant Brown ; constables, 
Benjamin Cady, Oliver Barrett; collectors, Benjamin Cady, Oliver Bar- 
rett; listers, Briant Brown, Benjamin Wait, Stephen Jacobs, Charles 
Leavens, Thomas Cooper; grand jurors, Joel Ely and Alden Spooner; 
tithingmen, Stephen Cady , Josiah Hawley, George Hough and Asahel 
Smith; leather sealer, Colonel Nathan Stone; sealer of weights and 
measures, Deacon Joseph Farnsworth ; brander of horses. Captain Jeralil 
Cumings; hay wards, David Lombard, Samuel Bayley, Abijah Capron, 
Jonathan Hall, Captain Steele Smith, Isaiah Burke, and Captain Asahel 
Smith ; surveyors of highways, Nathan Stone, Caleb Stone, Thomas 
Wilson, Captain Matthew Patrick, Solomon Emmons, Daniel Thurston, 
Deacon Richard Wait, Colonel Benjamin Wait, Charles Leavens, Will- 
iam White, William Slack, William Lazell, John Capron, and Israel 
Aiken ; fence viewers, Solomon Emmons, Isaiah Burke, Richard Wait, 
Lazarus Banister; deer reefs, Ebenezer Hoisington, jr., and Samuel 
Fletcher ; key keepers, Benjamin Cady and Captain Asahel Smith. 

It will be seen from the above record that the officers of the town for 
this time were chosen in accordance with the laws of the State of Ver- 
mont; and it is probably a fact that they were so chosen from and after 
the formation of the State and the adoption of the constitution. But it 
is also probably a fact that the officers elected at the organization meet- 
ing of the town were chosen as provided by the laws and customs of 
New York, as the last named was the organizing and then controlling 
jurisdiction, and it would be only natural that the customs of that prov- 
ince should prevail, at least for the time being. In that case, instead of 
selectmen, the town would have elected a supervisor; in place of listers 
were assessors, a difference only in name, but there would have been 
but one supervisor and three assessors elected. 

Now, for the purpose of bringing to the attention of the reader the 
names of as many as possible of the ancient inhabitants of the town for 
the purpose of making the names of the pioneers of Windsor as conspic- 
uous as possible, it has been deemed appropriate in this connection to 
place on these pages a record — a list — showing who were the taxable 
inhabitants of the jurisdiction during its pioneer period. And, in ex- 
planation of the list here given, it may be said that from the very earliest 
settlement of the town there was a practical division of the town, or at 



298 History of Windsor County. 

least of its people (a subject that will be discussed hereafter), into what 
was known as the East and West Parishes, meaning the east and west 
portions of the town, wliich were separated by a considerable mountain 
elevation ; and it was the practice of the authorities to divide the people, 
in making lists, at tiiat early day, although the entire town was one juris- 
diction and elected a single set of officers. The list here copied is headed 
as follows: "A Tax of three pence half penny on the pound, made on 
the list for the year 1785, for the purpose of schools in the several school 
districts in said town, agreeable to a vote of said town, passed March 7, 
1 786." (The names of taxable inhabitants only, and not the list and rate, 
are copied.) 

East Parish. — David Atkins, Perez Antizzle, Israel Aiken, Ebenezer 
Burnham, Joseph Barrett, jr., Solomon Burke, Isaiah Burke, Benjamin 
Bishop, Briant Brown, Moses Barrett, Stephen Conant, John Cady, Zebe- 
diah Coburn, Peter Currier, Benjamin Cady, Zebina Curtis, Ebenezer 
Curtis, Manassah Cady, Thomas H. Cady, John Curtis, Willard Dean, 
John Drew, Solomon Emmons, Clark Eastman, John Gill, David Hilton, 
Daniel Hastings, Jacob Hastings, Ebenezer Hoisington, Ebenezer Hois- 
ington, jr., Elias Hoisington, Matthias Hammond, Jonathan Hammond, 
David Hammond, William Hilton, Jonathan Hall, Jonathan Hodgman, 
Elisha Hubbard, Eldad Hubbard, Darius Houghton, George Hough, 
Josiah Hawley, Elisha Hawley, William Harlow, David Hall, William 
Jewett, Stephen Jacob, Daniel King, James Langvvorthy, Isaac Mason, 
John Marcy, John Marcy, jr., Samuel Messer, Alexander Parmalee, Sam- 
uel Patrick, Clothier Prior, Elijah Payne, John Packard, Matthew Patrick, 
Elisha Perkins, Samuel Ruggles, Eleaser Spaulding, Leonard Spaulding 
Zedekiah Stone, Caleb Stone, Elnathan Storey, Jacob Stowell, Jonathan 
Shepard, Seth Sabin, T^phraim Stone, Simeon Stoddard, Zephaniah 
Spicer, Joel Smead, Alden Spnoner, Steele Smith, Reuben Smith, Nathan 
Stone, Nathan Stone, jr., Samuel Stone, Nichenor Temple, Hezekiah 
Thompson, Joseph Thompson, Hezekiah Thompson, jr., Seth Tinkham, 
Daniel Thurston, Elisha Turner, Nahum Trask, Joseph Willis, Thomas 
Wilson, Joshua W'ilson, Jacob Wilson, Silvanus W'atriss, Elijah West, 
Paul Wood, William Wood, Robert Grandy, David Orvis, Jonathan 
Russell, James Wilson, Nathaniel Weeks, Tyler Spaftbrd, Joseph Grandy, 
Robert Whitcomb. 



Town of Windsor. 299 



West Parish. — Thomas Adams, Abel Adams, William Abbott, Joseph 
Barrett, Oliver Barrett, Silas Banister, Lazaius Banister, Caleb Blood, 
John Blood, John Bishop, Jeremiah Bishop, Levi Bishop, Jeremiah 
Bishop, jr., Frederick Burnham, Elihu Beach, Stephen Besch, Jonathan 
Burt, John Brown, Andrew Blunt, Joshua Bayley, WilHam Bean, Ed- 
mund Capron, John Capron, Abijah Capron, Jerahmeel Cummiiigs.Silva- 
nus Chapin, Zebulon Chandler, Thomas Cooper, Stephen Cooper, John 
Dake, Joseph Dake, Benjamin Dake, Samuel Danforth, Joel Ely, Joel 
Ely, jr., James Fletcher, Samuel Fletcher, Joseph Fuller, Nathan Fish, 
Elnathan Hubbard, Ephraim Hubbard, Jesse Hawley, Silas Hale, Benja- 
min Hale, David Hale, Israel Hale, Thomas Hunter, William Hunter 
David Hunter, Abijah Hurd, Ezekiel Hawley, Phineas Hemenuay, John 
Hulett, Ichabod Hatch, John Lumbard, John Lumbard, jr., Stepiieii 
Lumbard, Solomon Lumbard, David Lumbard, Charles Leavens, Will- 
iam Lazell, Zenas Lazell, Nehemiah Lincoln, Joseph Moulton, Aaron 
Miner, Israel Meacham, Obediah Noble, John Neil, Joseph Powers, Jo- 
seph Powers, jr., William Porter, William Parson, William Parson, jr., 
Samuel Parson, Samuel Parson, jr., Joseph Parmeter, Benoni Patrick^ 
Samuel Root, Rufus Root, Henry Rumriil, Simeon Rumrill, Behi Rogers, 
Abiah Rice, Jesse Slack, William Slack, George Stow, John Smead, Asa 
Smead, Samuel Savage, Nathan Savage, Benjamin Stone, Samuel Savvin, 
Ashel Smith, Roswell Smith, Thomas Sherman, Andrew Spaulding, 
Elihu Smead, George Stow, jr., Joseph Sawyer, Jonas Taylor, Simeon 
Taylor, Leonard Taylor, Abraham Taylor, Josiali Fooley, Archibald 
White, jr., William White, Asa Worcester, Joseph Woodruff, Benjamin 
Wait, Joseph Wakefield, Scottaway Whitcomb, Oliver Willard, Daniel 
Woods. 

The above list appears in the books of record of the town during the 
clerkship of Briant Brown, and in the clear and distinct handwriting of 
that most worthy citizen. But clerk Brown did more ; he prepared and 
entered on the record a statement of the condition of the town, by 
parishes, showing the number of taxable inhabitants, extent of lands 
cultivated, and the aggregate of stock, for the year 1786, as follows: 
East Parish, polls, 112; horses, 72; oxen, 79; cows, 153; three year 
olds, 5 ; two year olds, 59; one year olds, 80; swine, 59; acres in land, 
1,70414 ; faculty, 240. West Parish, polls, 132 ; horses, 58 ; oxen, 64; 



300 History ok Windsor County. 



cows, 175 ; three year olds, 17 ; two year olds, 86 ; swine, 34 ; acres in 
land, 1,303; faculty, 20. 

Division of the Town. — The town of Windsor as described in its sev- 
eral charters possessed decidedly singular topographical characteristics. 
Through the central portion of the town, running nearly north and 
south, was and is a considerable range of mountains, and b\' it the east 
and west portions of the territory to all practical Intents and purposes 
were separated and divided. During the pioneer period of course incom- 
ing settlers preferred to purchase lands in the more level or bottom re- 
gions, and naturally avoided the more elevated or mountain districts. 
The legitimate result was that the eastern and western sections of the town 
were occupied and settled, while the central part was a comparative!)' un- 
broken forest ; but, as a matter of course, with the rapid increase of popu- 
lation there came a time when even the less desirable lands were settled 
and cleared for agricultural purposes so far as they were susceptible of 
settlement and cultivation. 

But this singular formation had the effect of dividing and separating 
the people of the east and west parts of the town, and occasioned much 
inconvenience, especially in regard to some of the early public and town 
institutions. As is well known, it was the custom in early days for the 
town to erect and maintain a meeting-house for public worship on Sun- 
day and other occasions; and it was also the custom to make this erec- 
tion, as nearly as practicable, in the center of the towji, that the people 
in all parts might equally enjoy the benefits offered by such meeting- 
house. In Windsor, however, the people in the east part of the town 
were desirous of having the meeting house in their locality, while those 
on the west side naturally desired the same erection in their locality. 
Neither party, it appears, favored its erection on the ridge lands, for by 
that action both sides would have been placed at inconvenience. The 
result was an appeal to the Legislature, at the June session of 1785, at 
Norwicli, and that body passed an act, which was concurred in by the 
Governor and Council, entitled, "An Act for the establishing Two Eccle- 
siastical societies in the Town of Windsor." 

This was a division of the town only for the purpose of establishing 
and maintaining two meeting-houses in the town, and not such a divis- 
ion of the territory as would contemplate the election of the two sets of 




Dr. Dyer Story. 



Town of Windsor. 301 



town officers. The division of the latter character was a subsequent 
creation, brought about in part by the remote location of the west 
from the east district or parish, and in part by the fact of there 
having been bred a sentiment of discord and jealousy growing out of 
the selection of town officers, the one parish claiming they were not re- 
ceiving their share of local offices. The subject of dividing the lands 
of the district into two towns was one of frequent discussion, but it 
was not formally brought before the people until the year 18 14, at 
which time, in a "warning" dated September 14th, the following ap- 
peared as one of the articles: "To see if the town will agree to divide 
the same into two separate towns." 

In accordance with the warning a meeting was held in the West Par- 
ish on the loth day of October, 1814, at which time the subject of di 
vision was made paramount, and what the result was will be best told 
by the following : 

" In Town meeting, October 10. 18 14. 
"Resolved, that the town of Windsor is satisfied with its present 
boundaries, and that the inhabitants of said town in meeting assembled 
consider every attempt to divide it as derogating from the best good 
and interest of the same. 

"Resolved, that the Representative from this town (Oliver Farns- 
worth) be presented with a copy of the proceedings of this meeting, 
with instructions to lay them before the Legislature, together with the 
accompanying remonstrance, if the petition which produced it should 
be presented and acted upon by the Legislature." 

But, despite "the will of the majority in meeting assembled," the 
proposition to divide the town seems to have found favor in the legisla- 
tive mind, and the result was an act passed at the session of that year, 
by which the old historic town of Windsor, the home of the very name 
Vermont, and the birthplace of the constitution, was divided in twain, 
and of its territory on the west there was erected the new town of West 
Windsor. The opponents to the division, while they by no mean-; were 
satisfied with the determination of the question, they were nevertheless 
resigned and reconciled to the inevitable, and, at a meeting at the court- 
house in Windsor, on the 25th of January, 1815, expressed themselves 
after this manner : " Resolved by the freemen of the East and West 



302 History of Windsor County. 

Parishes of the town of Windsor, legally assembled in town meeting at 
the court-house in said town this 25th day of January, 1815 : That not- 
withstanding we still continue to regard the act of the Legislature en- 
titled, An Act to divide the East and West Parishes in two separate and 
distinct towns, with concern and deep regret, we hereby recommend to 
the individuals of each parish respectively to organize as towns in the 
month of March ensuing, agreeably to what appears to have been the 
intention of the Legislature as implied by said act." 

The act of 18 14 that divided the town took from its lands about the 
same territory that is included by the bounds of the present town of 
West Windsor. But this separation from the mother town proved to 
be of but temporary duration, for no sooner had the new district become 
organized than a movement was formed looking to a union. By the 
latter part of the summer, or the early part of the fall of 1815, the dif- 
ferences that led to the separation were adjusted, and there were circu- 
lated petitions asking for legislative action and a consolidation of the dis- 
tricts into a single town. But this proposition had many opponents, 
and the result was another meeting at the court-house on the 25th day 
of October, 1815, at which a number of resolutions were otfered, to the 
effect that, whereas petitions from Windsor and West Windsor were cir- 
culating in the interest of consolidation ; that the town of Windsor was 
satisfied with its present limits and extent; that hills intervening be- 
tween the towns rendered union impracticable ; that the distance be- 
tween the places at which elections were alternately held was an objec- 
tion to the union ; that said union was taking from the people of 
Windsor their just rights and privileges; that the petition was contrary 
to the voice and will of the town, and was calculated to injure the peace 
and happiness of said town; therefore, "Resolved, that the town of 
Windsor would deem an act of incorporating the towns of Windsor 
and West Windsor into one town a violation of the rights and 
privileges of the inhabitants of the town of Windsor, and a subversion 
of the laws and constitution of the State." 

These resolutions were adopted by the meeting, and in addition thereto 
there was chosen' a committee, consisting of William Hunter, Jabez 
Delano and Joel Lull, to represent the meeting and the opponents to 
union at the succeeding session of the Legislature. But, notwithstand- 



Town of Windsor. 303 



ing the "sense " of the meeting, so clearly expressed, and the presence 
of tlie chosen committee, the Legislature in 1815 passed an act re- 
uniting the parishes into one town. 

Following this the next annual town meeting was held at Hubbard's 
Hall, in "West Parish," on the 19th of March, 1816, at which time 
officers were chosen for the whole district, the town was united in fact, 
and the differences and animosities of the period were buried, and passed 
into history. With the reunion there came a renewal of all the incon- 
veniences that had formerly attended the holding of elections. It was 
the custom of the time to hold the meetings alternately, first at Windsor 
and next over in the West Parish, The journey from Windsor village 
and the river region to Sheddsville was one of nine miles, and when an 
election was held at the latter place but comparatively few of the people 
of the East Parish generally attended. And the same may be said of 
the occasions on which the meetings were held in the East Parish, that 
the people from the west side seldom attended in considerable numbers. 
This led to another division of the town, by an act of the Legislature 
passed and approved October 26, 1848, by which the town or Windsor 
was reduced to its present limits. The act of division, should the reader 
desire to peruse its provisions, will be found in the chapter that relates 
to the history of the town of West Windsor. 

]]^ar of 1812-15. — This was not an eventful period in the history of 
the town; neither did the town occupy a different position at the time 
from other similar districts. The events of the war, so far as the town 
is concerned, are briefly stated, and most aptly, too, in Dr. Cutting's ad- 
dress, thus : "In the War of 1812 this town contributed its share of 
officers and men to the armies who fought our battles. Churchill, already 
referred to, and Matthew Patrick remained in the public service to the 
end of their lives. . . . The Jefferson Artillery, significant, politi- 
cally, by its name, came into being in 18 10, amid the omens of the com- 
ing war. Its organization was not. however, complete till the ensuing 
year. William Tileston was its first captain. My father's commission 
as lieutenant bears the date of 181 1. About 1S20 there were four com- 
panies in the town, one of artillery, one of light infantry, and two un- 
uniformed, reproachfully termed ' floodwood.' Harry White was one of 
the village captains, the brilliant and popular merchant whom Windsor 



304 History of Windsor County. 

lost by a sudden calamity. Captain Black commanded the light in- 
fantry of the West Parish. Training days were holidays, and general 
musters were great events. The boys caught the military infection of 
the time, and under the command of John A. Spooner, now (1876) a 
venerable and honored clergyman, marched beneath a banner which 
bore a patriotic and impressive legend." 

The War of 1861-65. — The part taken b}- the town of Windsor dur- 
ing the war of the Rebellion was certainly a prominent and important 
one; but one whicli requires no mention in this connection, having been 
discussed and presented at length in an earlier chapter of the volume. 
The voluiiteeis of Windsor formed a part of the great body of soldiers 
sent out from this section during the war, and there was scarcely a regi- 
ment raised in the State but had at least a few of Windsor's recruits 
among its numbers. In the chapter referred to will be found a com- 
plete roster of the officers of the town, in connection with those of the 
county ; a record of the services of each command that had any con- 
siderable complement of troops from the town, together with a com-, 
plete roll of the volunteers enlisted or recruited here. 

Schools of the Toivn. — Of the schools and other like institutions of 
the town of Windsor there cannot be much said. Their beginning was 
quite as humble as that of any other of the institutions of the district, 
but gradually have they advanced from their primitive condition to a 
degree of excellence that places them on an equal level with those of 
any other town in the county, and far in advance of many. The sub- 
ject of organizing the town of Windsor into school districts appears to 
have been first presented and discussed at the annual town meeting held 
on the 7th of March, 1786, although the same question may have been 
agitated and acted upon at an earlier date, the loss of the town 
records of years prior to that named making the subject of what pre- 
viously occurred one wholly of speculation. But, from the general 
character of the proceedings had at that time, it is fair to assume that 
the occasion referred to was the first on which the matter of schools 
throughout was tiie subject of general discussion and town action. 

At the March meeting of 1786 it was voted by the inhabitants to raise 
the sum of eighty pounds for the benefit of schools in the town, to be 
paid, the record says, " in money, or good wheat at five shillings per 



n 







yyU^^-iZc^ ^^^^^^ 



Town of Windsor. 305 



bushel " ; the fund thus created to be divided in as many equal parts as 
there were districts in the town. About the same time the town was 
divided into school districts, eleven in all, by a committee appointed 
for that purpose. And at the meeting above, the inhabitants elected 
trustees for the several districts respectively, as follows: First district, 
Amasa Paine ; second district, Benjamin Bishop ; third district, Stephen 
Jacob ; fourth district, Samuel Patrick ; fifth district, Jacob Stowell ; sixth 
district. Deacon Joseph Thomson; seventh district, Stephen Cady ; eighth 
district, George Stowe ; ninth district, Simon RumriU; tenth district, Cal- 
vin Chapin ; eleventh district, Oliver Barrett. 

This was practically an organization of the schools of the districts on 
what was known as th.e town plan; that is, the schools receiving their 
support at the general expense of the town, and not each district main- 
taining its separate school at its own cost, as is now the custom. Nor 
was it an unusual proceeding at that period for the schools in many towns 
in the State to be established, as were those of Windsor, from the gen- 
eral fund raised by tax upon the whole territory of the town. The dif- 
ferent custom, that by which each district provided for its own school and 
maintained it at the district expense, was a hnter creation, and one that 
soon became popular; and it is a fact, too, that a great majority of the 
towns of this State have accepted and are working under the provisions 
of the district system. 

But it would be a thing next to impossible to furnish a complete and 
reliable record of the several changes made in the school districts of the 
town from the first creation of them until the present day. Changes in 
boundaries, and changes in the number of districts, have occasionally 
been made, though these have not been frequent. The final division of 
the town, that by which West Windsor was set off, in 1848, necessitated 
something of a change in the district government of Windsor as it then 
remained ; and other than this such alteration in district boundaries, and 
such increase and decrease in number of districts, has been made as was 
best calculated to suit the convenience of the people, or as circumstances 
required. 

The present operating school districts, or schools, of the town of Wind- 
sor are seven in number, although in number four no school has been kept 
regularly for several years ; and one district of the town proper is annexed 
39 



3o6 History (jk Windsor County. 

to the town of West Windsorfor the convenience of the few families resid 
ing in the same. The report of the superintendent of schools of the town 
for the last fiscal year .show that in District No. i school was kept for 
twenty-eight weeks; number of pupils, 15; expense for the year, 
$143.30. In District No. 2 school was kept for thirty-two weeks; 
number of pupils, 24; expense, $200. District No. 3, village of Wind- 
sor, weeks of school, 36; total expense, $3,754.42. District No. 4, no 
school. District No. 5, number of pupils, 2 ; weeks of school, 24; ex- 
pense, $116. District No. 6, number of pupils, 21; weeks of school, 32 ; 
expense, $240; District No. 7, number of pupils, 21 ; weeks of school, 
26; expense, $19078. 

Record of Old and Prominent Fainilies. — It was one of the require- 
ments of the early as well as of a later period that there be kept in each 
town a record of the births, marriages and deaths of the members of the 
various families of each town. Such a record is found in the office of the 
clerk of the town of Windsor ; and in that record is to be found the names 
of many of the pioneers and their families, showing a compliance with the 
requirements referred to. From that record is taken whatever mention 
is made concerning the families hereafter named. But it cannot be stated 
that records are in each case complete, or altogether reliable, for some 
families were negligent in the matter, and possiblv some clerks were re- 
miss in the performance of their duties. But, as disclosed by the record, 
and occasionally substantiated by other authority, so the following pur- 
ports to be. And it is designed to be a genealogical statement rather 
than biographical, and furnished for the purpose of bringing to the at- 
tention of the reader the names of some of the more prominent pioneer 
families of the town, and their immediate descendants as well. 

Dr. Joseph Whiting and Azubah Stow, both of Windsor, were married 
March 31, 1789, by Asaph Flitcher, esq. Children: Clary, born De- 
cember 29, 1790; Mirandy, born May 26, 1792 ; Abial, born May 26, 
1794; Salomy, born July 2, 1797. 

Briant Brown and Molly Dunbar married November 13, 1766, at Had- 
dam. Conn. Children: James, born August 9, 1767; Rebekah, born- 
February 24, 1769; Lot, born April 8, 1771, died February 16, 1774; 
Prosper, born May i, 1773; Deliver.mce, born June 17, 1775; Return 
Briant, born September 23, 1777 ; Remember Molly, born July 1 1, 1780; 



Town of Windsor. 307 



Thankful, born December 28, 1782; Fanny, born July 24, 1786. Briant 
Brown died at Windsor, February 15, 1798, aged fifty-four years. Molly 
Brown, widow of Briant, died at Windsor, September 27, 1802. 

Colonel Nathan Stone and Mrs. Mary Spafford married at Charlestown. 
N. H., July 16, 1764. Children: Relief, born'May 3, 1765; Polly, born 
at Windsor, April 26, 1767; Zedekiah, born July 17, 1769; Sarah, born 
August 21, 1 77 1 ; Dorotha, born August 26, 1773 ; Susanna, born May 
19, 1776; Hannah, born November 14, 1778 ; Elizabeth, born October 
16, 1781 ; Nathan, born June 4, 1784. Mary, wife of Colonel Stone, 
died May 27, 1785. Colonel Nathan Stone died October 27, 1795. 

Ebeiiezer Burnham and Betsey Packard, both of Windsor, married 
September 7, 1784. Children : John, born May 23, 1785 ; Samuel, born 
May I I, 1787 ; Betsey, born February 24, 1789; Philander, born July 
18, 1791 ; Ebenezer, born June 30, 1793; Allen, born July 11, 1796; 
L_\-man, born August 17, 1798; Billy, born August 28, 1800; Cyntha, 
born September 20, 1803; Rosanna, born December 29, 1808. 

Joseph Woodruff and Phebe Norton married at Windsor, November 5, 
1772, by James W'ellman. Children: Cyprian, born May 16, 1773, died 
March 13, 1776; Rebekah, born November 3, 1775, died September 18, 
1777; Andrew Norton, born January 14, 1778 ; Bela, March 22, 1780; 
Martha, January 14, 17S2; Huldah, April 16, 1784; Anna, August 7, 
1786; Susanna, December 31, 1788 ; Rebekah, April 17, 1791 ; Alvan, 
January 14, 1794. 

Silas Banister and Thankful Ely married January 25, 1779. Children : 
P'anny, born January 25, 1780; Warren, July 26, 1781 ; Bathsheba, Oc- 
tober 28. 1782; Lucy, January 21, 1784; Osmond, February 7, 1786; 
Heman, May 11, 1788; Pliny, February 5, 1790; Roderick, December 
15, 1791 ; Wayne, January 21, 1794; Theodosia, March 9, 1796; Anna, 
August 23, 1798 ; Roena, September 19, 1801. 

Alexander Parmele and Mary Davis married at Walpole, February 18, 
1766. Children: John, born August 14. 1767 ; Anna, January 14, 1769; 
Rosamond, February 18, 1771 ; Josiah, born at Windsor, April 18, 1773 ; 
Samuel, May 10, 1775; Sarah, December 18, 1777; David, July 27, 
1780; Phineas, February 13, 1783. Mary, wife of Alexander Parmele, 
died December 15, 1788. Alexander Parmele and Mrs. Elizabeth Dana 
married March, 1790. Alexander Parmele died April 20, 1798. 



3o8 History ok Windsor County. 



r 



Samuel Burnliam and Lucy Hawley married December 4, 1788. Chil- 
dren : Riley, born August 24, 1789 ; Horace, March 25, 1791 ; Marnava, 
February 24, 1793 ; Polly, April 2, 1795 ; Ofen and Oren, sons, born 
July 12, 1797. 

John Blood and Asenath Powers, both of \\ indsor, married February 
28, 1781. Children: Asenath, born July 8, 1782; Polly, March 25, 
1784 ; Samuel, March 3, 1787; Marshall, April 27, 1791 ; Marvin, Jan- 
f uary 8, 1793; Sylvester, June 17, 1797. 

Thomes Cooper and Peace Dean married November 17, 1767. Chil- 
dren: Abigail, born September i, 1768; Sarah, February 3, 1770 ; Ruth, 
May 17, 1772; Rhoda, January 22, 1775; Lucy, October 16, 1776; 
Thomas, August 13, 1778; Fbenezer, May 8, 1780; Jabez, January 25, 
1783, died January 28, 1785 ; Ezra, January 25, 1786. 

John Curtis and Patty Hannars married December 29, 1793. Chil- 
dren : Joseph, born November 20, 1794; Patty Ruggles, Ma}' 24, 1797 ; 
Simeon, September 23, 1799. 

Children of Jacob and Rosamond Choate: Mary Ann, born June 29, 
1800; Catharine, March 17, 1804; Harriet, December 30, 1805. 

" Be it remembered that at Windsor, in the county of Windsor, and 
State of Vermont, on the evening of the 20th of March, in the year of 
our Lord seventeen hundred and ninety-one, Nathan Coolidge of said 
Windsor, and Elizabeth Curtis of Windsor aforesaid, having produced a 
certificate from the clerk of said town, that their intention of marriage 
had been legally published, and receiving the consent of the mother of 
said Elizabeth, were legally joinetl in marriage by" — " Stephen Jacob, 
justice peace." The children of this union were Carlos Coolidge, born 
July 25, 1792; Mary Coolidge, born October i 5, 1793; Betsey Coolidge, 
born November 17, 1801. 

Children of Zebina and Martha Curtis: Lucia, born March 3, 1784, 
and died May 5, 1785; Israel, January 19, 1786; Lucia, March 10, 
1788; Joseph Wait, April 8, 1790; Charles, April 23, 1792; William, 
March 9, 1794; Isabella, March 3, 1796; Timothy, December 7, 1797; 
George, September 19, 1799 ; Edward, October 25, 1801 ; Susan, August 
I, 1805. 

Sylvester Churchill was born August 2, 1783 ; married Lucy Hunter, 
daughter of William and Mary. Children : Helen Susan, born at Fort 




Daniel Stearns. 



/ 



TuWN OF Windsor. 309 



Columbus, on Governor's Island, May 29, 181 7, died September 27, 
1818; William Hunter, born on Bedloe's Island, N. Y., July 8, 1819; 
Mary Helen, born in Windsor, August 30, 1821 ; Franklin Hunter, born 
at Fort Lewis (Fort Hamilton), April 22, 1823; Charles C, born at 
Allegheny Arsenal (near Pittsburgh, Pa.), July. 1825. 

Sewall Cutting, son of Jonas and Sally Cutting, married Mary, daughter 
of William and Mary Hunter, on August 3, 1806. Children: William 
Jonas, born May 27, 1807; Franklin Hunter, May 27, 1809; Mar- 
sellas Trask, born June 14, 181 1, died December 25, 181 1 ; Sewall Syl- 
vester, born January 19, 1813 ; Andrew Jackson, born March 14. 1815, 
died April 17, 1816; Wallace, born March 31, 1817; Mary Hunter, 
August 4, 1818; Lucy Churchill, born May 5, 1820. died August 9, 
1828; Dan Smith, born May 23, 1823; Guy Hunter, born April 11, 
1826, died March 18, 1827; Guy Hunter, born February 8, 1828. 

Children of Jabez antl Anna Delano: Clarissa, born February 25, 
1803; Laurenda, August 29, 1804; Albourn, September 4, 1808. 

Abner Forbes, son of Absalom and Martha, was born in Sutton, 
Mass., February 29, 1772. Elizabeth West, daughter of Elijah and 
Hannah, was born in Windsor, January 29, 1776. Abner Forbes mar- 
ried Elizabeth West September 24, 1797. Children: Cliarles, born 
November 24, 1798; Elizabeth West, born November 14, 1800. Eliza- 
beth, wife of Abner Forbes, died January i, 1801. Abner Forbes 
married Sarah, daughter of Alden and Sarah Spooner, September 4, 
1805. Children: Sarah S, born March 20, 1807; Edward, October 
22, 1808; Martha Hall, April 23, 1810; Frances, June 24, 1812; Maria, 
June 7, 1814 ; Arabella, April 18, ;Sl6 ; Spooner, May 26, 1818; Susan, 
August 9, 1820; Abner, December 10, 1822. 

Page 214 of the first record book has this entry: "In memory of Mrs. 
Elizabeth, wife of Capt. William Dean, died Dec. 22, 1764, in the 64th 
year of her age. The first death in Windsor." 

Dr. Isaac Green married Anna Barrett, January 17, 1792. Children: 
Samuel Barrett, born December 17, 1792; Eliza Salisbury, May 17, 
1794; Charlotte, May 17, 1796; George, April 14, 1798; Harriet, 
February 16, 1800; Charles, September i, 1803; Caroline, September 
26. 1811. 

Elisha Hawley and Azubah Russell married November 19, 1767. 



310 History of Windsor County. 

Children: Thomas, born September 28, 1768; Lucy, March 2, 1770; 
Erastiis, December 26, 1772; Rebckah, March 8, 1774; Polly, Novem- 
ber 23, 1775. Aziibah, wife of Elisha llawley, died April I, 1777. 
Elislia Hawley and the widow Hannah Sayles married July, 1777. 
Children: Azubah, born May 26, 1778; Sayles, December 14, 1780; 
Elisha. August 30, 1781 ; Ira, January 5, 1783; George, Eebruary 17, 
1785. 

William Hunter and Mary Newell married January 31, 1777. Chil- 
dren : Guy, born Octubcr 21, 1777; William, February 5, 1781 ; Mary, 
August 16, 1782; Jonathan, July 16, 1784; Lucy, July 17, 1786; 
Mary, F"ebruary 27, 1788; Franklin, F'ebruary 11, 1790; Sally, Febru • 
^■'y 7> '794! Rebekah, April 3, 1796; William Gu)', September 27, 
1798. 

Jabesh lluntcr and Mary Savage married November i, 1795. Chil- 
dren: Horace P., born August 30. 1796; Galen, January 21, 1800; 
David, April I, 1803; John, August i, 1804; Emil)', March 4, 1807; 
Mary, February 25, i S09 ; William, February 13, 1812 

Thomas Hunter married Abigail Powers Februar)- 10, 1777. Chil- 
dren: 'Ihomas, boin September 13, 1777; Nabb\-, November 30, 1779; 
Rebekah, October 25, 1781 ; Richard. June 14, 1784; Thankful, Sep- 
tember ID, 1786; Millison, March 12, 1788. Abig.iil, wife of Thtmias 
Hunter, died June 12, 1790. Thomas Hunter married Tryphena 
Thacher January 27, 1791. (Children: Mary, October 1 3, 1794; Henry, 
March 14, 1795; Eli, August 22, 1796; Maria, December 20, 1798; 
George, February 13, 1801. 

Samuel Hedge married Miriam Parsons Ma\' 23, 1793. Children: 
Samuel, born July 30, 1794; FVank, Jul\' 5, 1795; William, July 11, 
1796; George, April 11, 1799; Luc\-, June 2, 1800. 

Jeremiah Hubbard, son of Elnathan and Sybil Hubbard, married 
Nancy, daughter of Watts and Lois Hubbard, on December 6, 18 10. 
Their child, Haniet. was born December 6, iSii. 

Children of Captain William and Lucretia Leverett : Mary, born July 
14, 1792; Elizabeth Hallam, July 10. 1796; Lucretia Ann Coit, Ay>n\ 
30, 1805. 

Cliildren of Thomas and Susan Leverett : John, born March 3 i, 1792 ; 
Charles Johnson, October 12, 1793; William, July 6, 1797; Susan, 



Town of Windsor. 311 



March 8, 1800; George, January 17, 1802; Caroline Hallam, March 5, 
1804; Thomas, February 12, 1806 

Joel Lull and Thankful Dodge married April 27, 1794. Children : 
Joel, born December 20, 1796; Laura, September 2, 1798; Lyman, 
March 4, 1801. 

" Captain Steele Smith, the settler of the town of Windsor, died 
April 5, 18 I 2, in the eighty third year of his age." 

Samuel Patrick and Anna Spicer, of Windsor, married April 15, 1773 
Progeny: Labjl, barn November 30, 1773; Sarah, November 5, 1775; 
Lemuel, July 24, 1779; Samuel. August 10, 1781 ; Freedom, May 21, 
1784; Fanny, August 22, 1786; Reuhama, March 4, 1789 Anna, 
wife of Samuel, died March 28, 1789. Samuel Patrick and Isabel Alex- 
ander married October 27, 1790. Children; Harriet, born June 5, 
1792; Matthew Alexander, April 13, 1794; Nancy, October 22, 1796; 
Sophia, March 15, 1799. 

Samuel Smith, the first male child, was born in Windsor, July 2, 1765, 
the son of Steele and "Louis" (Lois) Smith. Samuel Smith married 
Lucy Woods, September 1. 1784. Children: John Spooner, born Au- 
gust 25, 1790; Betsey, March 18, 1792; Cyllinda, September 15, 1794; 
Samuel Newell, October 30, 1796; Lucy, February 22. 1799; Sophia, 
February 14, iSor; Miry, December 25, 1802; Hart, October 14, 1804. 

Children of Samuel Stow Savage and Mary Cole Savage, his wife: 
Samuel Stow, born June 23, 1770; Cyprian, June 4, 1772; Mary, 
July 27, 1774; Lemuel, November 19, 1776; Ruth, December 13, 
1778; Prudence, January 25, 1781 ; Sally, May 26, 1783; Joseph, De- 
cember 28, 1785. 

Silvanus Watriss and Rhoda Field married August 2, 1780. Chil- 
dren: Asa, born June 10, 1781 ; Henry, October i, 1782; Martha and 
Rhoda, (twins) February 7, 1786; Charles. December 31, 17S8. 

Children of John and Susanna (Powers) Dake : Sophia, born Febru- 
ary II, 1775 ; Susanna. October 26. 1777; John, September 23, 1779; 
Mary, December 16, 1782; Abigiil, March 22, 1786; Keziah, Au- 
gust 22, 1790. John Dake, the pioneer, died March 22, 1791. 

Leonard Taylor and Funice Parker married January 21, 1779. Chil- 
dren: Leonard, born October 31, 1779; Eunice, April 12, 1782; 
Eunice, 2d, May 14, 1784; Esther, March 29, 1789; Parker, Decern- 



312 History of Windsor County. 



ber 21, 1790; Peter, February 2, 1793 ; Polly, June 16, 1797; Sally, 
August 7, 1800; Laura, June 13, 1802. 

Children of Phineas and Elizabeth Hemenvva)-: Betsey, born Se[)tem- 
ber (, 1776; Pliineas, January 23, 1781 ; Joshua, December 26, 1792. 

James Lanp;worthy and Anna Dean married April 13, 1775 ; moved 
to Windsor, I'cbruary 5, 1776. Children: Sarah, October 29, 1776; 
Stephen, October 4, 1777 ; James, April 20, 1779; Anna, October 3, 
1780; Phineas, February 7, 1782; Jonathan. October 5, 1783; Han- 
nah, November 10, 1784; Laura, January 9, 1786; Reodolphus, July 12, 
1787; Augustus, November 29, 1788; Benjimin, January 27, 1790. 

Children of Stephen and Jane Cady : Jane, born April i, 1781; 
Sarah, February 23, 1783 ; Anna, November 4, 1784; Matthew Patrick, 
October 16, 1786; Betsey, September 19, 1788; Polly, August 9, 1790; 
Lucy, November 24, 1792. Jane, wife of Stephen Cady, died Febru- 
ary 6, 1794. Stephen Cady married Esther Parker, September 23, 
1794. Children: Pluma, September 7, 1795; Esther, January 28, 
1797; Laura, April 16, 1798; Stephen P., January lO, 1805. 

Children of Jerahmeel and Deborah Cumings: Jane, born Febru- 
ary 28, 1777; Jerahmeel, January 24, 1779; Joseph, January 15, 1781 ; 
John, October 20, 1782; Asa, August 9, 1784; Bera, April 9, 1786; 
Hannah, November 15, 1787; Polly, August 17, 1789. 

Children of Solomon and Keziah Burke: Caleb, born May 7, 1773; 
Benjamin, February 21, 1775; Rachel, March 5, 177S; Jonathan, 
July 7, 1780; Solomon Wait, July 11, 1782; Alice; Moses; Nahum, 
July 13, 1789; Abel, March 27, 1792. 

Children of Solomon and Mary Emmons : Patty, born January 27, 
1770; Eunice, born May 9, 1774. 

Children of Joseph and Rhoda Thomson: Daughter, born Febru- 
ary 13, and died February 14, 1775; Joseph, June 26, 1776; Rhoda, 
May 25, 1778; Thurza, March 19, 1780; Sibbille, August 25, 1782; 
Seth, May 17, 1784; Samuel, June 18, 1786; Annas, July 25, 1788; 
Claria, February i, 1791 ; Hannah, October 31, 1792; Joseph, Janu- 
ary 17, 1796. 

Children of Charles and Lydia Leavens: Mary, born March 15, 1774; 
Penuel, April 25, 1777; Ira, February 28, 1779; Charles, March 13, 
1781 ; Calvin, August 18, 1784; Darius, June 17, 1786; John Grover, 




A^^c Thi^^Jiy^ — ^ 



Village of Windsor. 313 

March 2, 1788; Chloe, November 3, 1789; Jacob, January 7, 1792; 
Mason, December 8, 1793. 

The Village of Windsor. 

So much has already been said that pertains to the history of the vil- 
lage of Windsor, as well as to the town at large, that it appears exceed- 
ingly difficult to separate the municipality from the town for the purpose 
of further narrative. In fact, it cannot be told with certainty when the 
history of the town ceased and that of the village commenced. The 
latter cannot be assumed to have been in existence when Steele Smith 
and his handful of pioneer associates commenced their improvements 
during 1764 and 1 765, but when the first convention of delegates from all 
parts of the New Hampshire Grants met in the town in June, 1777, there 
was a considerable settlement, a tavern, at least one store, and dwellings 
to the number of a score or more. At all events, it is nowhere recorded 
that the visiting delegates were permitted to suffer for want of accom- 
modations, or on account of any lack of generous hospitality on the part 
of the inhabitants of the village or town. 

And the location of the village seems to have been made with refer- 
ence to the greatest convenience of the people of the whole town, and 
upon lands especially suited to the purpose. The topographical situation 
of the land is somewhat peculiar, being a succession of elevations back 
to the westward from the Connecticut ; and each of these elevations has a 
considerable area, that farthest west being, perhaps, the most extensive, 
and any of them sufficiently large to accommodate buildings for a popu- 
lation of three or four hundred. When Windsor was fixed upon as the 
shire town of the county, soon after the latter was erected, there was a 
considerable influx of people, for that designation not only assured the 
erection of a court-house and other county buildings, but brought to 
the town a number of lawyers, who were, of course, desirous of locating 
at the county seat. By 1783 the population of the place had so in- 
creased that George Hough and Alden Spooner felt assured of success 
b)' the establishment of a newspaper at Windsor, the Vennoiit Journal; 
and this paper, although it has experienced all the vicissitudes known to 
journalism, is still in existence as one of the enduring institutions of the 
region. In 1787 the independent State of Vermont, knowing the neces- 

40 



314 History of Windsor Countv. 

sity of having the means of ready communication between the more 
important points of the State, established therein several post-offices, 
one of which was at Windsor. 

But each of these, and other of the early institutions of the village, 
have been frequently and sufficiently alluded to in this and preceding 
chapters, therefore need no further presentation in these pages. With 
the close of the first score of years of the present century the village 
proper was estimated to contain a population of some five or six hundred 
souls, and had, besides, all the attributes and essential elements of a 
flouiishing municipality of the lesser class, there then being, according 
to a statement in the Vermont Journal of March 1 7, 1 823, " about eighty 
dwelling houses, mostly well built and commodious; and the shops, 
stores, etc., are many of them of brick, and large, so that the business 
part of the town has an air of dignity rarely met with in the country. 
Here are employed three physicians, eight attorneys, two printers, three 
booksellers, two book-binders, several merchants and druggists, three 
cabinet-makers, one chairmaker and painter, four boot and shoemakers, 
one hatter, one coach and chaisemaker, one wheelwright, two coopers, 
two tin-plate workers, one watchmaker, one jeweler, two tailors, one 
milliner and mantuamaker, two masons and brick-layers, one barber, 
one grist-mill, carding- machine and woolen manufactory." The churches 
then in the village are still here, with some added, as also may be said 
of other public buildings. But, while not wishing to invite comparison, 
let the citizen of Windsor of the present day look at the population, busi- 
ness enterprises, industries and other institutions of the place, compare 
records with the year 1823, and then observe how much Windsor is now 
in advance of the situation as it then existed. To be sure, in the south 
part of the village, along the stream Mill Brook, there stands a number 
of splendid, large buildings, but the noise of machinery is no longer 
heard in many, too many, of them; they are mostly but "wrecks of 
former greatness." And their idleness is not by any means the fault of 
the people of Windsor, nor of the people of the locality ; but it is the re- 
sult of over-production and the vast extent of competition noticeable in 
almost every branch of trade and manufacture in the land. And Wind- 
sor, being unfortunately remote from large manufacturing centers, hav- 
ing no advantage in the way of cheap labor, having no ready shipping 



Village of Windsor. 315 

facilities without unwarrantable expense, cannot compete with the vil- 
lages in the southern New England States, nor with those in the eastern 
and middle Atlantic States. Therefore her factories have become un- 
profitable and are no longer operated. 

Windsor became and was of the character of a village when, in 1786, 
or thereabouts, the inliabitants in meeting laid out the territory of the 
town into school districts, under which proceeding the lands here were 
formed into district number three. This was for school purposes only, 
but the name District No. 3 was destined to play a prominent part in 
the affairs of the subsequent village. It so happened that during the 
early years of the present century this locality suffered seriously from 
the ravages of fire, and the inhabitants were powerless to resist the de- 
struction. Therefore, that the proper measures might be taken to pro- 
vide means and apparatus for fighting fire, the people of the hamlet had 
recourse to the Legislature, with the result of an act of incorporation, 
by which it was declared " That the freeholders and inhabitants within 
the present bounds of the Third School District, in Windsor, in the 
county of Windsor, and their successors forever, are hereby constituted 
and appointed a body politic and corporate, in name and in fact, by the 
name of the WINDSOR Village Corporation ; and by that name 
shall be capable, in law, of suing and being sued, pleading and being 
impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending and being 
defended, in all courts and places whatever," etc. 

The same section and others subsequent provided for the property 
and government of the corporation, which was intended and understood 
as being a corporation for fire purposes only, but which was, in fact, a 
municipal corporation, with powers of electing officers and fully con- 
trolling the fire department. But the corporation was not clothed with 
the powers of government for all purposes, independent of the outside 
town, and from that body the village has never become entirely sepa- 
rate, although the act of 1884 increased the municipal power and regu- 
larly incorporated the village as such. The effect of the latter act was to 
permit the village to control itself, its schools, its highways, and its in- 
ternal institutions of every kind ; elect its own officers and make such 
improvements as the people were pleased to vote for ; but, at the same 
time, the village and town join in electing town officers. The electors 



3i6 HisTOKv OF Windsor County. 

of the village still retain the right to vote on town affairs in town and 
freemen's meetings, but the townspeople have not the right of a voice 
in village affairs. Under the corporate act of 1832 the power of the 
village was vested in its officers and nine fire wardens authorized to be 
elected, the wardens being the power, the legislative body of the mu- 
nicipality; but under the act of 1884 the wardens have charge exclu- 
sively of the affairs of the fire department, and are in control at times of 
fire, and the legislative power of the village is vested in the board of 
trustees, the latter having, with the corporation officers, supreme control 
of the municipality and its government. 

In January, 1833, the village of Windsor was organized agreeable to 
the provisions of the act of incorporation, and the officers chosen at that 
time were these: President, Thomas Emerson; vice-president, Ed- 
ward R. Campbell ; secretary, Charles Hopkins ; treasurer, Caleb Ken- 
dall ; collector, William Colston ; wardens, Allen Wardner, Samuel 
Patrick, William Tileston, Francis E. Phelps, Isaac W. Hubbard, Darius 
Jones, John P. Skinner, Shubael Wardner, and Albert G. Hatch. 

These officers of the fire corporation immediately caused to be fur- 
nished a complete outfit of fire apparatus and other needful equipments 
for the extinguishing of fires, and organized a trained fire department, 
and one that showed its efficiency on more than one occasion. The en- 
gine-house was erected on Main street, about midway between what is 
termed the north and south villages. The south part of the village was 
the manufacturing district, while the north part was more used for mer- 
cantile and dwelling purposes. And the old fire department continued 
an active and useful organization until within a couple of years, when the 
village purchased the water supply company's property and rights, and 
so increased the system in efficiencj' that the necessity of hand-engines 
was no longer required, and they were therefore replaced with hose 
companies ; and these, with the hook and ladder company, comprise 
what there is of the present village fire department. 

Schools. — Whatever of causes may have had the effect of changing 
the municipal character of the old Third School District, so far as per- 
tains to village corporations, none of these have ever caused the district 
to lose its identity for the purposes of schools, although the limits of the 
district may have been enlarged or curtailed agreeable to the wishes of 




G. A. Davis. 



Village of Windsor. 317 

the people. The old district was created by the committee appointed 
to divide the town about the year 1786, and soon after that time, but 
just when, from the loss of the records, we are unable to state, a school 
was built in the district, and at the village as the most central part. A 
fair description of the old building we have not, but it is known to have 
continued in use until about the year 1810, when, the village having 
become too large for the school to accommodate the pupils of the place, 
it was necessary to erect another and larger building. This matter was 
the subject of considerable discussion in the school meetings, and the 
result was that Luther Mills was chosen agent of the prudential com- 
mittee,' and of the district, to cause the new brick school-house to be 
erected. It was in time done, and stood on the site now occupied by 
the high school. The building was of brick, a plain though substan- 
tial structure, and cost the district something like twenty-five hundred 
dollars. Among the early teachers in the old brick school the names 
of some are disclosed by the records. In 181 1 Eunice Hawley taught 
there ; in 1S12, and for a number of years, Mary Robinson ; in 18 16, 
Dr. J. Forbes; in 1817, John Smith; 1818, Richard M. Ely ; 1820, 
Harriet Fox, Laura Craige, Lydia A. Spooner, Mr. Edgerton, and prob- 
ably others. 

In 1 841 the town district voted to lease the brick school to Sweet & 
Jackman for two years, and in 1843 extended the term for three years 
more. In 1847 ^^- Prouty kept singing school in the building, which 
some of the older citizens of the village will probably remember. In 1838 
it was found advisable to divide the schools of the district, that the 
younger pupils might be separated from the older. This led to the es- 
tablishment of what in later years has been known as the South Primary 
and the West Primary schools of the district, both of which are among 
the present institutions of the village. 

But, at last, the day of usefulness of the old brick school house was at 
an end. The village had become of sufficient importance to justify the 
erection of a larger and more pretentious school building ; one that would 
not only accommodate the probable school population for years to come, 
but one, as well, that would be an ornament and an honor to the place. 
During the early years of the present decade this subject was much dis- 
cussed, but it was not until the year 1885 that definite action was taken. 



History of Windsor County. 



At a meeting held October 6 a committee, consisting of Hiram Harlow, 
Dwight Tuxbury, L. W. Stocker, Rev. Edward N. Goddard, H. P. Mc- 
Clary, Mrs. Abbie Butler and Mrs. Mary L. Paine, was appointed for the 
purpose of erecting or causing to be erected a high school building, sub- 
stantially in conformity with plans then adopted, and as the building now 
appears. That this committee performed well their part is evidenced by 
the large and elegant structure that now adorns the " common." Its pro- 
portions and appearance are so well known as to need no description in 
these pages ; and it is a common remark that Windsor has a high school 
which is not inferior to any in the State, though there may be others of 
greater size. Its entire cost, including furnishings, was about $17,000. 
It was built during the year 1886. 

The re]iort of the district superintendent for the current year ending 
1789 shows the total expense of the district schools to have been $3,- 
754.42 ; that the attendance at the high school was 62 pupils ; the gram- 
mar, 59; intermediate, 81 ; Center Primary, 61 ; South Primary, 58 ; 
West Primary, 39. 

Village Water Supply. — For the purpose of supplying the village with 
pure and wholesome water a company was organized in pursuance of an 
act of the Legislature passed in 1 849. The name of the Windsor Aque- 
duct Company was adopted, and of it Roswell Smith was chosen presi- 
dent, and Samuel R. Stocker, secretary. The company at once com- 
menced operations by constructing a reservoir and stopping the water of 
a small mountain stream, a short distance west of the village ; and from 
the reservoir a main pipe was laid to the village, and thence distributed 
through the principal streets. Tlie first stream was found to afford an 
insufficient amount of water, to remedy which the company soon took 
measures to secure an additional supply from a reservoir on what was 
known as the Ely farm. 

In the year 1888 the village acquired the rights, property and inter- 
ests of the old company, and at once undertook and accomplished a com- 
plete re-organization of the whole system, under the immediate direction 
of commissioners appointed for the purpose. " The village voted to con- 
struct a distributing reservoir on the land of R. F. Ely, and also a stor- 
age reservoir on land of Thomas Sears, at the head of the Dudley Brook," 
from the combined capacity of which reservoirs an abundant supply of 



Village of Windsor. 319 

an excellent qaaiay is asauied. The work of the commissioners has been 
by no means confined to establishing a source of supply, for additional 
street mains have been laid in various localities, and fire hydrants placed 
at convenient points, so that not only an ample water supply is secured 
for domestic uses, but the heavy gravity pressure affords excellent pro- 
tection in cases of fire. The work of the commissioners is not yet wholly 
completed, although enough is already done to assure the people of 
the village of the wisdom of their course in acquiring the franchise 
and property of the old company and holding the plant as one of the in- 
stitutions of the corporation. The expense of the enterprise when com- 
pleted is estimated at something like thirty-five thousand dollars, possi- 
bly a little more. 

Tlie Tozvn Hall. — This building can hardly be considered as one of 
the public properties of the village, but it is within the corporation 
limits and was brought into existence largely through local influence and 
a tax upon local property. And, withal, it is an ornament to the place 
and a building to which the people may point with just pride. Prior to 
its erection the old court-house was made to answer the purpose of a 
town hall, besides beifig but to numerous other uses; but the old struct- 
ure was hardly a thing of beauty, nor was it suitable for the require- 
ments of the village and town. It was therefore sold and removed, and 
in its place was erected the town hall, — a beautiful structure, elegant 
in design and complete in finish. It is not over-large, nor yet too small ; 
admirably adapted for the uses of the town and village, and so arranged 
and provided as to afford an excellent hall for all classes of entertain- 
ment. The building rests upon a solid granite foundation, the latter in- 
closing a large, well ventilated and well lighted basement, while the 
superstructure is of brick with a slated roof. The rear portion of the 
basement is arranged admirably, and is used by the Windsor Library 
Association. The upper part is divided so that the town ofiicials have 
a convenient room for meetings, the room being thirteen by fourteen 
feet in size, while the general hall or auditorium is forty- five feet square, 
aud twenty-two feet in height. Besides, there is a spacious gallery at 
the west end, over the entrance. The stage is at the east end of the 
building, and is seventeen by twenty- two feet in size, with convenient 
rooms on either side. ^ 



320 History of Windsor County. 



As is indicated by a tablet in the entrance, the " W'indsorTown Hall " 
was built during the years 1881-82; building committee, Charles C. 
Beaman, jr., Hiram Harlow, Henry D. Stone, RoUin Amsden, Horace 
Weston ; architects, Appleton & Stephenson ; builder, Hira R. Beck- 
with. The building complete cost the town the sum of twelve thousand 
dollars. 

The Windsor Library Association. — This institution of Windsor was 
organized under the general laws of Vermont, in December, 1882. At 
that time the remnant of the former social library known as the Athe- 
naeum was about to be dissolved. This coming to the knowledge of Hon. 
William M. Evarts and C. C. Beaman, esq., these gentlemen proposed 
that a new library be organized, to which should be sold at a low price 
the old AthenzEum books; and thaf a starting subscription of $1,000 be 
raised in the town, to which they would add another $1,000; and would 
also meet a yearly subscription of $ioo with an equal sum, for five years. 
This generous proposal was accepted. The $2,ooo was provided ; the 
Athenaeum books were bought for $100. There were about 1,800 vol- 
umes, of which 1,110 were United States public documents, mostly of 
little value, though some of them were very desirable. The town offi- 
cers allowed the use of a large light basement in the town hall. The 
town meeting voted the association the tax allowed by law for public 
library purposes, which vote has been annually repeated, conditioned on 
tlie free use of the library to all Windsor people. 

On the 23d of June, 1883, the library was opened to the public, then 
having on its shelves 3,235 volumes, all of which have been catalogued 
on the plan of Dewey's Decimal Classification, the work being done by 
Rev. E. N. Goddard. From that time to the present the library has 
been increased continually, so that its present number of volumes reaches 
5,670. The rooms are open for loaning books on Wednesdays and Sat- 
urdays, in all seven hours a week. The number of volumes loaned has 
averaged 8,500 yearly, four- fifths of which are fiction and juveniles. In 
August, 1886, the trustees were advised that the late Hon. Hiram Har- 
low, then just deceased, had by his will bequeathed to the association, 
" for the purposes of said association," the sum of $20,000. Litigations 
and other complications of the estate have thus far prevented the trust- 
ees from receiving the benefits from this generous bequest. No ques- 





p 




Village of Windsor. 321 

tion is raised, however, of the vahdity of the bequest, so that it will 
eventually come to the association. 

The present officers of the association are as follows: President, Mil- 
ton K. Paine ; vice-president, W. H. Fullerton ; secretary and treasurer, 
Horace P. McClary ; trustees, C. C. Beaman, E. N. Goddard, Arthur 
W. Harris, Horace P. McClary, Marsh O. Perkins, Charles Tuxbury, 
Luther C. White; librarian, Edward N. Goddard; assistant librarian, 
Miss F, G. Tuxbury. 

The State Prison. — This is by no means an institution of the village 
or town, but of the State, and being located within the corporate limits 
of the village, requires at least a brief mention in these pages. Be it 
said, however, to the credit of this locality that the population of the 
prison has been augmented but very little by reason of convictions and 
commitments from Windsor county. 

The act under which the State prison was erected was passed on the 
3d of November, 1807, and by it Ezra Butler, Samuel Shaw, John 
Cameron, Josiah Wright and Elihu Luce were constituted a commission 
to select a site and superintend the erection of the prison building, for 
which work of construction the commission was authorized to draw 
against the State treasury not exceeding $30,000. Windsor was desig- 
nated as the location for the building, and work was at once commenced 
and so far completed during 1809 that convicts to the number of twenty- 
four were sent here. The original prison, thirty-six by eighty-four feet 
in size, was built wholly of stone, and is a part of what is now known as the 
east wing. In 1809 a workshop and keeper's residence were built; and 
subsequent to that year, there have twice been made extensive additions 
and enlargements, first in 1830, and again in 1882. As is the custom 
in many other States, so it is here, by which the services of the prisoners 
are sold to manufacturing contractors. In the Windsor prison Messrs. 
Brackett & Co. of Boston employ the prisoners, paying the State fifty 
cents per day for the work of each inmate. The prison, however, has 
not a sufficient convict population to perform all the work of manufact- 
ure carried on by the firm, and this has necessitated the erection, by 
the firm, of a large frame building adjoining the prison, in which is 
employed a number of persons from the village. The entire prison 
institution is under the superintending charge of Mr. E. W. Oaks. 

41 



322 History of Windsor County. 

The First Congregational Church of Windsor, or as more commonly 
known, The Old South Church, is by many years the senior of tiie re- 
ligious societies of the village, its organization and origin dating back to 
the j'ear 1768, at which time it was called the "Church of Cornish and 
Windsor." Of its early history the historical sketch published in the 
church manual says: "The Covenant was adopted at Windsor, Septem- 
ber 21, 1768, four years after the settlement of the town was commenced, 
and at Cornish one week later; at which time an Ecclesiastical Council 
publicly recognized the church according to Congregational usage, and 
installed Rev. James Wellman as its pastor. The church consisted of 
ten members, fourof wiiom were residents of Windsor" — (Israel Curtis, 
Ebenezer Hoisington, Joab Hoisington, Hezekiah Thompson). 

" It was arranged that the pastor should preach one-third part of the 
time in Windsor, and the remainder in Cornish. He received as a set- 
tlement two hundred acres of land, and his annual salary was forty 
pounds, in the currency of New Hampshire, one- third part of which was 
to be paid by the people of Windsor. To secure the payment of this 
sum a bond was given to the pastor, signed by the citizens of Windsor. 
The payment was to be made in October, eitlier in money or ' in Graine, 
or Pork, or Beef, or Day's Labor.' This engagement was to expire in 
five years. 

" On the third of April, 1774, eleven members of this ciiurch requested 
and received letters of dismission for llie purpose of forming a church in 
Windsor. Two of these were original members; the others had united 
with it subsequently. Soon afterward we find the church of Windsor in 
existence, but we have no record of its organization, and there is no 
evidence that a council was convened for that purpose. It is not 
improbable that it was assumed that the church of Cornish and Windsor 
had now become two distinct churches, and that no further organization 
was thought to be necessar}-." 

The year in which was erected the first church edifice, or meeting- 
house, for this county is not known ; neither does there appear to be any 
existing record to determine the time of building the first house of 
worship under authority of the town, which, whenever done, was 
probably in accordance with the then prevailing custom of building at 
the public e.xpense. The first church, however, is believed to have been 



Village of Windsor. 



323 



built prior to the year 1779. It was nearly square, with a pointed roof, 
and had no steeple. It was the only meeting-house in the East Parish 
for about twenty-five years. The present church building, that known 
as the Old South church, was erected in 1798, at an expense of about 
$5,000. In 1844 the building was substantially remodeled at an expense 
of about $3,000. Still further improvements, costing about $1,400, 
were made in 1852, among them the purchase of an organ for the church. 

The succession of pastors of the Congregational church has been as 
follows: James VVellman, David Tullar, Benjamin Bell, Bancroft Fowler, 
John Wheeler, George S. Wilson, Thomas Kidder, F"ranklin Butler, 
Ezra H. Byington, S. P. Cook, Rev. Searles, William Greenwood, S. S. 
Martyn, the latter being the present pastor. 

The First Baptist Church of Windsor. — The history of this church and 
its society carries back into the eighteenth century, having been organ- 
ized, according to best information obtainable, on the 3d of Decem- 
ber, 1785, by eleven persons who were members of the Woodstock Bap- 
tist Association, so called. But the society seems not to have acquired 
sufficient strength to build a church home before the year 1802, and this 
was u-ed by it until 1815, at which time the first building, a frame 
structure, was replaced by a more substantial one of brick, both being 
located on the General Forbes property, now a part of the Evarts prop- 
erty. But it appears that in 18 13, and the year following, the society 
of the Baptist church underwent a substantial and radical re-organization 
according to the society records, and the result was the signing by forty- 
two persons of articles of association, bearing date December 30, 1813, 
and taking the name, " First Baptist Society of the East Parish of Wind- 
sor." The society at this period became quite strong in point of mem- 
bers, so that the expense of the erection of the brick church was a burden 
easily borne. Its cost was nearly forty- four hundred dollars. The 
building committee was composed of Israel Tewksbury, Thomas Lever- 
ett and John C. Thompson. Rev. Leland Howard became first pastor 
of the new church in 18 16. Of the old church. Rev. Roswell Smith was 
first pastor. 

In 1874 the society built and occupied the handsome church edifice at 
the corner of Main and River streets, on land purchased from Dr. Edward 
Phelps. It cost $16,000. The new church was formally dedicated in 



324 History of Windsor County. 

July, 1874. Its seating capacity is about three hundred. The present 
pastor, Rev. William C. Carr, assumed charge as such on the first of June, 
1887. 

Sf. Paul's Church {Protestant Episcopal). — The records of the town 
clerk of Windsor preserve a copy of a certificate, or rather a letter, dated 
22d of August, 1785, in which the Rev. Ranna Cossitt, " clerk by virtue 
of my ecclesiastical office which I hold by lineal succession from our 
Lord Christ," appointed Alexander Parmalee to be warden of the Church 
of England for the towns of Windsor and Reading. There are also sev- 
eral certificates that certain persons named in them are members of the 
Church of England. These were given, it is presumed, to protect the 
holders from taxation for supporting a minister or preacher and build- 
ing a meeting-house at the general expense. 

The first point of history of the Protestant Episcopal church in Wind- 
sor, of which there appears a record, is that in September, 18 16, the 
biennial convention of the Eastern Diocese (including the whole of New 
England except Connecticut) was assembled here. Divine service was 
celebrated in the Baptist edifice, which then stood on what is a part of 
Senator Evarts's lawn, and the business sessions were held at Judge Hub- 
bard's residence. The acting members of tiie convention, representing 
the church in these five States, seem to have been eight besides Bishop 
Griswold. How the convention came to be here, where there was no 
church organization, rather than at Claremont, is not understood. 

Immediately after the close of this convention a correspondence was 
opened with the Rev. James Morss of Nevvburyport, Mass., by Mr. 
Thomas Thomas of Windsor, in behalf of himself and some of his fiiends, 
urging Mr. Morss to come to Windsor and inaugurate church work here, 
and make it his home. In response to these letters Mr. Morss did come 
and spend two Sundays, November 30 and December 6, 1816. During 
this time he baptized about thirty persons, celebrated the Holy Com- 
munion, and organized the [)arish of St. Paul's church, and arranged for 
continuing the services under the care of a lay-reader, Colonel Alexan- 
der Dunham. These services were had in the old court-house on Com- 
mon Hill, and the congregations assembled were large. 

The letters to Mr. Morss continued and urged his return, with sug- 
gestions that if he should do so they would be able to have Vermont 



Village of Windsor. 325 

and New Hampshire set off in a diocese by themselves, of which Mr. 
Morss would surely be the bishop. The letters contain curious notes of 
the " odium theologic7ti)i which the new movement experienced from their 
neighbors of the 'Standing Order' " as well as of the newly invented 
stoves, and the cost of living in Windsor, etc. Though Mr. Morss was 
not persuaded to move here, yet he did spend two more Sundays here 
in August, 1 8 17, strengthening and encouraging the new parish. 

The Rev. G. Leonard was made the first minister of the parish in the 
fall of 1817 or early in 181 8. During his ministry the church was built, 
and was consecrated by Bishop Griswold in November, 1822, and Mr. 
Leonard was formally instituted as its rector the next day The church 
is said to have cost about $7,000, a large part of which was contributed 
by the Hon. Jonathan H. Hubbard, who became the senior church 
warden and so continued to his death in 1848. Bishop Griswold, in his 
Episcopal address of the next year, on reporting the consecration of the 
church, adds : " We have rarely, if ever, seen more laudable efforts of 
pious liberality and united zeal than that which has added to the num- 
ber of our churches, this beautiful edifice." And it still remains a sub- 
stantial and venerable and respectable place of worship, though very 
plain and old fashioned. 

Mr. Leonard's rectorship extended to 1829, when he was succeeded 
by the Rev. W. Horton, since which time the succeeding rectors of St. 
Paul's have been as follows: W. Horton, 1829-35; Darius Barker, 
1836-38; O. H. Staples, 18J8-41 ; W. D. Wilson, 1842-45 ; O. H. 
Staples officiated occasionally in 1845-46; Josiah Perry, 1848-51; 
W. R. Johnson, 1851-55 ; T. L. Randolph, 1856-58 ; Malcolm Doug- 
lass, 1859-72; J. B. Trevett, 1872-74; T. J. Taylor, 1874-78; E. N. 
Goddard, 1879, and now the officiating rector of the church. 

St. Francis's Chiircli [Roman Catholic). — The first missionary labors 
among the Roman Catholic families of this locality are believed to have 
been begun by the Rev. Father Daly, of Boston, who visited here every 
four or five months, and in a regular way, some forty or more years ago. 
Succeeding Father Daly's visits. Rev. Charles O'Reilley came to the 
locality, and after him the Rev. Father Pigeon. The latter was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Daniel O'SuUivan, during whose ministry the parish 
w^as fully organized and St. Francis's church built, the latter in 1882. 



326 History of Windsor County. 



Rev. Patrick Cunningham next came to the pastorate, and was in turn 
succeeded by the first resident priest, Father Robert F. Higgins. Father 
Higgins died June 23, 1888. The next resident priest, the present in- 
cumbent, the Rev. Father William N. Lonergan, came to the parish 
January 20, 1888. 

Tliere was a time when th.e congregation of St. F"rancis's parish was 
as strong in numbers as any of the church societies of the town or vil- 
lage, for, when the cotton-mills were in operation, a very large part of 
the employees were Catholics ; but with the decline of manufacturing 
in the village these persons have many of them been compelled to seek 
employment in other places. Thus has the strength of the parish been 
greatly reduced. At present it numbers between one hundred and fifty 
and two hundred persons. 

All Souls Church. — Under the name just mentioned there was quite 
recently united the persons and families that formerly comprised the 
Unitarian and Universalist societies of the village and locality ; a union 
not of formal compact, but of common consent, and one organized upon 
a liberal basis of thought and action, for a conmion purpose — the spir- 
itual and moral welfare of all interested persons. It so happens that 
the more recent ofificiating ministers of this society and church have 
been Unitarians, but the services can be, and have been, so ordered as 
to be wholly acceptable to those who were formerly identified with what 
was known as the Universalist society. And the church building, too, 
which was erected in 1847 ('' still earlier one having been built in 1838), 
is the property of the Unitarian Association of Boston, having become 
so by transfer from the local societj- t .at was too few in point of num- 
bers to maintain and support it and its minister. And the association 
also makes an annual donation of $350 for the support of services in the 
church, the balance of expense being borne by the resident congrega- 
tion. The present officiating minister is Rev. Joseph Wassail, who, in 
addition to his regular pastoral duties, also acts as chaplain at the State 
prison. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church and society of Windsor was formed 
on April 25, 1870, and placed under the pastoral charge of Rev. David 
Megahy ; and although the society at one time numbered one hundred 
members, it has never been strong enough to build a house of worship, 



Village of Windsor. 327 

but holds meetings in halls and such other places as can best be secured. 
For a time the society leased and occupied the Unitarian church 
building. 

Banking Institutions of JVindsor. — " In 18 16," says Zadock Thomp- 
son's "Gazetteer," "applications were made from Burlington and Windsor 
for the incorporation of a bank in each of those towns. After consider- 
able discussion the matter was referred to the ne.xt session of the Legis- 
lature. At the session in 1817 the subject was called up and an act 
passed incorporating a bank at Windsor ; but for some reason it did not 
go into operation, and at the session ol the Legislature in 1818 a new 
act of incorporation was obtained for a bank in Windsor, and a bank 
was also incorporated in Burlington. The Bank of Windsor became in- 
solvent and failed." 

The foregoing extract refers to what was known in local banking cir- 
cles as the old Windsor Bank, which is understood as having continued 
in business until the year 1838, or about that time, before its affairs were 
finally wound up by the insolvency of the concern. Then for a period 
of nearly ten years Windsor had no banking institution of any kind, but 
in 1847 the Ascutney Bank was charted, with a capital stock of $50,000, 
and opened its doors for business early in 1848. Allen Wardner was 
president, and Jason Steele, cashier. The Ascutney Bank continued in 
operation, with a fair degree of success, until after the passage of the 
National banking act, when, in 1865, its officers at once accepted the 
provisions of the law, and procured for it an act of incorporation, under 
the style of The Ascutney National Bank of Windsor, with a capital 
stock of $100,000. 

The Ascutney National Bank was in all respects a profitable concern, 
and succeeded, by the year 1881, in piling up as surplus the splendid 
sum of $70,000, and that after paying large semi-annual dividends. But 
the bank never lived out the term of its charter ; and why, there appears 
to be no satisfactory explanation, unless it was that the stockholders 
were anxious to divide the accumulated surplus. However this may be 
is not a matter of much concern ; sufficient it is to say that the bank 
went into voluntary liquidation during the latter part of 1881. 

TAe Windsor National Bank was incorporated under the provisions 
of the National banking act, in the month of September, 1884. Its 



328 History of Windsor County. 

capital stock is $I00,000. There has been but little change in the offi- 
cers or board of directors of the bank since its organization. On the 
death of Hiram Harlow, the first president, Ripley Clark, the then vice- 
president, was advanced to the vacancy, and the vice-presidency was 
filled by the election of H. P. McClary. L C. White succeeded at the 
same time to the vacancy in the board of directors. 

Although having been doing business only five years, the Windsor 
Bank has been a reasonably successful institution, from a financial stand- 
point, and now has an accumulated surplus of $3,600. The present 
officers are these : President, Ripley Clark; vice-president, H. P. Mc- 
Clary; cashier, J. S. Walker, jr. ; directors, H. P. McClar\', Ripley Clark, 
RoUin Amsden, Alvin Weston, John S. Walker, S. N. Stone, and L. C. 
White. 

The Windsor Satnngs Bank. — This institution was incorporated by 
the Legislature of Vermont on the 13th of November, 1847, ^^'^ opened 
its doors for business in January, 1848 ; first in a building on Main street, 
which is not now in existence, but was moved some years ago to the 
present location on State street, the building and property belonging to 
the bank. The first officers of the Savings Bank were Sluibael W'ardner, 
president; Israel Hall, first vice president; S. H. Price, treasurer. 

The bank now shows a total deposit account of about $640,000, and 
has an accumulated surplus of $27,000. The rate of interest on paid de- 
posits is liable to vary, according to circumstances, but it averages about 
four and one- half per cent. The present officers are as follows: Henry 
D. Stone, president ; CD Penniman, first vice-president ; L C.White, 
treasurer; Alfred Hall, T. B. Winn, Henry D. Stone, Harvey Miller, 
Charles Stone, C. D. Penniman, E. C. Howard, E. W. Oaks and L. C. 
White, trustees. 

Manufacturing Interests. — There was a time in the history of this lo- 
cality when Windsor enjoyed the honor of being one of the manufactur- 
ing centers of Vermont, but that time is now passed, and of the extensive 
industries that formerly had their place here but half a dozen, perhaps 
less, remain ; and where once were employed hundreds of men and 
women, there stand idle factory buildings; the employees now engaged 
in the manufactories of the village may almost be counted on one's fin- 
gers. The waters of Mill Brook have furnished the capitalists of this 




Z'' 






Village of Windsor. 329 

locality with one of the best and most powerful privileges in the county, 
but even that stream w,is taxed beyond its capacity by the press of 
factory enterprises thirty and less years ago, and steam-power was in- 
troduced into many of the buildings that continuous labor might not be 
retarded. The lower village of Windsor owed its existence to the manu- 
factories built up along the brook, but with the decline of industries 
there has been a corresponding loss of population in the locality. 

There undoubtedly still live in the village some persons who remem- 
ber the organization and incorporation of the Windsor Manufacturing 
Company, which occurred in November, 1823, and of which Jonathan 
H. Hubbard was an active member. Tlien there was the old Windsor 
Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company that was brought into ex- 
istence by an act of the Legislature passed October 30, 1828, and of 
which Abner Forbes, Jonathan H. Hubbard, Allen Wardner, and E. R. 
Campbell were proprietors. And another of the old industries of the 
village was the Windsor Car and Rifle Company, afterwaids known as 
the Robbins & Lawrence Company, the originators of the former being 
Samuel E. Robbins, Richard S. Lawrence, Shubael Wardner, Joseph D. 
Hatch, and Warren Currier. The first named company was incorpo- 
rated November 7, 1849, and its name changed to the Robbins & Law- 
rence Company November 6, 1850. This whole enterprise had its ori- 
gin in the industry established in 1845 by the firm of Robbins, Kendall 
& Lawrence, for the manufacture of fire arms. But in 1859, in the vain 
attempt to enlarge the works and extent of manufacture, the company 
met with serious reverses and failed. 

In 1856 the plant passed by purchase to Lamson, Goodnow & Yale, 
who, about the time of the outbreak of the Rebellion, resumed the manu- 
facture of fire-arms, which business was carried on actively and with suc- 
cess. In 1870 Jones, Lamson & Co. took the main building, put in new 
machinery, and commenced manufacturing cotton sheetings and other 
fabrics of cotton. The business of this firm was very extensive, furnish- 
ing employment to some four hundred persons; but, finally, reverses 
came, the business was no longer profitable, the firm suspended, and the 
machinery was sold and moved out of the village. The machine shops 
of Jones, Lamson & Co. were transferred to the Jones & Lamson Ma- 
chine Company, and were continued some time longer. However, in 

42 



330 History of Windsor County. 



1888, some of the former employees of the shops, with the assistance of 
tlie local capitalists, organized the Windsor Machine Company, by which 
latter the business is at present conducted. 

Another of the operating industries of the village is that owned by 
George W. Hubbard and Horace P. McCIary, the firm being Hubbard 
& McClary, and their manufactures, novelties, principal among which 
are glazers and drivers. The firm was established and commenced 
business in 1877. 

Atwood & Sons is the name of a firm that occupies the old Lamson 
& Co. fork shop, and which is engaged in the manufacture of chair 
stock. The old village grist-mill is still in operation, the property being 
owned by the Harlow estate, and managed by William Tandy. These 
that have been mentioned, together with the shoe manufacturing indus- 
try conducted by Bracket! & Co. at the prison site, comprise substan- 
tially all there is of the manufactures of Windsor of the present day. 

Masonic Societies. — Vermont Lodge, No. 18, F. and A. AT., was organ- 
ized under a charter of date January lo, 1850^ It has now a member- 
ship of I 50 persons, and was officered in 1 889 as follows : Daniel Payson, 
W. M.; Deane Richmond, S. W.; George S. Blake, J. W.; Henry S. 
Williams, treasurer; J. C. Enright, secretary; J. Russell Brewster, S. D.; 
Charles E. Hoffman, J. D.; James Wassail, chaplain ; B. James Mullins, 
marshal; Frank E. Willis and Francis E. Monroe, stewards; Seymour S. 
Ashley, tyler. Regular meetings are held on each first Tuesday of the 
month. 

Windsor Chapter, No. 6, R. A. M., was chartered August 14, 1851, 
and the charter members were as follows : Oliver C. Baker, William C. 
Dodge, Charles E. Colston, Calvin Spaulding, Seth Johnson, Josiah 
Perry, I. W. Hubbard, Jonathan Wood, Thomas Hammond, Charles 
Muns. The chapter has a present membership of 13 i, and was officered 
for the year 1889 as follows: J. S. Fairman, H. P.; W. H. Fullerton, 
king; J. R. Brewster, scribe; G. E. Williams, secretary and treasurer; 
C. H. Ingalls, C. of H.; W. W. Jones, R S.; C. E. Hoffman, R. A. 
captain ; George H. Sisson, M. 3d V.; F. F. Munroe, M. 2d V.; W. H. 
Bradley, M. ist V.; L. C Parkhurst, chaplain; S. S. Ashley, tyler. 

Windsor Council, No. 8, R. and S. Masons, was originated at Hart- 
land, but the main seat of the organization was subsequently moved to 
Windsor. The charter was dated March 17, 1856, and the original per- 



Village of Windsor. 331 



sons to whom it was granted were as follows : O. G. Woodbury, thrice 
illustrious G. M.; Samuel J. Allen, I. D. G. M.; Lewis Emmons, prin- 
cipal conductor. 

The present number of members is eighty- one, and the officers are as 
follows: J. R. Brewster, T. I. G. M.; W. H. Fullerton, Dep. M.; L. C. 
Parkhurst, P. C. of W.; G. E. Williams, treasurer and recorder; Daniel 
Payson, C. of G.; H. Gilchrist, conductor of council ; S. R. Bryant, 
marshal; Deane Richmond, steward; S. S. Ashley, sentinel. 

Vermont Commandery, No. 4, K. T., was chartered January 13, 1857. 
The membership of this organization numbers 130, and was officered for 
the year 1889 as follows: Sir Marsh O. Perkins, E. C; Sir H. S. Will- 
iams, generalissimo; W. H. Fullerton, C. G.; John H. Humphreys, P.; 
Daniel Payson, S. W.; Deane Richmond, J.W.; Geo. E. Williams, treas- 
urer ; Joseph C. Enright, recorder; Samuel Putnam, standard bearer; 
Charles 11. Ingalls, sword bearer; Stanley Bryant, warder; Joseph S. 
F"airman, J. Russell Brewster and Edgar H. Austin, captains of guard; 
Seymour S. Ashley, sentinel. 

Windsor Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. Rite, was chartered August 18, 
1875. Its present membership numbers eighty-one persons. Stated 
meetings are held the last P>iday of July, October, January and April. 
Present officers : John H. Humphreys, T. P. G. M.; Orlando N. Logan, 
H. of T. D. G. M.; Hugh Gilchrist, V. S. G. W ; George F. Flanders, 
V. J. G. W.; J. S. Fairman, grand orator; James H. Kinirj', G. K. S.; 
Milton K. Paine, grand treasurer; Marsh O. Perkins, grand secretary; 
J. Russell Brewster, G. M. of C.; William W. Jones, G. C. of G.; S. S. 
Ashley, grand tyler. Past T. P. G. Masters, Milton K. Paine, Marsh O. 
Perkins, Charles J. Jones. 

Ascutney Cliapter, No. 2,0. E. S., has a membership of sixty-four, and 
is officered as follows : L. C. Parkhurst, worthy patron; Mrs. H. Mc- 
Cormick, worthy matron ; Mrs. Jane P. Palmer, assistant matron ; Mrs. 
P. K. Whitney, treasurer; W. W. Jones, secretary ; Mrs. W. W. Jones, 
conductress; Mrs. F. F. Munroe, assistant conductress ; H. McCormick, 
warder ; S. S. Ashley, sentinel ; Mrs. Emma Veasey, Ada ; Myrtie 
Hoffman, Ruth; Mrs. L. C. Parkhurst, Esther; Lizzie Chadbourne, 
Martha ; Mrs. J. C. Smith, Electa. 



S32 History of Windsor County. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF H.A.RTFORD. 

HARTFORD is one of the few exceptional towns of the count)' of 
Windsor; and exceptional in this particular: it is one of the very 
few towns in the locality that has shown an uninterrupted and continu- 
ous advancement in population, enterprise and development from the 
time of its first occupation and settlement to the present. This condi- 
tion does not arise from the fact that the town has a location in the 
county specially superior to a number of others, nor are its farming 
lands of any better quality than can be found in a number of the in- 
terior towns and some on the river ; but there has ever been shown on 
the part of the people of Hartford a spirit of enterprise, a spirit of 
progress, of which the majority of the towns cannot boast nor lay claim 
to possessing. 

At the same time Hartford does enjoy advantages of situation not 
possessed by some others of the county's sub-divisions, and this has 
been and still is an important factor in contributing to the building up 
and maintaining the large population and important industries with 
which the town is supplied. And the splendid water-courses — the Con- 
necticut, Otta Ouechee and White Rivers — are auxiliaries that, too, have 
materially contributed to the town's wealth of resources, and brought 
affluence to the citizens in every quarter. All these elements combined 
have placed Hartford in the front rank of Windsor county's towns. 
How could it well be otherwise, with these streams crossing or border- 
ing on the town ? The Connecticut River forms the eastern boundary ; 
the White River enters at the northwest corner, flows thence southeast 
and east and discharges into the Connecticut at White River Junction ; 
and the Otta Quechee, or more commonly called Quechee, enters at the 
southwest corner, and thence flows an exceedingly tortuous course, 
draining the entire southwest section of the town, and finally leaves the 
same about midway the south town boundary. No town in the whole 
county, or even the State, possesses natural water privileges superior to 
Hartford, and but few, if any, utilize these resources to a greater e.vtent 
or with better results. 



,s^^^ 



^' < 





i/cy^^ 



Town of Hartford, 333 



And no town in eastern Vermont has better or greater railroad facili- 
ties than has Hartford ; and to state that this has not been an element 
of prosperity in the town would indeed be an error. From White River 
Junction direct and speedy communication is had in every direction — 
north, south, east and west. This village is joined with the county seat 
by means of the Woodstock Railroad, and the Central Vermont likewise 
connects it with the State capital, Burlington and Lake Champlain In 
the same manner, and by other railroads, the large cities of southern New 
England are reached, while northern and eastern routes and connections 
reach to northern Vermont, Canada and New Hampshire. In the light 
of all these facts it cannot be a thing surprising that the population of 
Hartford should increase from nine hundred and ninety-eight, as shown 
by the census of 1791, to twenty-nine hundred and fifty-four, according 
to the census of 1880. 

Hartford was chartered in 1761. Ten years later, in 1771, under the 
authority of the province of New York, as a part of her claimed jurisdic- 
tional authority, a census enumeration of inhabitants was made by which 
this town was found to contain 190 souls. In 17-^1, the time of taking 
the first authorized census in the State, Hartford had a population of 
988 ; and from that time forth each succeeding enumeration has shown 
as follows : In 1800, 1,494; 1810, 1,881; 1820, 2,010; 1830, 2,044; 
1840, 2,194; 1850, 2,159; i860, 2,396; 1870,2,480; 1880,2,954. 
Allowing the subsequent population to have increased in the same ratio 
as shown during the last thirty years, it is safe to estimate that Hartford 
has a present population of from thirty- five to thirty-eight hundred. A 
glance at the census compilations of Vermont will show but few cases 
parallel with this. 

The town of Hartford is one of the few of the counties to enjoy the 
benefits and advantages of a thoroughly written histor)' of its events in 
detail and at full length, and by a writer well prepared and equipped for 
that duty. In this volume, therefore, it will not be necessary, nor would 
it be expedient, to furnish more than a synopsis of the events of the 
town's history, for the reason that the people of Hartford can find no new 
historical facts recorded here, and the great majority of the readers of 
this work, who live in other towns than Hartford, would hardly be ex- 
pected to find much interest in the minute detail of the history of a town, 
other than their own. 



334 History op' Windsor County. 

Of the several towns that now form a part of Windsor county, Hart- 
ford was the second to be chartered under the authority of New Hamp- 
shire, the only previously granted town being Hamstead (now Chester), 
tiie original charter for which was made in 1754, about seven years ahead 
of Hartford. This town, Hartford, was brought into existence on the 
4th day of July, 1761, by a charter executed by Governor Benning Went- 
worth of the province of New Hampshire, to sixty-two proprietors, and 
the lands divided into sixty-eight shares. The conditions and provisions 
of the charter were substantially the same as those by which a majority 
of Governor Wentworth's grants of land west of the Connecticut were 
made ; but some of the conditions are of sufficient interest and import- 
ance to demand some comment or a reproduction in these pages, and are 
as follows : 

That every grantee, his heirs and assigns, shall plant and cultivate five 
acres of land within the term of five years, for every fifty acres contained 
in his share, and shall continue to cultivate and improve the same under 
a penalty of the forfeiture of his grant. The second provision had rela- 
tion to the preservation of all the white and other pine trees on the land 
of the town for use of masting the king's royal navy ; and any violation 
of this provision rendered the person so cutting or destroying the timber 
or trees so reserved amenable to any laws which Parliament might pre- 
scribe, together with a forfeiture of the destroyer's rights. The fourth 
and fifth conditions of the charter provideii for the annual payment of 
the proverbial ear of Indian corn, and the shilling of proclamation money 
if iawlully demanded. 

In addition to the conditions of the charter were the usual other res- 
ervations of " rights " and shares for various purposes — one share 
for the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts; 
one share lor a glebe for the Church of England, as by law established ; 
two shares for his excellency the governor ; one share for the first settled 
minister of the gospjl in the town ; and one share for the benefit of a 
school in the town. 

Thus vested with the rightful ownership and proprietary control of the 
town of Hartford (for it was so named in the charter) were the grant- 
ees named therein, the recipients of the worthy governor of New Hamp- 
shire province. For more than a year prior to the date of this charter 



Town of Hartford. 335 

Governor Wentuorth had made no grants or charters of towns on what 
was known as the New Hampshire Grants, the last preceding having 
been made January 8, 1760, by wiiich the town of Pownal was created. 
In the order of their granting Hartford was the eighteenth of those of 
the entire district. 

No sooner had the proprietors become fully vested with authority 
over their town than they began to bestir themselves in the preliminary 
arrangements necessary to be completed before the town was ready for 
occupancy. To this end a proprietors' meeting was warned to be held 
at Windham, in the colony of Connecticut, on the 20th of August, 1761 ; 
which warning being duly published, the meeting was convened at the 
time and place stated above. The charter had provided for the meeting 
and had also designated John Baldwin as its moderator. The proprie- 
tors chose Prince Tracy proprietors' clerk and treasurer; and further, 
voted that the selectmen. "William Clark, Prince Tracy and John Bald- 
win, be the assessors for the proprietors"; also, chose Major Joseph 
Blanchard, Silas Phelps and Moses Hebard collectors of taxes ; also 
voted that they will choose "a committee to go and view said town, and 
lay the first division of land to each proprietor by lot, and that said 
committee shall consist of six men to be chosen for that purpose." This 
committee comprised " Captain William Clark, Lieutenant Prince Tracy, 
Silas Phelps, James Flint, Benjamin Wright and Elijah Bingham, who 
were directed to go and view the said town and lay out a town plot, or 
the land ordered in the charter to be laid out for town lots, and also to 
lay out convenient roads, or highways, so wide as said committee shall 
judge convenient, and so many as they shall judge necessary for the 
present use of said town ; then to proceed to lay out as many lots as 
there is (are) proprietors or equal shares, the least of which to contain 
fifty acres, and so to enlarge the quantity so as to make them as equal 
as they can ; having regard to the quality and situation of the land, and 
make a proper plan of their doings on good parchment, with the quan- 
tity, description and number of each lot therein contained." After vot- 
ing a tax of twenty shillings against each proprietor, lo pay the charges 
of the committee, the meeting was adjourned to meet again on the third 
Tuesday (17th) of November, 1 76 1. 

Without referring at any length 10 the proceedings of the committee 



336 History of Windsor County. 

charged with the duty of laying out the lots and lands, suffice it to say 
that the division was made and the shares awarded by lot, at a subse- 
quent proprietors' meeting. The lands of the town parceled out by this 
division amounted to slightly more than thirty-three hundred acres, 
whereas tlietown contained an aggregate of twenty- seven thousand acres; 
but subsequent divisions and allotments were made from time to time 
until the whole territory of the town was allotted. Proprietors' meetings, 
as distinct from town or freemen's meetings, continued to be held until 
well along into the first quarter of the present century ; but at a meet- 
ing held in Windham, Connecticut, on March 19, 1765, the proprietors 
voted to hold their future meetings in the town of Hartford, this town, 
in accordance with a request made by the settlers therein. This was a 
right to which the settlers became entitled at that time, by virtue of there 
being a sufficient number of them in the town to own or represent one- 
sixteenth part of the grantees under the charter of the town. 

It seems to be a generally conceded fact that the first settler to make 
his abode within the limits of this town was Benjamin Wright, and that 
he came to the locality during the year 1763. This question was the 
subject of considerable discussion at one time, but the patient research 
of a recent historian seems to have established the fact, beyond reasonable 
doubt, that to Benjamin Wright must be accorded the honor of having 
been the pioneer of Hartford. The same writer was at one time con- 
fronted with a statement purporting to be a jiart of a request of certain 
of the pioprietors of the town upon the authorities of New York for the 
purpose of acquiring a charter of Hartford's lands from that province; 
and it was stated in that document that during the summer of 1763 there 
were ten persons who entered and labored in the town ; and that " in 
the year 1761 there were four persons (who) have moved on the said 
town with their families, and there dwelt ever since. And the said ten 
continue to improve the said second summer ; and others did enter on; 
and this present spring the men have gone on to improve, and about 
ten others intend to go immediately." This petition, however, contained 
so much that was known to be untrue that the whole of it is considered 
a "delusion and a snare," and absolutely discredited. 

But Benjamin Wright did not long remain the sole occupant of the 
town, for during the ne.xt year other settlers came to the locality, who 




A 




>//'? ^/^ ^C /^/'^^^'V/ 



Town of Hartford. 



337 



with their famiUes are also entitled to the distinction of being called 
pioneers. Those of 1763 were Solomon Strong, Elijah Strong, Benajah 
Strong, Jonathan Marsh and Noah Dewey. It was upon the application 
of these settlers and Benjamin Wright that the New Hampshire justice 
called the meeting of proprietors, in December, 1764, in the town of 
Hartford, the first assemblage of that body in the town. From the 
proceedings of that meeting it is fair to assume that these men and their 
families comprised the whole colony of pioneers in the town, for no new 
names appear among the officers then chosen, and only one, Benjamin 
Wright, appears not to have been elevated to any office, while some 
were called upon to fill more than one position. This meeting was held 
at the house of Solomon Strong, on the 3d of December, 1764, and the 
officers elected were as follows : Moderator, Noah Dewey ; proprietors' 
clerk, Elijah Strong ; proprietors' treasurer, Solomon Strong ; collector, 
Elijah Strong ; proprietors' committee, Noah Dewey, Benajah Strong, 
Solomon Strong, Elijah Strong, Jonathan Marsh. 

Again, and in order to bring to the attention of the reader the names 
of as many as possible of those who were connected with the affairs of 
the town during the pioneerhood, the following extracts arc taken from 
the ancient proprietors' records : Israel Gillett, John Gillett and Joshua 
Hazen were chosen (November 2d, 1772) a committee to size the fifty 
acre lots. On November 22, 1773, Abel Marsh, Joel Marsh and Amos 
Robinson were chosen " a committee to lay out in lots that body of pine 
land that laid near the ' Pine Meadows,' one lot to each right." April 
18, 1774, Captain Joseph Marsh chosen moderator of proprietors' meet- 
ing ; and Captain Joseph Marsh, Stephen Tilden and Elisha Marsh chosen 
a committee to settle the line between Hartford and Hertford (Hart- 
land). Meeting in November, 1776: " Voted to accept the return of 
pitches of acre lots made by Richard Hazen, Israel Gillett, Michael 
Clark, John Bennett, jr., Beckett Chapman, Joshua Hazen, Benjamin 
Wright, Joshua Gillett, Shephen Chapman, Stephen Tilden and Simon 
Chapman." 

The reader will of course understand that the foregoing extracts are 

taken from the proprietors' proceedings, and cannot be presumed to have 

any direct relation to the proceedings of the freemen at the regular or 

customary town meetings, which were entirely separate and distinct from 

43 



338 History of Windsor County. 

the above. It has been generally understood, and so presented by past 
writers, that. the organization of Hartford was not effected prior to tlie 
year 1768, but it has remained for Mr. William H. Tucker to correct this 
error, and, at the same time, to bring to the town of Hartford the dis- 
tinction of having the first regular town organization of any of the civil 
districts on the New Hampshire Grants, Bennington, the first chartered 
town on the grants, not excepted. Had it been the custom of the pro- 
prietors to organize the town at or about the time they organized 
their own special body, there would, perhaps, have been nothing singu- 
lar or remarkable in this early town organization of Hartford ; but, gen- 
erally, and almost invariably, the town organization was not effected 
until some years after the proprietors' proceedings had been in progress, 
and until after the town itself had a sufficient population to justify in- 
ternal municipal organization. 

Thus it was a fact that the town organization of Hartford was effected 
before the town itself had a single rightful occupant; and this proceed- 
ing was had, not within the town, or on the " grants," but in the prov- 
ince of Connecticut, on the 26th of August, 1761, on the occasion of 
the first proprietors' meeting. Of the proceedings relating to the sub- 
ject, and the officers chosen at the time, the record says : " At a town 
meeting of the proprietors of the town of Hartford, in the province of 
New Hampshire, legally warned and holden at Windham, in the colony 
of Connecticut, August the 26th, 1761, pursuant to a charter of said 
town, dated July the 14th, 1761. In said charter IVIr. John Baldwin wa^ 
appointed moderator of said meeting. At the said meeting chosen 
Prince Tracy, town clerk; chosen Captain William Clark, Prince Tracy, 
and Mr. John Baldwin, selectmen for said town ; chosen Prince Tracy, 
town treasurer." 

Had this been the only organizing or preliminary proceeding on the 
part of the proprietors it might easily be construed into a regular pro- 
prietors' meeting and not intended to be a town organization within 
the usual meaning of the term. But it appears, and the fact was, that 
the proprietors conducted two separate proceedings, and made entries in 
separate books, the one entitled " a book of town votes for the town of 
Hartford, in the province of New Hampshire," and the other entitled 
" Proprietors' Record." 



Town of Hartford. 



339 



The next meeting at which town officers were chosen was held on the 
9th of March, 1762, at which time these officers were elected : Modera- 
tor, Elijah Brigham ; town clerk, Prince Tracy ; selectmen, Samuel Will- 
iams, Prince Tracy and James Flint. 

Officers elected in March, 1763: Moderator, William Clark; town 
clerk. Prince Tracy ; selectmen. Prince Tracy, William Clark and Sam- 
uel Teriy. At this meeting it was voted " That for the future a warning 
in writing under the iiands of the selectmen of said town, set upon the 
sign-posts in the towns of Windham and Lebanon, in the colony of Con- 
necticut, ten days before any town meeting, appointing time, place and 
business of such meeting, shall be a warning to hold such meeting upon, 
until such town shall agree otherwise." 

The records relating to the next meeting state : At a town meeting of 
proprietors of the town of Hartford in the province of New Hampshire, 
legally warned and holden at Windham, in the colony of Connecticut, 
March the 13th, 1764, for the electing of town officers. The officers 
chosen were : Moderator, Jonathan Marsh ; town clerk. Prince Tracy ; 
selectmen, Elijah Strong, Jonathan Marsh and Prince Tracy ; constable, 
John Bennett; surveyor of highways, Benjamin Wright. 

The ne.xt town meeting was held March I2th, 1765, and these officers 
were chosen : Moderator, Jonathan Marsh ; town clerk, Benajah Strong; 
selectmen, Elijah Strong, Solomon Strong and Benjamin Wright; con- 
stable, John Bennett ; surveyor of highways, Ebenezer Gillett. " Voted, 
that for the future the town meeting shall be held by the inhabitants of 
said Hartford, zvitldn said toiun, and that a warning in writing under 
the hands of the selectmen of said town, appointing time, place and busi- 
ness of such meetings set up in said town on the sign-post or some 
other public place six days before said meeting, shall be a legal warn- 
ing for to hold such meeting, until the town shall agree otherwise." 

The result, of course, of this " vote " was a transfer of the " town meet, 
ings " from Connecticut to the territory of this town, and they were 
subsequently, and for all time, held here. But, unfortunately, Benajah 
Strong, the worthy successor in the clerkship to Prince Tracy, did not 
exercise much care in keeping the records of the town meetings during 
the period of his incumbency, and from this neglect or omission we cannot 
give the names of the first town officers elected at a meeting held, or 



340 History of Windsor County. 



that should have been held, in the town in March, 1766 and 1767. But 
Benajah Strong was succeeded in the clerkship by Elijah Stronjj, prob- 
ably in Marcli, 1768, and the latter made the proper entries in the town 
meeting books in due form and order. 

The omission to enter the names of officers elected in 1766, and the 
succeeding year, together with the oversight on the part of most writers, 
was tile same that led to the understanding that the town organization 
of Hartford was not effected before the year 1768 ; and this might have 
been natural enough, for the records show only that the first town meet- 
ing held in the town was that recorded for the year named, while in fact 
the original meeting occurred in 1761, in Connecticut, and subsequently 
was held there until 1765, and then transferred to the town, the first to 
be held therein in 1766, of which there is no record. 

The minute book for the year 1768 shows as follovv.s : At a town 
meeting warned and holden by the proprietors of the town of Hartford, 
March the 8th, A. D. 1768. Chosen, Benjamin Wright, moderator; 
Elijah Strong, town clerk; Christopher Pease, Solomon Strong and 
John Marsh, selectmen; Daniel Pinneo, constable; Abel Marsh and 
Solomon Strong, surveyors of highways ; Abel Marsh and Elijah Strong, 
tithingmen; John Marsh and Benjamin Wright, " Dear Reafs." 

In 1769 John Strong was elected clerk. The proceedings of the 
meeting held that year, on account of their unique grammatical and or- 
thographical construction, are copied literally : 

" Att a town meting Legally warned anJ Holden. Chosen Mr. John 
Marsh Moderator. Chosen John Strong Town Clerk. Chosen Christifer 
Peas John Marsh Israel Gillett Select Men. Chosen Liomy Udall Con- 
stable, Elezur Robenson Benjamen Burch (Burk) Benjah Strong survaors 
of the hiway, William Bramble John Bennet, Granjury men. 

" Voted to Bild a Brig over warter quechy river nere the sawmill and 
do it as hiway work, and voted that Abil Marsh should be oversere 
about giting the timber and bulding said Brj'ge." 

The town officers for the next year, 1770, were as follows : Moderator, 
John Marsh ; town clerk, John Strong ; selectmen, John Marsh, Christo- 
pher Pease and Elijah Strong ; constable, Eleazer Robinson ; surveyors 
of highways, Daniel Pinneo and John Marsh; tithingmen, David Bliss 
and William Bramble. 



Town of Hartford. 341 



Extracts from minutes of town meeting, March 12, 1771 : Abel 
Marsh, moderator ; John Strong, town clerl< ; Israel Gillett, Abel Marsh 
and Lionel Udall, selectmen ; Eleazer Robinson and Thomas Wood- 
ward, constables ; Thomas Savage, Thomas Miner, Henry Woodward 
aud Lionel Udall, surveyors of highways ; John Strong, Abel Marsh 
and Lionel Udall, " comite (committee) for to lay out an alter highways 
where theay (they) are wanted in said town of Hartford." 

At a town meeting legally warned and holden on the loth day of 
March, 1772, at the dwelling house of Elijah Strong, in Hartford, in the 
'^ county of Cunibcrland and province of Neiv York." Officers: Daniel 
Pinneo, moderator; John Strong, town clerk; Daniel Pinneo, Lionel 
Udall and Elislia Marsh, towns men (selectmen) ; Daniel Pinneo and 
William Bramble, constables; John Strong, Daniel Pinneo and Benja- 
min Burch, commissioners of highways ; Israel Gillett, Daniel Pinneo, 
Jonathan Burch and Abel Marsh, surveyors of highways. 

It will be observetl from the foregoing extracts that the meeting was 
held in Hartford in the " county of Cumberland, and province of New 
York," thus recognizing and acknowledging the authorit)' of that 
province, and its right to divide the territory of tiie " New Hampshire 
Grants," as it was then called, into counties. In this same year the 
county of Cumberland was newly erected, and Hartford formed a part 
thereof " But this was not all. The freemen of the town, in recogni- 
tion of the authority above referred to, on the third Tuesday of May, 
1772, called another meeting, at which officers were chosen in accord- 
ance with the laws and custom of New York. They were as follows: 
Moderator, Benjamin Wright; town clerk, John Strong; supervisors, 
Stephen Tilden and Lionel Udall ; collectors, Samuel Pease and Amos 
Robinson ; overseers of the poor, Benjamin Wright and Elisha Marsh ; 
commissioners of highways, Abel Marsh, Elijah Strong and Daniel 
Pinneo; path masters, Abel Marsh, John Marsh, Thomas Richardson, 
Israel Gillett and Daniel Pinneo ; fence viewers, Elisha Marsh and Ben- 
jamin Wright ; constables, Daniel Pinneo, Israel Gillett, Joel Marsh 
and Thomas Richardson. 

But it must be stated, in this connection, that it was not that the peo- 
ple then residing and owning lands in Hartford were particularly friendly 
to the New York interests, or that they had any special desire to become 



342 History ok Windsor County. 



a part of that province. They held their lands under and by virtue of 
a charter granted by the governor of New Hampshire, the latter acting 
under the belief that the lands and jurisdiction of his province carried 
west to a line twenty miles east from the Hudson River, and that he had 
perfect authority to grant them at his pleasure. But this right was dis- 
puted by the provincial authorities of New York, and that dispute was 
the subject of a deal of correspondence between the two governors ; 
and, in order to reach an understanding, was finally referred to the royal 
authority. With this power New York happened to hold the greater in- 
fluence, which, re-enforced by forged documents, purporting, however, 
to be signed by numerous residents on the disputed territory and ex- 
pressing a desire to be a part of that province, the royal decree of 1764 
was issued in favor of New York. This was followed, even as it had 
been preceded, by the granting of lands and towns on the disputed 
strip, some of them east of the mountains Thus threatend with evic- 
tion were the settlers in this town and others in the region. Here had 
they made their homes, and here were all their worldly possessions 
How else then, in the name of reason, could they hope to remain in 
quiet possession and peaceful enjoyment of their lands, than by seeking 
a confirmation of their charter privileges, or the granting of another, at 
the hands of the New York authorities ? But the efforts of the settlers 
in this direction were of earlier origin than would appear from the records 
of the meeting of May, 1773, for no sooner had the loyal determination 
become known than steps were taken in this matter of procuring a ciiar- 
ter from New York, and agents even had been sent to treat and arrange 
for the same; and the meeting referred to, and subsequent and prior 
ones as well, were but a part, it is believed, of the diplomatic or strategic 
measures employed b\' the settlers in bringing about the desired con- 
summation. To be sure there was a well organized and determined 
opposition to New York on the part of a large number of settlers under 
the New Hampshire charters, but the power of that famous band — 
the Green Mountain Boy.s — did not extend east of the mountains, and 
had it reached to this region the settlers hereabouts had no thought that 
such few numbers would prevail against so great a power as New York 
was supposed to wield, nor would it have been so but for the fortunate 
(for Vermont) interference of the war for American independence, by 



Town of Hartford. 343 



which local strifes were laid aside, and all joined in the common cause 
against Great Britain. 

But it can hardly be considered essentially within the province of this 
chapter to discuss this subject, however important it may have been, at 
greater length. Although the controlling influence of the tow n pushed 
the matter of obtaining a charter from New York to a reasonable ex- 
tent, the document itself was never granted ; but the labors in that di- 
rection had the effect of leading New York to the belief that this people 
were wholly devoted to her interests, that they considered themselves 
her subjects, were submissive to her authority, and, as a consequence, 
the lands of the town were never granted to another set of proprietors. 

But it required no great efl'ort on the part of the inhabitants of Hart- 
ford to throw off whatever allegiance they owed the province of New 
York, and this they did as soon as the policy of the " new State " be- 
came fixed, and even before that time, during the progress of the first 
Dorset convention, although the town was not represented there, nor in 
any similar gathering prior to that held at Westminster on January 15, 
1777. And even before the independence of Vermont was declared, the 
delegates assembled in the Dorset convention became desirous of learn- 
ing something of the sentiment existing in the towns east of the mount- 
ains relative to the State organization ; and in order to obtain an ex- 
pression from those towns the subject was arranged to be brought before 
the people in town meeting. The result in Hartford was largely in favor 
of the new State. 

In the convention at Westminster on January 15, 1777, Stephen Til- 
den was a delegate from Hartford. At this time the independence of 
the State of Vermont was declared. And at the adjourned session held 
at Windsor, June 4, 1777, upon the occasion of changing the name of- 
the State from New Connecticut to Vermont, this town was represented 
by Colonel Joseph Marsh and Mr. Stephen Tilden, both of whose names 
were signed to the revised declaration there adopted. Also, in the 
Windsor convention of July 2-8, 1777, the occasion upon which the sub- 
ject of the first constitution was being discussed, Colonel Marsh repre- 
sented the town of Hartford. It was during the progress of this con- 
vention that the disastrous news of the evacuation of Ticonderoga by 
the American forces was received, and was followed by the information 



344 History of Windsor County. 

that Burgoyne was invading the northern and western frontier of the 
State, all of which had the effect of disconcerting the convention almost 
before the constitution was adopted ; but the friendly intervention of a 
thunder-storm gave the delegates the opportunity of regaining their 
composure sufficiently to complete the business in hand, after which they 
adjourned and hastened to their homes. 

During the period of the Revolutionary war the part taken by the 
local authorities of Hartford was much similar to that of the other large 
and comparatively well settled towns in the region of the State west of 
the mountains. At that time the military authority and power was 
mainly vested in the Committees of Safety of the counties organized by 
New York, viz.: Cumberland and Gloucester; and the military supplies, 
arms and ammunition, were largely furnished by the province or State 
last named. In this town the men most prominently identified with the 
military organization, especially during the early part of the war, were 
Thomas Hazen, Stephen Tilden, Joel Marsh, Joseph Marsh, Joshua Ha- 
zen and other-, perhaps of less prominence, but whose services were no 
less valuable. 

Prior and subsequent to the year 1777 the region of the town was a 
frontier, and it was necessary to have an established force ready for any 
emergency of war, whether in aggressive or defensive operations ; and 
upon occasion the troops were called into other fields for service. In 
the organization of forces Joseph Marsh was made colonel of one of the 
regiments, and other men of the town were likewise chosen to offices of 
rank. In the year named the town had a number of men in the service, 
among whom were known to be these : Asa Emerson, Jonathan and 
Eddy Burch, Becket Chapman, Mitchel Clark, William Curtis, Barry 
Damon, Hezekiah Hazen, Jonathan Hill, Abel Marsh, Elisha Perkins, 
Phineas Strong, Seth Savage, Elkanah Sprague, Stephen Tilden, An- 
drew Tracy, Josiah Tilden, William Udall, Benjamin Wright and possi- 
bly others. But, as the years of the war progressed, nearly every man 
in every town, capable of "bearing arms," or subject to militia duty, 
was in some manner connected with a military company, but their serv- 
ice was mainly confined to guarding the frontier outposts on the north. 
Once, however, they were threatened with service of a more active char- 
acter, and that the occasion of the Indian invasion of the neighboring 



% 




E>J^' 



^^T.GRf^'t^'^-^ 



qi,0.^:^cZl^ 



Town of Hartford. 345 

town of Royalton, the call to arms in this town being sounded through 
the medium of Landlord Stephen Tilden's famous " Queen's Arm" gun. 
The militia were quickly assembled, and at once started in pursuit of the 
already retreating savages and English soldiers that accompanied them. 
But. on account of the threatened murder of the captives, prisoners of 
the Indians, Colonel House, the commander of the mititia forces, did not 
force an engagement, and soon afterward gave the order to return. 
Among the militia that participated in that "campaign" was Captain 
Joshua Hazen's Hartford company, comprised as follows: Joshua Ha- 
zen, captain; William Bramble, lieutenant; Elkanah Sp rague, ensign ; 
Elias Chapman, Asa Hazen, Andrew Tracy, David Wright, sergeants; 
William Dunham, John Gillett, Hezekiah Hazen, Stephen Tilden, cor- 
porals; and privates: Elnathan and William Allen, Jonathan Bennett, 
David Bliss, William Burch, Erastus, Joseph and Simon Chapman, John 
Cheney, Daniel Clark, Neheniiah Closson, Simeon Curtis, Barjom and 
Levi Damon, John Dutton, Enoch Eaton, Enoch Emerson, Daniel O., 
Ezekiel and Israel Gillett, Jacob, Jonathan and Willis Hall, Daniel, Sol- 
omon, Thomas, jr., and Thomas Hazen, Thomas Holbrook, Timothy 
Johnson, Abel, Samuel, John, Joseph, Joseph, jr., and Roger Marsh, 
Elijah Mason, David Newton, Christopher and Daniel Pease, Samuel 
Pinneo, Elliott Porter, Calvin Luther, Rowland, jr., and Rowland Pow- 
ell, Jonathan Reynolds, Jehial Robbins, F"rancis W. and Seth Savage, 
Solomon Sitzel, Ashbel Smith, Ignatius Sprague, Benajah, Phineas, 
Solomon, jr., and Solomon Strong, Josiah Terry, Josiah and Stephen 
Tilden, 15arnabas Tisdell, James and Thomas Tracy, Lemuel White, 
Joseph Williams, Benjamin and Jonathan Wright. 

These militiamen with those who were in other commands, notably 
Captain Hodge's company, must have comprised nearly the whole able- 
bodied male population of Hartford at that time. Captain Hodge's 
company formed a part of Colonel Joseph Safford's regiment. 

As has already been stated, the principal service of the companies in 
which this town was represented was along the northern and western 
frontier, sometimes at stockade forts, such as Fort Fortitude on the site 
of the flourishing little village of Bethel ; but the men were not infre- 
quently called to march to the relief of some distressed settlement in 
New Hampshire, and in this State to the northward as well. As often 

44 



34^ History of Windsor County. 

as their services were demanded, so often did they respond, but their 
service was more a continuous marching campaign than of actual war- 
fare. But there were men, and a number of them, from the town who 
were with the armies on the western borders of Vermont and elsewhere, 
and engaged in actual strife. 

The war with Great Britain was practically at an end during the year 
1782, but it was not until the fall of 1783 that the treaty of peace was 
signed. Then the peo[jIe of the towns of Vermont were at full liberty 
to return to the peaceful arts of agriculture and manufacture, the genera 
building up of homes and villages throughout the length and breadth of 
the entire State. But, during the period of the war, and especially dur- 
ing its later years, this State had been shaping a political policy with a 
view of obtaining admission to the federal Union. This, of course, New 
York opposed, strenuously and bitterly. The subject was an absorbing 
one, and in it the people of Hartford took the greatest interest, for it 
was practically a renewal of the old and long existing controversy be- 
tween the two States. While this was an interesting and important pe- 
riod for this State, and its several towns, it is hardly a proper matter for 
comment in this place, being fully presented in the earlier chapters of 
this volume, to which the attention of the reader is directed. 

The second war with Great Britain, that known among Americans as 
the War of 18 12— [5, was another period of agitation and discussion 
among the people of this town, for there did not exist, at that time, the 
greatest possible unanimity of sentiment among the townsmen regard- 
ing the policy of waging a second conflict against the mother country. 
There were the Loyalists and Federalists who championed the cause of 
their respective representatives in Congress, but in this locality the former 
were in the ascendency. During the war the town was again called 
upon to furnish troops for the service, and responded nobly. Some 
went to the front who never returned, but of the whole body we have 
no reliable record upon which to make a statement of individual or com- 
pany service, nor would such a recital if made be considered of much 
interest at the present day. 

The next event of importance in the military history of the town was 
the war of 1861-65, but more commonly known as the war of the Re- 
bellion. A preceding chapter of this work has recorded at length the 



Town of Hartford. 



347 



various regiments and commands that were, in whole or in part, raised 
and recruited in the towns of this county ; and has, furthermore, given 
the individual names of company members, by towns, who entered the 
service during that war. Therefore it will not be necessary in this chap- 
ter to furnish more than a general summary of the number of men en- 
listed in the town under the several calls, and for the various branches 
of service. 

According to the reports of the adjutant-general of the State for the 
years 1864 and 1865, it is found that the town of Hartford stands credited 
with having contributed the aggregate number of two hundred and 
twenty-four men, exclusive of those who were in service for three months 
under the President's call for 75,000 men in April, 1861 ; and making no 
account of the "enrolled men who furnished substitutes," of whom there 
were three; nor of the men who were " furnished under draft and paid 
commutation," of whom there were three ; nor of those who procured 
substitutes, of whom there were twenty- five. Of the aggregate number 
mentioned, one hundred and twenty-seven were enlisted for three years' 
service, eighty-three of whom were enrolled prior to the call of October 
17, 1863, forty- two under that call and subsequent calls, while two more 
were enlisted for the same term, but for whom no designation is given. 
For the one year service there were twenty-eight recruits ; for nine 
months' service there were forty-four ; in the naval service, seventeen ; 
volunteers re-enlisted, eleven ; entered service, two ; in Veteran Reserve 
Corps, two. Added to these were thirteen men, not named, who were 
credited to the town miscellaneously. 

Churches of Hartford. — The charter by which the town of Hartford 
was brought into existence made all the necessary and customary pro- 
visions for setting apart lands for the first settled minister of the gospel 
in the town; and in 1762, in providing for the second division of the 
lands, it was directed by the proprietors that a hundred-acre lot be re- 
served for the first settled minister, all of which was accordingly done. 
The first recorded disclosure of any steps looking to the erection of a 
meeting-house in the town is found in the proceedings of a proprietors' 
meeting held May 17, 1774, at which time it was voted " to build a meet- 
ing-house as near the center of the town as is convenient for a building 
spot, and the dimensions of the house to be 35 feet by 50, and two-story 



348 History of Windsor County. 

high " ; also Darius Sessions was chosen to make a survey and find the 
center of the town ; and further, Darius Sessions, Captain Joseph Marsh 
and Amos Robinson were made a committee " to set down the stake 
where the meeting-house shall be." This being done, the sum of one 
hundred and fifty pounds was voted by the town for the purpose of erect- 
ing the edifice, and Joseph Marsh, Jonathan Burch and Amos Robinson 
were made a building committee to superintend the construction of the 
building, which was to be completed by the 1st of September, 1775, but 
which was not done ; nor was there a meeting-house erected in the town 
until a number of years later. But, notwithstanding that, church serv- 
ices, or preaching, was had in the town soon after the year 1774. Rev. 
Aaron Hutchinson appears to have been the first minister to officiate, 
although the minister's lot seems to have fallen to Rev. Thomas Gross, 
who was said to have been ordained somewhere about the year 17S6. 
Both of these clergymen were ministers of the Congregational church, 
and were hired and supported at the public expense. Also the Congre- 
gational society was the first to be formed in the town, at what was known 
as the Center. In 181 2 Rev. Austin became its settled pastor and so 
continued until 1829. 

The second society of the Congregational church was formed during 
the year 1827, and a church home was built very soon thereafter at 
White River village. This society virtually superceded the first organi- 
zation and the members of the latter became united with the second soci- 
ety, under invitation, in January, 1829. The White River society first 
took the name of the Congregational Society of Wiiite River village ; but 
upon the accession of the former members of the old church the consoli- 
dation resulted in changing the name to the Second Congregational 
Society. Rev. Austin Hazen was the first employed minister, but his 
relation with the church ceased after about three months. Rev. John K. 
Lord became pastor in 1841, and in 1847 was dismissed, after which, 
March ist, 1848, Rev. Josiah Merrill was ordained. The latter resigned 
in 1856, and was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin F. Ray, who continued 
pastor from February, i860, to July, 1870. Five years later Rev. S. In- 
gersoU Briant was called and ordained. 

The next church society of this denomination was the result of pre- 
liminary meetings commenced in 1829, although it was not until the sue- 




^/(<^.^/^^ 



Town of Hartford. 



349 



ceeding year that a permanent organization was effected. The result 
was the formation of the society known as the Congregational church of 
West Hartford, located, as its name implies, in the western part of the 
town. Notwithstanding the fact that this society has had an existence 
covering a period of si.xty years, there has been but one regularly or- 
dained pastor, Rev. William Claggett, whose ministerial labors com- 
menced in 1846 and ceased in 1859. Prior and subsequent to the period 
of Rev. Claggett's pastorate the church has been presided over by a sup- 
ply minister. 

The First Congregational Society in Ouechee village was a creation 
of the year 1830, but never developed into a regular organization. Two 
years later, in 1832, the Ouechee Village Meeting- House Society was or- 
ganized as a superceding society, also of the Congregational denomina 
tion, and continued for some twelve years. In this time a church building 
was erected, but this was afterward put into use as a school-house, and is 
now so maintained. Subsequently in 1871 another society of the same 
name was organized by residents of Ouechee and vicinitv, and a church 
building for it erected in 1872-73. This last society is still in existence. 

In January, 1831, the society of the First Congregational church of 
Quechee village was organized. The church remained the state of amis- 
sion until 1835, at which time Rev. Luke Wood was called to the pas- 
torate, but continued only two years. The pulpit was afterward supplied 
until 1866, when Rev. J. W. Kingsbury was installed as pastor, but in 
1869 he retired. Rev. Melvin Ray succeeded to the pastorate in 1874, 
and remained but one year. Rev. A. B. Chase was ordained in 1876, and 
continued until succeeded by Rev. N. F. Carter, the latter preaching here 
several months before he became pastor. He was installed in 1880, 
and dismissed in 1887 

The formation of the society known as the United Church of Christ, at 
Olcott, is the latest movement in Congregationalism in Hartford, and this 
was the creation of certain Dartmouth theological students, aided by 
some of the clergymen of the town and vicinity. The society was formed 
some time during the year 1887. 

The seed of Presbyterianism in Hartford was planted as early as the 
year 1771, by the formation of a society of that denomination at or about 
that time, having its chief seat of location in the north part of the town 






350 History of Windsor County. 

in the neij^hborliood of Dothan, in regard for which the society was 
named. After experiencing all the vicissitudes which a church society 
can well endure, tlie church passed out of existence in 1844. 

It has been said that the home of the Episcopal church in Vermont is 
in Arlington, Bennington county. Whether absolutely correct or not 
matters but httle, but it is true that however old this church may have 
been in other localities, it was not planted in Hartford until a compara- 
tively recent date. St. Paul's church, the only one of this denomina- 
tion in this town, was organized in 1868. Rev. James Houghton was its 
first rector. The scat of the parish is at White River Junction, where 
was "erected a comfortable church edifice in the year 1874. 

The first Universalist Society of White River Junction dates back in 
organization only to the year 1878. The church building of the society 
was commenced in that same year, and completed in 1879. During the 
fjw years of its e.xistence the society has had four pastors : Re\s. J. C. 
F"arnsworth, William E. Copeland, George W. Barnes and Walter Dole. 

The society of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic church of White River 
Junction was formed in this town during the j-ear 1870, although for a 
few years preceding that missionary work had been done among the 
Catholic-Irish residents of the locality, of whom there were not a few. 
The first missionary priest in the town was Rev. Father Pigeon, who 
commenced his labors in some convenient room, occasionally in a dwell- 
ing, but in 1870 he purchased what was known as the Moseley house, 
which was temporarily used for church services, and until the pres- 
ent edifice was built, in 1873. In connection with St. Anthony's parish 
there is an established and prosperous parochial school, which has now 
some sixty scholars. The succession of pastors in charge of St. Antho- 
ny's parish has been as follows: Rev. M. Pigeon. Rev. Daniel Sullivan, 
Rev. Dennis Lynch, Rev. James Booth Whitaker. The congregation 
of St. Anthony's is the largest in the tow n of Hartford. 

The teachings and doctrines of Methodism were advocated in Hartford 
as far back as the early years of the present century, but it was not until 
the year 1845 that the people of this faith were provided with a church 
home. This building was a plain frame structure, and was erected at 
the place called Jericho ; but in 1874 the building was sold and moved 
from the town, and the society became practically extinct. It was 



Town of Hartford. 351 



revived, however, in or soon after the year 1877, having its seat of loca- 
tion at White River Junction, vviiere a temporary place of meeting was 
secured. During the next year, 1878, the present church was erected 
and its society is now numbered among the floursiiing institutions of that 
village and of the town. 

Among the number of church or religious societies that have had a 
past existence in Hartford was that known as the Covenant Baptists> 
connected with which at one time were some of the prominent families 
of the town. Another society was that knpwn as Second Adventists, 
which was brought into existence through the teachings of William 
Miller. From his name some of the societies of this denomination have 
been called Millerites. The society in this town has no regular church 
home, except as their camp-meeting grounds may be so called. The 
present society was formed in 1887, under the name of White River 
Junction Camp- Meeting Association. 

Educational Institutions. — The charter of the town of Hartford made 
provision as ample for the support of a public school as was made for 
any town similarly granted ; and this provision was enhanced by the 
subsequent action of the proprietors in setting apart lots for the benefit 
of town schools. But there appears to be no record of the establish- 
ment of a school in the town prior to 179S, when the house of Reuben 
Hazen, at West Hartford, was used for the purpose. In 1796 Lionel 
Udall taught school in the same locality. After this time, as the popu- 
lation of the town increased, other schools were established in various 
localities as occasion demanded, and in 1807 the town was divided into 
school districts, and schools were established in each as soon as the 
people felt inclined or able to do so. The districts were seventeen in 
number; there are but sixteen at present. The schools of the town 
have ever been supported on the district system, although of late years 
an effort has been made to adopt the town plan. 

One of the most prominent among the comparatively early educa- 
tional institutions of the town was that known and incorporated under 
the name of Hartford Academy, at White River village, in the year 1 839. 
Its career was " brief but eventful," — brief because it proved an unsuc- 
cessful enterprise, and failed to draw the attendance and consequent 
support its proprietors had hoped for, and eventful because every effort 



352 History of Windsor County. 



was made to make it successful. In 1848 its ownership passed to the 
district in which it was situated, number seventeen. 

Industries. — Manufacturing has been one of the most productive in- 
dustries of the town of Hartford during the present century ; but had it 
required the effort to estabhsh each that has been in operation during 
the last three-quarters of a century, as was necessary to bring into life 
the first saw and grist-mills on the Ouechee prior to 1770, the whole 
people of the town would have been resolved into a vast board of trade, 
and all the lands of the town would have been donated to influence 
milling operations. But the never failing waters of the Quechee and 
White Rivers have fortunately been a sufficient inducement for manu- 
facturers to locate in the town without asking for public donations either 
of lands or money. 

Hartford is known to-day as one of the leading manufacturing towns 
of Vermont, and this branch of business is as much and more a source 
of profit and benefit to the whole town, as well as to the several propri- 
etors, as is agriculture or any other calling. The construction of the 
several railroads across the town has greatly facilitated manufacture, and 
products can now be transported to market in less than a tenth of the 
time formerly consumed in shipment, and is attended with far less haz- 
ard and e.xpense. 

To enter into a detailed description of each and all the manufacturing 
enterprises that have so marked the growth and prosperity of Hartford, 
during the past century, would require more space than is deemed 
expedient to devote to the subject. Moreover, it is a subject that has 
been written upon at considerable length, and with much care, by the 
author of a recent history of the town, which work being, it is hoped, 
in every family in the town they have the means of sufficient enlighten- 
ment upon the matter. The present record will therefore show only 
the names of proprietors and location of the present and more recent 
manufacturing industries of the town as a part of the description of 
present villages. 

Of the villages of Hartford, White River Junction is by far the most 
important, having the larger popu'ation, the greater diversity of business 
enterprises, and is, in all respects, the metropolis of th,; locality. It has 
come into existence, substantially, since the building of the first line of 



Town of Hartford. 353 

railroad along the Connecticut River; and when diverging or branching 
roads were built the name. White River Junction, was given the place. 
The village in fact owes its very existence to these railway enterprises. 
It is a commercial and railway center, distinctively, and in no sense a 
manufacturing village ; nor can it well become so as long as exist in 
other portions of the town the desirable water privileges now used as 
a motive power for driving machinery. And whatever qF aspirations 
the people of the Junction may have to make theirs a manufacturing as 
well as a railroad center, that consummation must be reached by the 
application of steam-power, for the waterways of the locality are ill- 
adapted for such purposes. 

In the village proper are four church edifices — Episcopal, Roman 
Catholic, Methodist and Universalist, all comfortable and commodious 
buildings, each of which, with the societies that own them, are fully 
mentioned in an earlier portion of this chapter. The village also has 
one national bank — the National Bank of White River Junction ; one 
savings bank — the White River Savings Bank ; a steam grist-mill ; the 
confectionery and baking establishment of G. W, Smith ; one large and 
excellent hotel — the Junction House; besides which are two printing 
establishments and numerous other business and mercantile houses and 
offices, to the number of thiity-five or forty ; to all of which must be 
added the representatives of the several professions, of which there are 
several. All of these combined truly give the Junction the appearance 
of a prosperous, enterprising little municipality, although this distin- 
guishing character is not yet come to the place. 

While unquestionably second to the Junction in point of population, 
but not second in point of importance as a manufacturing center, is the 
village of Quechee, situate on the line of Woodstock Railroad and mid- 
way between the Junction and the county seat. Incredible though it 
may appear, it is nevertheless a fact, that manufacturing has been car- 
ried on, possibly with brief intervals, at this point for a period of almost 
one hundred and twenty-five years ; for here a saw- mill was erected as 
early if not before the year 1769, and in the course of a few more years 
a grist-mill was put in operation at the same place. 

The power for propelling machinery is derived by diverting the waters 
of the Otta Quechee River, from which stream the town received its 
45 



354 History of Windsor County. 

name. Common consent, however, has dropped the first part of the 
name — Otta — and the stream and village are called simply Ouechee. 
And the village, besides having considerable prominence as a factory 
place, has been in the past and is now the home of some of the most 
distinguished and wealthy men that have been known to the town of 
Hartford. Enterprise and progress have been the watchwords of the 
people here from the first settlement to the present day. 

The village, too, has its church societies and buildings, the Methodist 
and Congregational. Its leading manufacturing industries are the 
Dewey mills, established in 1836 by Strong & Co., for the manufacture 
of satin goods, and succeeded by A. G. Dewey in 1840, who commenced 
making woolen goods, sometimes called "shoddy." Here, too, are the 
extensive woolen-mills of J. C. Parker & Co., a large enterprise that 
had its origin in the saw-mill established by Abel and Elisha Marsh, 
Benjamin Burch and Joshua Dewey, as far back as the year 1771. 
From that until the present day the "privilege" and property have changed 
ownership many times, and almost as frequently have there been 
changes in the character of business done here. This same firm also 
operates a tannery at Quechee, and what is known as a wool- pulling fac- 
tory as well. The saw-mill here is the property of O. H. Chamberlain. 
Besides these are the customary stores and other business enterprises 
found in small but flourishing villages such as Quechee. The popula- 
tion of the village proper is something like five or six hundred. 

The A. G. Deivey Company. — The woolen factory now occupied by 
this corporation is situated on the Otta Ouechee River, one mile south of 
Quechee village. It was erected and opened in 1836 by Messrs. J. P. 
and C. Strong and Dewey for the manufacture of fine satinets. This 
firm was in existence from 1836 to 1842, but owing to the financial 
crisis of 1837 this company suspended operations and the factory re- 
mained unoccupied until 1840, when it was leased by A. G. Dewej'. 
About the year 1S40 Reuben Daniel, of Woodstock, conceived the idea 
of converting or reducing soft woolen rags to fibres denominated rag 
wool. Following up this idea, Mr. Daniel invented a machine for pick- 
ing rags into fibre and the first machine was put into operation in the 
woolen factory at Ouechee village in 1840. This was the first inaugu- 
ration of shoddy in the United States. In 1841 Mr. Dewey leased the 




/ 



Town of Hartford. 355 

lower factory and commenced the manufacture of rag- cloth, now desig- 
nated as shoddy. At this time he employed a force of from thirty to 
sixty operators, and continued in business alone until April 11, 1848, 
when Urial Spalding became partner, under firm name of Dewey & 
Spalding. This partnership lasted until October 10, 1854. On April i, 
1858, the firm of A. G. Dewey & Co. was formed by the association 
with Mr. Dewey of Justin F. Mackenzie and William S. Carter. In 
1873 Mr. Carter died On the first of January, 1874, John J. Dewey 
purchased his interest in the firm and on January i, 1876, William S. 
Dewey was admitted to equal partnership. The elder Dewey and Mr. 
Mackenzie retained their partnership till their death. The present cor- 
poration was organized under the general laws of the State of Vermont, 
January I, 1890, the following being its officers: John J. Dewey, presi- 
dent; F. S. Mackenzie, vice-president; William S. Dewey, treasurer. 
In 1858 the mill contained only two sets of machinery, producing about 
450 yards of textile fabric daily. This capacity was increased in 1863 
to 1,300 yards. In 1870 the firm bought the mill, enlarged it, substi- 
tuted new and improved machinery, continued improvements have been 
made, and their present production is now not far from 2,500 yards 
daily. They have six sets in operation and employ eighty hands. 
They manufacture two varieties of cloth, one from tailor clippings, the 
other from soft woolen rags of every description. Their fabrics are 
made from the same kind of stock used by Mr. Dewey in 1841, and 
have a reputation in the markets for general excellency, the varieties 
being known throughout the country as " Dewey's Grays." The motive 
power of the factory is a Hercules wheel of 150 horse-power, under a 
fall of twenty-five feet of water. The location of this factory is a very 
romantic one, being at the head of the celebrated Quechee Gulf, which 
has become a popular resort for tourists and pleasure seekers. 

The village of Hartford, or, as formerly known, White River Village 
(from its location on the stream so named), is a manufacturing point of 
considerable importance. The chief power for this purpose is obtained 
from White River. The place, also, is accessible from two railroads, 
the Vermont Central and the Woodstock, but the latter is little used. 
The first mill was erected here in or about the year 1795. The village 
has all the business enterprises usual to such hamlets: a church, — the 






356 History of Windsor County. 

Congregational, — a school, and a number of factories, among them the 
Hartford Woolen Company, manufacturers of woolen goods and satinets; 
French, Watson & Co. and W. L. Bugbee, agricultural implements; 
Isaac Gates, shipping chairs, etc.; Moore & Madden, flour and grist-mill ; 
E. Johnson, furniture; J. Bugbee, carriages and sleighs; French, Wat- 
son & Co., saw-mill, and others perhaps of less importance. 

West Hartford is a hamlet still smaller than any heretofore mentioned, 
and is located in the extreme northwest part of the town, on what has 
been termed the Hazen Grant. This name came from the fact of the 
proprietors having conveyed the land to Thomas Hazen, the pioneer, in 
consideration of services performed for the proprietois by Joshua Ha- 
zen, the son of Thomas. The extent of the grant included a thousand 
acres, but the owner afterward acquired several hundred acres more, 
and at his death divided it among his children. 

West Hartford, too, has its contingent of distinguished names of 
former residents, among them Chief Officer William B. Hazen of the 
signal service, and who, also, was a brigadier- general during the war of 
1861-65 ; Joel Marsh, who was a captain and subsequently colonel during 
the Revolutionary period ; David M.Camp, who was lieutenant-governor 
in 1836. 

This is more of an agricultural than manufacturing locality, notwith- 
standing the fact of its location on the White River and the Central 
Vermont Railroad; still the village has a saw-mill, two stores, — F. M. 
Holt and C. M. Hazen, — and a few other enterprises of less importance. 
It has, also, a Congregational church and a school-house. 

The little hamlet called Olcott, or Olcott Falls, is the latest creation in 
the town in the way of village settlement, although the locality was 
known for very many years as White River Falls, and was utilized for 
mill purposes as early as 1785. The village is located on the Connecti- 
cut River, about two and one-half miles north of the Junction. In 1882 
a dam across the river was commenced, and afterward completed, thus 
diverting the waters on both sides for mill privileges. This is the enter- 
prise of the Olcott Falls Company, manufacturers of printers' news 
paper. At this village is the United Church in Christ Society, mentioned 
in preceding pages. 

Centerville is the only other hamlet in the town that can boast of 



Town of Hartford. 357 



much more than a distinguished name. It is located, as its name im- 
pHes, near the geographical center of the town, on the White River, and 
also on the line of the Central Vermont Railroad. Its business and 
other institutions are few, comprising a school-house, a few dwellings, a 
saw-mill and grist-mill. 

Other localities that are honored with names, but scarcely anything 
else, are Jericho and Dothan, understood as having been so named by 
Rev. Aaron Hutchinson very many years ago. Both are located in the 
north part vf the town. 

Russtown is a name, hardly more, applied to the neighborhood in the 
southeast part of the town, in district number twelve, where dwell 
several families named Russ. Christian Street is a name applied to a lo- 
cality in the northeast part of the town, the neighborhood of the Gillett 
brick-yards. 

There is perhaps no town in the county of Windsor that has been 
more productive of prominent men in the executive and legislative 
branches of National and State governments than has Hartford; and in 
closing this chapter it is proper that there be furnished the names at least 
of those who have been the leaders of the town in its civil and political 
affairs, and who have been exalted to positions of trust and responsi- 
bility, and who, by faithfully performing each and every of their duties, 
brought credit and honor not only to themselves, but also to the town 
in which they had lived. 

The town of Hartford has furnished the successful candidate for 
the office of Representative in Congress from this district as follows: 
William Strong, from 18 10 to 181 5 ; William Strong, from 18 19 to 1821; 
George E. Wales, 1825 to 1829; Andrew Tracy, 1854 to 1856. 

In the State government the town has furnished officers as follows : 
Governor, Samuel E. Pingree, 1885-86; lieutenant-governors, Joseph 
Marsh, 1778-79, and from 1787 to 1790; David M.Camp, 1836-41; 
Samuel E. Pingree, 1883-84; secretary of state, Charles W. Porter, 
1885-89. 

As members of the Council of Censors the town was represented in 
1785 by Joseph Marsh; 1806 by Thomas Gross; 1813 by Elijah Strong; 
and in 1834 by William Strong. 

Members of the several constitutional conventions : 1 793, John Clark ; 






358 History of Windsor County. 

1 8 14, Frederick Mather; 1822, George E. Wales; 1828, Wyllys Ly- 
man ; 1836, Andrew Tracy; 1843, Andrew Tracy ; 1850, John L. Lev- 
ering; 1870, B. F. Ray. 

State Senate: 1839, Andrew Tracy; 1842-43, John Porter; 1861, 
Daniel Needham ; 1869 to 1 871, Albert G. Dewey; 1874-75, Joseph C. 
Parker; 1886-87, Daniel L. Gushing. 

Representatives in State General Assembly: 1778, Stephen Tilden : 
1779, Amos Robinson; 1780-81, Elkanah Sprague ; 1782, Joseph 
Marsh and Joshua Hazen ; 1783, Stephen Tilden; 1784, Joshua Hazen 
and Stephen Tilden ; 1785, Stephen Tilden; 1786-87, Joshua Hazen; 
1788, Joshua Hazen; 1789, Elisha Marsh; 1790-91, Joshua Hazen; 
1792, lilisha Marsh; 1793, Joshua Hazen; 1794-97, John Clark ; 1798- 
99, William Strong; 1800, Benjamin Russ; 1801-02, William Strong; 
I 803-04, William Perry ; 1805-09, Sherman Dewey ; 18 10, Elijah Mason ; 
1811-12, Nathan Gere; 1813-14, Abel Barron; 1815-18, William 
Strong; 1819-20, James Udall ; 1821-24, George E. Wales ; 1825-32, 
Wyllys Lyman; 1833-37, Andrew Tracy; 1838-41, John Porter; 
1842-43, Shubael Russ; 1844, John Porter; 1845-46, Allen Hazen ; 
1847-48, John Porter ; 1849, Allen Hazen ; 1850-51, Albert G. Dewey ; 
1852-53, George Lyman ; 1854, Lucius Hazen; 1855-56, Daniel Smith ; 
1857-58, Daniel Needham; 1859-60, Edward P. Sprague ; 1861-62, 
Benjamin Porter; 1863-64, Albert G. Dewey; 1865-66, William G. 
Chandler; 1867-68, Joseph C. Parker; 1869-71, Noah B. Safiford ; 
1872-73, Stephen N. Pingree; 1874-75, Edwin C. Watson; 1876-77", 
William Lindsey ; 1878-79, Noah B. Hazen; 1880-81, Samuel J. Allen ; 
1882-83, Daniel L. Gushing; 1884-85, A. L. Pease; 1886-87, W. S. 
Dewey; 1888-89, Charles B. Stone. 



CHAPTER XVH. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HARTL.-\ND 

HARTLAND is counted among the largest and more important 
towns of Windsor county, and its proximity to the town of Wind- 
sor has likewise placed it among the more historic towns of the county. 
It was the home and place of death of Doctor Paul Spooner, than whom 
the whole county produced no one man more prominently identified 



Town of Hartland. 359 



with the early history of this State ; and although a physician by pro- 
fession, he became a statesman by virtue of his intellectual attainments, 
and the deep interest he took in the cause of the people on the New 
Hampshire Grants. And there were others besides Paul Spooner who 
were also conspicuous in the early political affairs of the State, the 
county and the town, and of whom mention will be made as this narra- 
tive progresses. 

This town, under the name of Hertford, was brought into existence 
by virtue of a charter granted by Governor Benning Wentworth, of New 
Hampshire, dated July 10, 1761, to Samuel Hunt and his associates, in 
seventy-one shares inclusive of reservations for all customary purposes. 
The similarity in the names of this town and that lying next northward, 
Hartford, was the occasion of much inconvenience and confusion to the 
people of the region, and especially to strangers coming to thes? parts. 
So, at least, one or the other had to change its name, and as this was 
the junior of the towns, and the more recently named, the change was 
made here, although the act of the Legislature that accomplished it was 
not passed until the year 1782. 

At that time the Legislature was in session at Windsor. The first 
act changing the name of the town was passed June 15, 1782, and by it 
the name of Waterford was given, and this act was concurred in and ap- 
proved by the Governor and Council ; but, on the 17th theieafter, this 
action was reconsidered, and the name Hartland substituted for Water- 
ford, as will be seen from the following extract from the journal of the 
executive body of the State: "The act mentioned in yesterday's jour- 
nal (meaning Saturday's, for 'yesterday' was Sunday), altering the name 
of Hertford to Waterford as concurred by this council, was this day re- 
considered, and proposed to the Assembly by Paul Spooner, esq , from 
the council, to be altered from Waterford to Hartland." By this name 
the town will hereafter be designated in this chapter, whether referring 
to events that occurred before or after the act was adopted. 

On the 23d of July, 1766, under the authority of the provincial gov- 
ernor of New York, the New Hampshire charter was confirmed to Oliver 
Willard and his associates, the result of an application made to New 
York, for the purpose of quieting in their possession those holding under 
the original charter; and for the further purpose of preventing New 



360 History of Windsor Countv. 

York from granting the lands of the town to another and independent 
set of proprietors, which, had it been done, would undoubtedly have re- 
sulted in an internal controversy in the town. 

Hartland is one of the six towns of Windsor county that enjoys the 
benefits of having an eastern frontage on the Connecticut River, which 
fact implies that the town possesses some of the most fertile and pro- 
ductive agricultural lands to be found in the county; and further, that 
the lands, generally, are reasonably level and easy of cultivation, and 
especially so when placed in comparison with a majority of the towns 
further to the interior. Still, Hartland is by no means destitute of hill 
lands, and the fact is that she is abundantly well supplied with them, 
and some pretentious ones, too, but they are the exception, and not the 
rule, the reverse of the case with many other localities. The town con- 
tains 23,350 acres, approximately, or its equivalent in square miles of 
thirty-nine and sixty-hundredths. It is bounded north by Hartford; 
east by the Connecticut River; south by the towns of Windsor and West 
Windsor ; and west by Woodstock. 

The town has two principal water- courses, the Otta Quechee River in 
the northern, and the Lull Brook in the southern part, the former much 
the larger stream. These drain the portions of the town through which 
tliey pass, and on their course receive the waters of several tributaries. 
Both discharge into the Connecticut on the east border of the town. 

The town of Hartland, as has already been stated, was chartered in 
1 76 1, but the earliest meetings of the proprietors were held at such 
places, not, however, in the town, as would best suit the convenience of 
the majority of them. The first record looking to the holding of a town 
proprietors' meeting within the limits of Hartland is found among the 
papers on file in the town clerk's office, and that appears to be an order 
made by Oliver VVillard, then the proprietors' clerk, based upon the ap- 
plication of proprietors representing more than the necessary one-six- 
teenth of shareholders, requesting a meeting in Hertford (Hartland) at 
the dwelling house of Captain Oliver VVillard, on the 15th day of March, 
1763, for the purpose of choosing a proprietors' clerk, town officers, and 
to ascertain whether the proprietors would raise a sum of money for the 
purpose of cutting and making roads in the town. The order bears the 
date of February 21, 1763, and is signed by Oliver Willard, proprietors' 
clerk. 



Town of Hartland. 361 

From this ancient document, being, as it was, an order based upon 
the petition of right owners representing more than one-sixteenth 
part of the proprietors, which was tlie number necessary to en- 
title the owners to hold a meeting in the town and choose town officers, 
it would appear that the settlement of the town must have commenced 
earlier than has been understood and reported by previous writers, or 
that Timothy Lull and the other first settlers came to the town very 
early during the year 1763. The meeting called for by Oliver Willard's 
order was to have been holden on the 15th of March, 1763, but it hardly 
seems possible that it could have been held in accordance with it. The 
order itself is written on a half-sheet of paper, and is found inclosed 
within the pages of the first record, but is not attached to the book. And 
there is nothing in the town records to indicate that a meeting was held 
in pursuance of the order, or that there was any town meeting earlier 
than 1767. 

It is generally conceded by all writers of Hartland town history that 
the first settlement in the town was made during the month of May, 
1763, and that Timothy Lull and his family were the pioneers. Con- 
cerning this settlement the present writer quotes from Thompson as fol- 
lows: "The settlement of the town was commenced in May, 1763, by 
Timothy Lull, from Dummerston, in this State. At this time there were 
no inhabitants on Connecticut River between Charlestown, then (Fort) 
No. 4, and Hartland. A few families had, however, settled in Newbury, 
about forty miles to the north of this place. Mr. Lull moved into the 
town in the following manner: Having purchased a log canoe, he pro- 
ceeded in that up the Connecticut River, with his furniture and family, 
consisting of a wife and four children. He arrived at the mouth of a 
considerable brook in Hartland, where he landed his family, tied his 
canoe, and, breaking a junk bottle in the presence of his little family, 
named the stream Lull's Brook, by which name it has ever since been 
known. He proceeded up the brook about a mile, to a log hut which 
had been previously erected, near the place now called Sumner's village 
(Hartland). Here he spent his days and died at the advanced age of 
eighty-one years." 

And upon this same point, the first settlement by Timothy Lull, an- 
other and more recent writer, evidently a resident of the town, says : 

40 



362 History of Windsor County. 



" The first settlement in Hartland was made in May, 1763, by Timothy 
Lull, who had previously been living at Dummerston. Having con- 
cluded to settle in Hertford, as it was then called, he purchased a log 
canoe, and taking with him his family, which consisted of a wife and four 
children, and such furniture as they needed, paddled up the Connecticut 
River. Arriving at the mouth of a stream just north of the south- 
ern line of the town, he anchored his boat and landed his family. 
Taking then a junk bottle, he broke it in the presence of his wife 
and children, and named the stream Lull Brook — the name by which 
it has since been known. Proceeding up the brook about a mile, he 
came to a deserted log hut, situated upon the farm now (1882) owned 
by E. M. Goodwin. Here he commenced a settlement. For many 
years he suffered privations and hardships, ' but possessing a strong 
constitution and a vigorous mind he overcame all obstacles, accumulated 
a handsome property, lived respected, and died at the age of eighty-one 
years, generally lamented.' He reared a family of nine children, of whom 
Timothy was the first male child born in the town. This birth occurred 
in December, 1764, on which occasion the doctress was drawn on the ice 
twenty-three miles from Charlestown, N. H., on a hand-sled." 

Aside from the fact that the second account is somewhat more full 
and extended than that first quoted, there appears to be no material 
difference in the statements. Both agree in saying that Mr. Lull pro- 
ceeded up the brook, but the first states that he came " to a log hut 
which had been previously erected," while the second narrative says " he 
came to a deserted log hut." From both statements it is fair to assume 
that somebody had been to the region in advance of Mr. Lull; or how 
shall we account for the log hut previously erected ? No account 
asserts that Mr. Lull had ever visited the place before, while the latter 
infrequently, at least, states that he had not by these words : " Having 
concluded to settle in Hertford," etc. This is not an important subject 
for consideration here, but it is apparent that some attempt at effecting a 
settlement, either temporary or permanent, had been made before the 
coming of Timothy Lull in May, 1763. 

The settlement made by the family of Timothy Lull was soon followed 
by others, and with such expedition that in 1771 the population of the 
town, according to the enumeration made then by the New York author- 



Town of Hartland. 363 

ity, reached one luindred and forty-four, showing the presence of some- 
thing hl<e twenty-five famihes. At all events, in 1767, within the brief 
period of three years from the time of Timothy Lull's coming, the town 
was permanently organized ; and organized in accordance with the 
usages and laws of the province of New York, for the year preceding 
this, in 1766, that province, through its governing officers, had confirmed 
to the grantees under New Hampshire, or to their agents and repre- 
sentatives, their rights under the charter from the last named province. 
At that time Hartland was a part of the county of Cumberland, which 
county had been organized under the authority of New York, and there 
was manifested here but little if any disposition on the part of the towns- 
people to resist the authority of New York, however much they may 
have preferred remaining a part of New Hampshire. The disturbances 
that were rampant in the district west of the mountains had no effect 
upon the people in this valley. The Green Mountain Bo)'s were then 
but an embryo organization, acting in what was considered by many a 
local matter, possibly unjustifiable, and the subject of forming a new 
State had not then been suggested to the people. Being thus a part of 
a New York county, and having their charter rights, privileges and 
possession confirmed by that province, it was perfectly natural that the 
town should be organized in conformity with the laws of the controlling 
power. 

This was done at a meeting of the inhabitants held on the i ith day 
of March, 1767, "being assembled," says the record, "according to 
patent, on the day appointed for holding annual town meetings," upon 
which occasion officers were chosen as follows: Moderator, Oliver Will- 
ard; supervisor, Oliver Willard ; assessors. Captain Zadock Wright and 
Lieut. Joel Matthews; treasurer, Timothy Lull ; overseers of highways, 
Ensign Laiton and Lieut. Joel Matthews ; overseers of the poor, Oliver 
Willard and Joseph Harwood ; collector, Nathan Call ; constables, Cap- 
tain Zadock Wright, Timothy Lull, Ebenezer Call and Joel Matthews. 
The records of this meeting do not disclose the name of the person chosen 
town clerk, if indeed one was elected; but it is presumed that Oliver 
Willard acted in that capacity, the first record of his election, however, 
appearing in the proceedings of the annual meeting held in March, 1769. 

From this time forth for several years the records of the town disclose 



364 History of Windsor County. 



nothing of special importance except the annual meetings for the election 
of ofificers, but when the affairs of the district of the New Hampshire 
Grants began to assume some tangible form, the inhabitants began to 
take considerable interest in what was then going on. The town does 
not appear to have been represented in any of the Dorset conventions, 
nor at the Westminster convention in Janiiar}', 1777; but at the ad- 
journed session held at Windsor on the 4th of June, 1777, the town was 
represented by two of its then leading citizens, — Major Joel Matthews 
and Mr. William Gallup, — both of whose names were subscribed to the 
revised declaration of rights, and to the articles by which the name of 
the new State was changed from New Connecticut to Vermont. 

Although there does not appear to have been a representative from 
Hartland in any convention previous to that of June 4, 1777. there is 
evidence tending to show that William Gallup was in attendance at all of 
them, as will be seen by the following extract taken from the "Governor 
and Council " : " William Gallup, of Hartland, was a delegate in the Con- 
vention at Windsor, June 4, 1777, as appears from the printed record. 
His son, Doct. Joseph A. Gallup, in a memoir dated August 14, 1846, 
states that his ' father, William Gallup, was one of the seventy-one dele- 
gates, members of the Convention that met at Dorset and Westminster 
and Windsor in 1776, 1777, and declared Vermont a free and independent 
State. Although only of the age of eight years, I well remember the 
time of these transactions and the great solicitude and excitement that 
prevailed and seemed to pervade the minds of all classes of society. He 
died August 13, 1803, aged sixty-nine years. He had been a delegate 
of the convention which met at Windsor to frame a constitution for the 
State of Vermont ; was also for many years a member of the General 
Assembly.' " 

On the 3d of March, 1778, prior to the first election under the consti- 
tution, a number of men of Hartland took the freeman's oath. They 
were Dr. Paul Spooner, Major Joel Matthews, Ensign Matthias Rust, 
William Gallup, Thomas Rood, Jonah Loomis, Ensign Daniel Spooner, 
Oliver Rust, Moses Squire, Jonas Matthews, John Dunbar, Oliver Tay- 
lor, Nathan Harvey, Zebulon Lee, John Goldsbury, Isaac Stevens, 
Thomas Richardson, Ensign Saul Taylor, and George Burk. 

Soon after this, on the lOth of the same month, the annual town meet- 




Cp^, 



/:Pc-</-z.^^^ 



^^ 



Town of Hartland. 365 



ing was held at the dwelling house of William Gallup, and officers chosen 
in accordance with the constitutional provisions of the State of Vermont, 
as follows : Moderator, Dr. Paul Spooner ; town clerk, Dr. Paul Spooner; 
selectmen. Lieutenant Jonathan Burk, Ensign Daniel Spooner, and Zebu- 
Ion Lee ; constable, Captain Aaron Willard ; assessors, Captain Aaron 
Willard, Dr. Paul Spooner and Robeit Morrison. Also Captain Aaron 
Willard and John Barrel! with the selectmen were chosen to be the sub- 
committee for the year. The sub-committee was undoubtedly the Com- 
mittee of Safety for the town. On the 7th of July, of this year. Captain 
Elias Weld was elected justice of the peace. 

The mention of the name Paul Spooner brings to mind one of the lead- 
ing men of his time, and one who, perhaps, was the most prominent and 
influential of Hartland's early residents. He was in his day just what 
David H. Sumner was in his day, although the latter's connection with 
the town was of comparatively recent date. 

" Dr. Paul Spooner," says the " Governor and Council," " appears first 
in Vermont history as a delegate from Hartland, in a convention at West- 
minster, Oct. 19, 1774, called to condemn the tea act, the Boston port bill, 
and other kindred measures of the king and parliament of Great Britain. 
Doctor Spooner was one of the committee which made a written report 
expressing surprise that the king and parliament should dare to assert 'a 
right to build the colonies in all cases whatsoever,' and to take, 'at their 
pleasure, the properties of the king's American subjects without their 
consent,' &c. He again appeared as a delegate at a convention of Whigs 
at Westminster, Feb. 7, 1775, and was secretary. Still again, June 6. 
1775, he was a delegate at a Cumberland County Congress, so called^ 
and was chosen one of three delegates to represent the county in the 
New York Provincial Congress. He served as such for the remainder of 
the session which commenced May 23, 1775, was re-elected Nov. 7, and 
served in the session which commenced Nov. 14. May 5, 1777, he was 
chosen sheriff of Cumberland county under New York, but declined ac- 
cepting the office in a letter dated July 15. Just one week before writ- 
ing that letter he had been appointed one of the Vermont Council of 
Safety, which office he accepted, and was appointed deputy secretary 
thereof in the absence of the secretary, Ira Allen. He was a member of 
the first Council under the constitution, and was re-elected five times. 



^66 History of Windsor County. 

serving from 1778 till October, 1782, when he was elected heutenant- 
governor, and annually re elected until 1787. Twice he was agent from 
Vermont to Congress, in 1780 and again in 1782. For nine years he was 
a judge of the Supreme Court, in 1779 and 1780, and again from 1782 
to 1788. During the same period, in 1781 and 1782, he was judge of 
probate for Windsor county. He died at Hartland, September 5, 1789." 
In the first book of Hartland town records there appears in the plain 
and bold characteristic handwriting of Paul Spooner the record of his 
marriages, for he was twice married, and the dates of the births of his 
children. From the record there made it appears that on April 15, 1770, 
Paul Spooner was married to Asenath Wright of this town, by Oliver 
Williams, justice of the peace of Cumberland county. His children were, 
as shown b)' the records, Betty, born December 22, 1770; Paul, born 
September 19, 1772; Amasa, born December i i, 1774 Also, that on 
the loth of March, 1777, Asenath, daughter to Amasa and Mary Wright, 
and wife to Paul Spooner, died, aged 22 years, 9 months and 23 days ; 
and further, that on January 5, 1780, at O.xford, Paul Spooner was mar- 
ried to Mrs. Ann Post, 

In addition to the persons already mentioned as iiaving taken the free- 
man's oath just prior to the town election under the Vermont authority, 
there may also be named the following persons, each of whom took the 
oath on September 4, 1781: Seth Moseley, Joseph Evens, Eleazer 
Bishop, Francis Cabot, James Williams, Eleazer Paine, Daniel Bugbee, 
Timothy Waters, Joseph Grow, Joseph Grow, jr., Daniel Short, John 
Grow, Samuel Grow, Ambrose Grow, Joseph Olmstead, Marston Cabot, 
Elislia Gallup, John Laiton, Samuel Williams. 

Throughout the long and dreary years of the war with Great Britain 
that resulted in American independence, the residents of Hartland, with 
but very few exceptions, were earnestly interested in the contest, and 
the records show that meetings were frequently held at which measures 
were taken for sending men into the service from the town ; but it is 
impossible to name them, as they are nowhere recorded. At that time 
Hartland was practicall)' a frontier town and required the maintenance 
of an armed force of minutemen, ready for any emergency that might 
arise, but fortunately they were not called into action on account of an 
invasion of their own town, although a number joined in the expedition 



Town of Hartland. 367 



against the party of Indians that attacked and burned the northern town 
of Royalton, and committed other depredations on the frontier. 

But loyal as was the great majority of the people of Hartland, the 
town was entirely free from that class usually called Tories, and in 
accordance with the custom of the period it became necessar\- for the 
State to make some disposition of the lands of inimical persons. For 
this purpose William Gallup was made commissioner of the confiscated 
lands, to effect their sale and devote the proceeds thereof to the benefit 
of the town. His appointment was made by the Assembly March 24, 
1778. But before the lands were sold the commissioner was required 
to place one thousand dollars in the State treasury, not as payment for 
the land, but in the nature of a loan for the term of one year, as a 
guaranty fund to be repaid to the persons buying the confiscated estates 
in case the sale should not prove to be regular and justifiable, and the 
persons whose lands were sold should eventually prove not to be inimical 
within the meaning of the term. 

In accordance with his duty Captain Gallup appointed Matthias Rust 
and Charles Spaulding appraisers, and to conduct the sales. The report 
of the appraisuirs was as follows : " We, the subscribers, being appointed 
by William Gallup, of Hartland, in the State of Vermont, to appraise 
certain lots, or parcels of land belonging to Whitehad Hicks, (and gone 
over to the enemy,) agreeable to a vote of the honorable House of 
Representatives of said State, in March last, have viewed and appraised 
sundry lots as follows : being sworn to the faithful discharge of the trust, 
etc., viz.: One lot, the property of ' Stiversant,' (either Stuyvesant, or 
Sturtevant,) No. 6, second range, 300 acres, price 6 shillings per acre, 
purchased by John Sumner and Nehemiah Liscomb." 

A large portion of the lots sold were formerly the property of White- 
head Hicks, mayor of the city of New York, and a person whose conduct 
was considered highly inimical. The extent of the Hicks lands so sold 
amounted to 1,422 acres, and that owned by the person called "Stiver- 
sant" amounted to the aggregate of 1,488 acres. From this sale Cap- 
tain Gallup paid into the treasury more than 1,118 pouijds. 

The years of 1782 and 1786 witnessed the occurrence of certain events 
in the history of Hartland town that were decidedly out of the regular 
order of things; events riotous and tumultuous in their nature, being 



368 History of Windsor County. 

acts of unwarrantable and unjustifiable assumption of power, the one 
case the administration of supposed justice by individuals, and the other 
an attempt to resist the laws of the county. It appears that in 1782 one 
John Billings was charged with a crime, or misdemeanor, and was tried 
and convicted, and punished to a degree commensurate with his offense. 
But, not being satisfied with the visitation of justice upon the offending 
Billings, certain of the men of the town took upon themselves the au- 
thority of administering further punishment upon the culprit, according 
to their own notions of what would be appropriate for the offense in ad- 
dition to what the law had already done. These men took the offending 
person, secured him astride the back of an exceedingly lean horse, tied 
heavy weights to each of his feet, and then compelled him to ride a 
considerable distance in this extremely awkward and uncomfortable 
position; in fact, a somewhat ancient and novel application of that 
method of punishment called "riding on a rail." 

This visitation by the pioneer vigilatitcs of the town rendered them 
amenable to the law, and they, in turn, were arrested, upon the com- 
plaint of their victim, and made to answer in damages before the bar of 
justice of the county. The names of the participants in this event were 
Jedediah Leavens, Pliineas Killam, James Williams, Timothy Lull, jr., 
Aden Williams, Timothy Banister, Simeon Williams, Joab Belden and 
William Miller of Hartland, and Amos Robinson and Moses Morse of 
Windsor. 

The second unlawful proceeding in which persons of Hartland were 
chaiged with being participants occurred during the year 1786, and 
proved to be a series of attempts at outlawry rather than a single act; 
and these were the outgrowth of just the condition of affairs mentioned 
in a preceding chapter^ of this volume, relating to the enforcement of 
the law in the collection of debts. 

Concerning these disturbances the " Governor and Council," upon the 
authority of the Vermont Gazette o{ November 13 and Vcrviottt Journal 
of November 20, 1786, says: "The Windsor paper of No\ember 6 
mentions that on the Tuesday before, being the daj' assigned by law 
for the sitting of the Court of Conmion Pleas, for that county, in that 
town, a Mob, about thirty, under arms, headed by Benjamin Stebbins 

I See Bench and Bar chapter. 



Town of Hartland. 369 



(farmer, of Barnard) and Robert Morrison (blacksmith, of Hartland), 
assembled, supposed with a design to stop the court. The Sheriff', Ben- 
jamin Wait, and State's Attorney, Stephen Jacobs, waited on them, or- 
dering them to disperse, read the riot act, etc. The insurgents, finding 
their views baffled, dispersed, and the court proceeded to business with- 
out molestation. 

"The same paper of the 20th instant mentions, that at their last ses- 
sion (November 14, 1786) of the Superior Court, Robert Morrison was 
taken for riot. He plead guilty and threw himself on the mercy of the 
court, who sentenced him to suffer one month's imprisonment, procure 
bonds of one hundred pounds for his good behavior for two years, pay 
a fine of ten pounds and costs of suit. The mob hearing of the matter, 
sent to their friends and assembled at the house of Captain Lull, in 
Hartland, to the number of 30 or 40 under arms, intending a rescue. 
The court being informed of this, ordered the sheriff to collect assistance, 
proceed to the place and conduct the insurgents to prison, which, after 
a short scuffle with bayonets, the breeches of guns, clubs, etc., was hap- 
pily effected without the loss of life." (State's Attorney Jacobs and 
Sheriff Wait, however, were both slightly wounded.) "Twenty- seven 
of the insurgents were taken and brought to gaol, most of whoni plead 
guilty and were sentenced to pay fines, cost of court, and procure bonds 
for their good behavior for one year. 

" On hearing of other hostile movements, the militia were called for 
and turned out in such numbers that the insurgents did not think proper 
to make their appearance." 

Subsequent to the period of these local disturbances the history of 
Hartland was an uneventful one. The people of the town were, of 
course, interested in the controversy with New York, and were also in- 
terested in having Vermont recognized as a State of the Union ; and the 
people of the town were interested in what was known as the eastern 
union, with the New Hampshire towns, and in the further proceedings 
looking to the union with New Hampshire on the part of towns west of 
the River Connecticut. But in the main the part taken by the town 
was the discussion of these events at the fireside and the usual places of 
resort in the town. 

During the period of the War of 1812-15 the town furnished her 

47 



37° History of Windsor County. 

quota of volunteers for the service, and, judging from the records at 
that time and just before, it is fair to assume that the whole number of 
the ambitious young men of Hartland, and some older, perhaps, were 
among the enrolled militia, although but comparatively few entered the 
army. 

But it was during the late war, that of 1861-65, that the town of 
Hartland made its best record. The names of its volunteers will be 
found in an earlier chapter of this work, and it is a fact that there was 
hardly a command raised in the State or county but had at least a few 
representatives from Hartland on its muster roll. The record of the 
volunteers from the town, and the county as well, will be found in the 
chapter referred to, so that it will be necessary in this connection to 
furnish a brief summary of the representatives from the town in the 
service. The reports of the adjutant-general of the State show that the 
aggregate of men sent from Hartland, and with which the town was 
credited, exclusive of three months' men, was 208, under the following 
divisions and branches of tlie service: Recruits for three years credited 
previous to the call of October 17, 1863, 39; recruits for three years 
under call of October 17, 1863, and subsequent calls, 45 ; volunteers for 
one year, 21 ; for nine months, 39; miscellaneous credits, not named, 
II ; re-enlisted, 10; furnished under drafts and procured substitutes, 
15 ; enrolled men who furnished substitutes, 7; entered United States 
Navy, 21. 

A somewhat singular fact in connection with the history of Hartland is 
that the population of the town at the present time is less than that of 
one hundred years ago, being the only town in the county, save one, 
concerning which this can be said. Comparing Hartland with her sister 
town on the north, it is seen that in 1771 Hartland had a population of 
144, while Hartford had 190. In 1790 this town's population was 1,652, 
while that of Hartford was only 988. In 1880 the census gave Hart- 
ford 2,954, and Hartland only 1,598. This is not the result of rivalry 
between the towns, but rather the result of circumstances. Tiie natural 
resources of the towns have been about equal, Hartford having the 
larger streams and better water-power, while Hartland has the lesser 
water privileges, but the better agricultural lands. But still, Hartford 
has been susceptible of greater development than this town, added to 



Town of Hartland. 371 

which are the several railroads centering at a single point in the pioneer 
town, the benefits of which have been almost incalculable. 

The town of Hartland has three small villages or trading centers, 
called respectively Hartland, but better known as Hartland Three Cor- 
ners, and formerly as Summerville ; Hartland Four Corners, and North 
Hartland, each of which is a post town. The two first named are 
separated by a distance of but little more than one mile. At Hartland 
the mercantile business is done by two well appointed general stores, 
W. R. Sturtevant and B. F. Labaree being the respective proprietors. 
At tlie Four Corners the main mercantile business is conducted by 
Leonard Brothers. The merchants at North Hartland are W. D. Spauld- 
ing and J. O'Neil & Co. In addition to the mercantile houses the vil- 
lages have the usual contingent of shops and smaller business enter- 
prises incident to such localities. 

Soon after the settlement and organization of the town it became one 
of the first duties of the townsmen to make some provision for a place 
for holding church or religious meetings, but in this town, the same as 
in many others, the erection of a meeting-house was the subject of more 
discussion than actual construction. In Hartland this subject began to 
be agitated as early as, if not before, 1779, but the first record upon the 
matter appears in the minutes of the year named, and at a meeting held 
May 10, at which time the town voted to hire Rev. Martin Tuller to 
preach two Sabbaths more, (indicating that he had preached even before 
that time,) one- half of the time in Dr. Paul Spooner's barn, and the 
other half in Colonel Lyme's barn. On the 31st of May, 1779, Mr. 
Laiton, Elias Weld and Mr. Gallup, a committee chosen for the purpose, 
decided to "set the meeting-house " in the center of the town, on lands 
that Mr. Bugbee had offered to donate for that purpose. At a meeting 
held February 7, 1 780, the freemen voted to divide the town into two 
societies, the north and south, but this was afterward reconsidered, much 
to the dissatisfaction of a part of the towns- folk. The first church was 
built at Hartland in 1785, for the Congregational society, but this edifice 
was replaced by another in 1834. The Methodists have two societies in 
the town, one at Hartland and the other at North Hartland, each being 
provided with a church home. The Universalist church building is at 
Hartland Four Corners. 



372 MiSTOKV OF Windsor County. 



In manufacturing industries the town lias not been particularly prolific, 
but there have been a few that were at one time quite important. On 
tile site of what was known as the Sturtevant mills, recently burned, 
originall)' stood the Jonathan Chase grist-mill, erected some time prior 
to the year 1795. This was unquestionably the first grist-mill in the 
town. The property finally, in 1S40, passed to the Sturtevants, and was 
changed to a woolen- mill. It afterward was sold to J. E Ash worth & 
Co., and was still later destroyed by fire. 

The town now has two sash, blind and planing-miUs, owned res[)cct- 
ivelv by Martin & Stickney and A. A. Martin ; the saw-mills of Asa 
Merritt, J. F. Lyman and S. C. Jenne; the foundry of Francis Gilbert; 
and the Otta Quechee woolen- mills, an extensive industry at the north 
village, and the pail factory of D. S. Willard at the same place. 

Hartland was first divided into school districts about 1799, and there 
was then created nineteen districts. This number has frequently changed 
by consolidation and discontinuance. The greatest number at any one 
time was twenty- two, whole, joint and fractional. At present there are 
but sixteen. The school-buildings are fully up to the average in the 
county, some quite pretentious, while others are less so. 

The present principal town oflicers of Hartland areas follows: Clerk, 
W. R. Sturtevant; treasurer, E. VV. Billings; selectmen, Asa Weed, 
J. H. Eastman, C. C. Gates; listers, E. S. Ainsworth, George W. Spear, 
Wilson Britton ; constable, O. W. Waldo ; superintendent, C. E. Bill- 
ings; overseer, C. P. Burk ; agent, E M. Goodwin. 

Succession of town Representatives : 1778, William Gallup; 1779, 
Elias Weld; 1780, Daniel Spooner ; 1781, Elias Weld; 1782, Roger 
Enos and Elias Weld ; 1783, William Gallup; 1784, Roger Enos and 
William Gallup ; 1785, William Gallup ; 1786-87, Elias Weld ; 1788, 
William Gallup; 1789, George Denison ; 1790, Oliver Gallup; 1791, 
Roger Enos; 1792 to 1796, Oliver Gallup; 1797, Ebenezer Allen; 
1798, Oliver Gallup; 1799, Samuel Perkins; 1 800, Oliver Gallup; 1801 
to 1809, Elihu Luce; 1810, Laban Webster; 1811-12, Elihu Luce; 
1813-14, David H. Sumner; 1815-18, Elihu Luce; 1819-22, Simeon 
Willard; 1823-24, Isaac N. Cushman; 1825-26, Robert Bartlett; 1827, 
Albi Lull; 1828-29, Simeon Willard; 1830-31, Elihu Luce; 1832, 
Isaac N. Cushman ; 1833-34, Wells Hadley ; 1835-36. John S Marcy ; 



Town of West Windsor. 373 

1837-39, Daniel Ashley; 1840-41, Hamden Cutts; 1842-43, Daniel 
Dennison ; 1844-45, Lewis Merritt; 1846, Henry Shedd ; 1847, Ham- 
den Cutts ; 1848, Eben M. Stocker ; 1849, Ward Cotton; 1850, Pas- 
chal P. Taft; 1S5 1-52, Daniel Dennison ; 1853-54, Jonathan Hodgman; 
1855, George C. West; 1S56, none; 1857, John Colby; 1858, Ham- 
den Cutts ; 1859-60, John Colby ; 1861-62, Nathaniel Weed ; 1863-65, 
John Colby; 1866-67, Lewis Enimens; 1868-69, Oliver Smith; 1870- 
71, Edwin H. Bagley ; 1872-73, Charles C.Thornton; 1874-75, El- 
mer M Goodwin; 1876-77, Charles C.Thornton ; 1878-79, Charles C- 
Thornton; 1880-81, Elmer M. Goodwin; 1882-83, James G.Bates; 
1884-85, Asa Weed; 1886-87, W. R. Sturtevant ; 1888-89. H. R. 
Miller. 



CHAPTER XVni. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WEST WINDSOR. 

TI-IE town of West Windsor is the youngest of the civil divisions of 
Windsor county ; likewise it is one of the smallest towns of the 
county. An act of the Legislature of Vermont, passed and adopted Oc- 
tober 26, 1848, divided the old and historic town of Windsor, by a north 
and south line, thus creating a new town which was called West Wind- 
sor. But prior to this act the town had been divided, first, during the 
preceding century, and again in the early part of the present century, 
concerning which division mention will be made later on. 

On the 6th of July, 1761, Governor Benning Wentworth, of New 
Hampshire province, issued charters for the three towns of Windsor, 
Reading, and Plymouth, each of which was estimated to contain thirty- 
six square miles of land, with allowances, being each six miles square or 
thereabouts. To all intents and purposes these charters were simulta- 
neous. Settlement of course commenced earlier and progressed more 
rapidly in Windsor than in the other towns named, it being on the Con- 
necticut River, more easily accessible, and an altogether more desirable 
body of land. But when the king's order was issued, by which all the 
lands west of the Connecticut River were declared to belong to the ju- 



374 History of Windsor County. 



risdiction of New York province, the proprietors of Windsor, fearing 
that their lands might be taken away from them, at once made appHca- 
tion to that province for a new charter, which was L,'raiited July /, 1/66, 
making the petitioners proprietors, not only of the same town formerly 
granted by Governor Wentworth, but enlarging its territory a little, to 
the extent of some eight hundred acres. A discussion or controversy 
arose between these new proprietors, or rather between the new and 
former proprietors, and a second charter was taken from New York in 
1772, March 2d; and still a third on March 28th thereafter, granting, 
however, the same lands as by the first charter, including the eight hun- 
dred acres additional lands to the New Hampshire charter. Reading, 
too, was granted by New York on March 6th, 1772, but included only 
the same extent of lands as contained in Governor Wentworth's charter. 

Under these charters or grants subsequent surveys were made ; but in 
running the lines of Windsor to conform with the New York charter that 
gave the additional land, it was found that the town would lap over and 
include some of the Reading territory, which the proprietors of Windsor 
insisted upon claiming and taking, notwithstanding the protests of Read- 
ing's proprietors. Nathan Stone seems to have represented the Wind- 
sor side of this controversy ; and he said, singular as such action may 
appear to have applied to Governor Wentworth for such relief as would 
enable the claimants to hold the strip, but that the governor declined to 
interfere unless notice of the proceeding should be given to the Reading 
proprietors, that they might defend their claim. This controvers)', it is 
understood, occurred somewhere about the )'ear 17S0; and if at that 
time it appears somewhat remarkable that application should have been 
made to New Hampshire authority, when the jurisdiction of that province 
had been extinguished at least sixteen years before, bj' the decree of the 
king in 1764. Had the application for relief been ma !e to New York's 
provincial governor there could be nothing strange in the action, for it 
was that power that made the charter for the enlarged to« n, anil it was 
the duty of that government to make the matter right. 

But, without discussing this subject at any further length, it is suffi- 
cient to sa}' that a compromise was effected, b\- which the strip of land, 
half a mile wide and extending the whole north and south distance of the 
towns, was equally divided between Windsor and Reading by running a 



Town of West Windsor. 375 

line from the southeast to the northwest corner of Reading as it origi- 
nally was, but setting its northeast corner mark half a mile to the west- 
ward. This in a measure accounts for the singular formation of Read- 
ing town, which was supposed to be a block of land six miles square. 
The town of West Windsor, as at present formed, is bounded north by 
Hartland and Woodstock ; east by Windsor ; south by Weathersfield ; 
and west by Reading. 

The early history of the town of West Windsor, and in fact its whole 
history prior to tlie year 1848, with brief e.Kceptional periods, is the his- 
tory of the town that originally comprised the whole territory ; it is the his- 
tory of the town of Windsor, from which the events of its early existence 
cannot well be separated. Therefore, being deemed inadvisable to sepa- 
rate them, the reader will refer to the chapter devoted to the history of 
the town of Windsor for the pioneer and early events of this town, ex- 
cepting, of course, that branch of West Windsor's history that belongs 
particularly to its own chapter. 

During the period of the early history of Windsor, the same as in 
other towns of the county, all of its affairs, civil and religious, were vested 
in the hands of the proprietors ; and here, as well as elsewhere, it was 
the custom and law that the support of the minister should be a town 
charge, payable from the public funds. And the meeting-house, too, in 
case there was one, should in the same manner be erected at the town's 
expense, and at a point as near the geographical center of the town as 
the character and situation of the land would admit. Such was the law 
and the custom, but the lots that were reserved for public purposes, res- 
ervations made in every charter at that time, instead of being located in 
advantageous or proper places, were selected from the lands compre- 
hended by the inaccessible heights of Ascutney Mountain. This was the 
result of design rather than accident. Former charters, it is well under- 
stood, had made provision for these public lands according to the usages 
of the period, but in carrying out the conditions of the last charter these 
undesirable and wholly valueless lands were pitched upon. In fact, one 
of the plans had become mysteriously lost, and another replaced it ; and 
on the last the public " rights " were found so undesirably situated. 

In making provision for building a meeting house or organizing a 
church society in the town of course the convenience of the people was 



376 History of Windsor County. 

to be consulted. All the conditions being favorable the natural site for 
a meeting-house would be near the center of the town ; but, at that time, 
the village of Windsor held a considerable population, and up and down 
the river the lands were fairly well cleared, improved and settled. Also, 
the western part of the town had a goodly number of residents, while the 
middle or central portion was comparatively unsettled, on account of its 
hilly and mountainous character. Ascutney Mountain, the highest point 
of land in the entire county, was situate in the central southern part of 
the town, while to the northward from it there extended a considerable 
range of hills practically separating the western from the eastern part of 
the town. Therefore, to build a meeting-house in either the east or west 
part of the town would work an injustice to the dwellers on the side 
which was so unfortunate as not to have it. 

This led to a division of the town, so far as its religious existence was con 
cerned, into two societies or parishes, by an act of the Legislature passed 
and approved October 17, 1783, and entitled, "An Act for the division 
of the town of Windsor into two distinct societies." On the same day, 
and probably at the same hour of tlie adoption of the above mentioned 
act, the General Assembly passed an act entitled, " An Act to enable 
Towns and Parishes to build Meeting Houses & support Ministers of the 
Gospel." The latter was the enabling act, while the former was an act 
passed in pursuance of it. 

It is understood that church societies of the Congregational denomina- 
tion were organized in both the east and west parts of the town even 
before the acts were passed. On this point Thompson's "Vermont" 
says : " At an early period two religious societies of the Congregational 
order were formed in Windsor, one in the east and the other in the west 
parish of the town. About the year 1778 the Rev. Martin Tuller and 
the Rev. Pelatial were ordained the first ministers over their respective 
churches in those parishes. . . . The Congregational Church in the 
west parish has been some time vacant." 

During this period there was a diversity of opinion among the people 
of the town, growing out of the location of the meeting-house, whicii 
the division into parishes had not the effect of entirely quieting. Other 
subjects entered into the matter, which need not be discussed here, but 
which finally assumed such proportions that the State Legislature was 







0\AAjdn-y^ 



Town of West Windsor. 377 

appealed to, with the result of a division of the territory of the town by 
an act passed November 4. 18 14, as follows: 

" An Act dividing the east and west parishes of Windsor into separate 
and distinct towns. 

" It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ver- 
mont: That the east and west parishes of Windsor, from and after the 
first Monday of March next, be and they hereby are incorporated and 
made into two distinct and corporate towns ; the east parish by the name 
of Windsor, and the west parish by that of West Windsor, with all such 
privileges and immunities as other corporate towns in this State have 
and enjoy any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding." 

Under this act the newly made town elected its officers, and sent a 
representative to the General Assembly in 18 15, Jabez Delano being the 
representative chosen. But upon the passage of the act above men- 
tioned people of the locality discussed their differences and agreed upon 
terms of reconciliation and compromise ; and the General Assembly, at 
its next session in October, 18 16, repealed the dividing act it had passed 
during the preceding year. So the town of West Windsor, after an ex- 
istence of but a single year, again became united to the mother town. 

However in 184S the people for a third time had recourse to the Leg- 
islature, and the town was again divided, this time permanently. The 
act that then separated West Windsor from the older town was passed 
October 26, 1848, and was as follows: 

" It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ver- 
mont : 

" Section I. The town of Windsor is hereby divided and incorporated 
into two distinct towns by a line drawn from the northerly to the 
southerly line of said town, between the seventh and eight ranges of lots, 
in said town, as allotted and marked upon the original plan of said town, 
now in the town clerk's office thereof 

" Section 2. That portion of said town lying easterly of said line, shall 
hereafter be called and known by the name of Windsor; and that por- 
tion lying westerly of said line, shall hereafter be called and known by 
the name of West Windsor. And each of said towns hereby created, 
shall have and possess, and enjoy the same powers, privileges and im- 
munities as all other incorporated towns in this State. 
48 



378 History of Windsor County. 

" Section 3. The paupers now supported by the town of Windsor, and 
such persons as have removed, and may hereafter become chargeable to 
said towns as paupers, shall hereafter be supported at the equal expense 
of the towns of Windsor and West Windsor, in proportion to their re- 
spective grand lists. 

" Section 4. All property now owned and possessed by the town of 
Windsor, shall be owned and enjoyed by the said towns of Windsor and 
West Windsor, in proportion to the grand lists of the persons residing 
within the territorial limits of said towns of Windsor and West Windsor, 
respectively, for the year 1848; and the debts now due from the town 
of Windsor shall be paid by the said towns of Windsor and West Wind- 
sor, hereby incorporated, in the same proportion. 

" Section 5. The town records of the present town of Windsor, and all 
papers and files now by law kept in the town clerk's office of said town, 
shall hereafter be deposited and kept in the town clerk's office of the 
town of Windsor, hereby incorporated ; and all copies of said records, 
which shall hereafter be made and certified, in due form of law, by the 
town clerk of the town of Windsor, shall have the same credit and effect 
that are by law given to copies and certificates made by the other town 
clerks in this State. 

" Section 6. The said towns of Windsor and West Windsor shall be- 
come organized, and their first meetings, respectively, shall be called 
and holden in the manner prescribed by section eight, of chapter thir- 
teen of the Revised Statutes." 

By this act of the State Legislature West Windsor became an entirely 
distinct and separate town from Windsor, of which it had hitherto formed 
a part; and as such became entitled to elect its own officers and admin- 
ister its own affairs, and have a separate representation in the General 
Assembly of the State. This division of Windsor gave to the new 
creation over half the lands of the old town, with a full proportion of 
the mountainous region in the south part, known as the Ascutney 
IVIountain, while that called Little Ascutney lay entirely within the new 
town. 

After the division the first election for town officers was held in Janu- 
ary, 1849: Oilman H. Shedd was chosen town clerk ; Daniel Read, Joel 
Hale and Thomas Bagley, selectmen ; and Marcus Wooster, constable. 




Qj^y^ay2yi^ S, >^4^^ 



Town of West Windsor. 379 

In the fall of 1849 Daniel Read was elected representative in the Gen- 
eral Assembl)' of the State. 

But West Windsor has never achieved any special prominence among 
the towns of the county, nor have her people ever had any desire that 
their town should become one of great importance ; they desired a sep- 
arate existence that they might govern the town in their own way and 
in accordance with their own ideas, and this much accomplished, the 
summit of their ambition was reached. 

West Windsor is an agricultural rather than a manufacturing town ; 
still, some effort has been made in the direction of the latter industry, 
the waters of Mill River affording excellent mill privileges for the pur- 
pose, and this has been utilized more in the vicinity of Brownsville than 
elsewhere. The most important, perhaps, of the industries of the town 
was the so-called Perkins woolen-mill, which was established by Josiah 
Perkins in 1831, for the manufacture of woolen and flannel goods. In 
1850 this and the grist-mill were about the only industries of the locality. 
In i860 the woolen-mill was in operation, and A. A. Pierce was en- 
gaged in manufacturing leather. Ten years later the Perkins mill was 
running, M. B. & S. W. Perkins, proprietors, and Ira C. Small run the 
saw and lumber-mill. The latter was afterward converted into a grist, 
cider and saw-mill, and became quite an industry. In 1880 the Sykes 
mill was still operating, and L. C. White was making hosiery at the 
woolen-mill. 

In 1850 the town of West Windsor had a population of 1,002 ; i860, 
924; 1870, 708; 1880, 696; and at present the number of inhabitants 
cannot vary much from 650. 

Reference has already been made to the old Congregational society 
of the West Parish, as this part of the town was then called. Some time 
after the organization of that society, and probably about 1800, a Bap- 
tist society was formed in the West Parish, but that, too, is now extinct. 
Elder Samuel Lawson was its first pastor. The Methodist society, the 
church of which is at Brownsville, was formed about the year 18 10, with 
Rev. Chester Leavens as first pastor. The first church edifice was of 
brick, and built in 1831, and the present frame building in i860. The 
only other church building in the town is the Union at the hamlet 
called Sheddsville. 



3So History of Windsor County. 

Representatives in General Assembly from West Windsor: 1815, 
Jabez Delano ; 1849-50, Daniel Read ; 185 1-52, M. Worcester ; 1853 
Daniel Read; 1854—55, Jonas B. Bartlett ; 1856-57, Orange Leavens- 
1858-59, D. F. Hemenway; 1860-61, G. H. Shedd ; 1862, M. N. Lin- 
coln; 1863, Micah N, Lincoln; 1864-65, M. F. Morrison; 1866-67, 
Gilman H. Shedd; 1868-69, Eugene H. Spaulding ; 1870-71, Daniel 
Benjamin ; 1872—73, Moses P. Perkins; 1874—75, Eugene H. Spaulding; 
1876-77, Allen Savage; 1878-79, Eugene H. Spaulding; 1880-81, 
M. F. Morrison; 1882-83, Eugene H. Spaulding; 1884-85, F. S. Hale; 
1886-87, J. C. Taylor; 1888-89, E. S. Hale. 

Town officers: Eugene H. Spaulding, town clerk and treasurer ; F. S 
Hale, G. C. Waite and W. H. H. Ralph, selectmen ; J. H. Hammond, 
C. S. Worcester and E. C. Cady, listers; E. M. Shurtleft', superintendent ; 
F. S. Hale, overseer; W. H. H. Ralph, agent. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF READING. 

ON the 6th of July, 1761, Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire 
issued charters for three towns of land lying west of the Connecti- 
cut River ; and the towns thus brought into existence embraced a strip 
six miles wide and extending from the river westward across the entire 
width of the present county of Windsor. The towns thus incorporated 
were Saltash (now Plj'mouth), Reading and Windsor, each presumed 
to be six miles square, and to contain an aggregate of thirty-six square 
miles with allowances ; but in making subsequent surveys the town of 
Windsor was made to extend westward six and one-half miles, thus over- 
lapping the territory supposed to belong to Reading, and occasioning a 
dispute between the towns concerning the half-mile strip. Although 
there was an undoubted mistake, susceptible of amicable adjustment, the 
friends of the Windsor side of the controversy pressed their claims so 
earnestly that the result was a division of the contested strip, by running 
a line from the southeast to the northwest corner thereof, each town tak- 



Town of Reading. 381 



ing half. Hence the irregular form of Reading town. The town is 
bounded north by Woodstock; east by West Windsor; south by Cav- 
endish ; and west by Plymouth. 

Among the towns of the county Reading occupies a position nearly 
central, and is about equally distant from the county seat and the village of 
Windsor, with both of which trading centers it is connected by reason- 
ably good wagon roads, over which there passes daily mail and passen- 
ger stages. The character of the land surface generally in Reading is 
quite hilly, and in some localities mountainous, although there are less 
of extreme heights found here than in many other towns on the west and 
north sides of the county. 

Associated with the early history of the region of which Reading forms 
a part, there was at least one thrilling event, — a sad but interesting occur- 
rence, — the story of which has been told and re- told until it is as famil- 
iar to every intelligent person of the town as the alphabet itself We 
refer to the Indian capture of whites at the old Fort Number Four, the 
site of Charlestown, New Hampshire. It appears that during the period 
of the French wars a party of Canadian Indians suddenly appeared at 
the fort and made captives of eight persons — Captain James Johnson, 
his wife and three small children, and Peter Labaree, Ebenezer Farns- 
worth and Mirian Willard, the latter a sister of Mrs. Johnson. This oc- 
curred August 30, I7S4- 

Having effected the capture, the Indians and captives at once crossed 
the Connecticut River on the journey to Canada. On the first day the 
party reached a point near the base of the Little Ascutney Mountain in 
the town of Cavendish, or what afterward became that town, where prep- 
arations were made for passing the night. The prisoners were secured 
according to the savage idea and not with any regard for the personal 
comfort of the unfortunates. Added to their mental and physical suf- 
ferings during that night came a still further affliction to one of the 
captives, Mrs. Johnson ; for during the early hours of the night she gave 
birth to a child, a daughter. From these extraordinary events — the 
capture and birth — the child was named Elizabeth Captive Johnson. 

The next morning, after a light and not very refreshing meal, the jour- 
ney was resumed, the unfortunate mother being allowed the use of a 
horse upon which to ride, but this only after having been carried by the 



382 History of Windsor County. 

three white men of the party for a long distance upon a rude Htter until 
they were completely exhausted. And the use of the horse was allowed 
only in the savages' expectation of obtaining an additional ransom on 
account of the child. Once the unfortunate woman was threatened to 
be left in the woods with her babe, but the tliought of death in such a 
wilderness nerved her to continue the journey notwithstanding her in- 
tense sufferings. The route taken by the Indians took the party across 
the south part of this town into Saltash and to the Black River ; tlience, 
as is generally understood, up that stream and into the mountains, which 
being traversed, they made their way to Lake Champlain and Crown 
Point; thence to Canada and Montreal, where the prisoners were held 
for ransom. 

From here several weeks later Captain Johnson was paroled for two 
months tliat lie might return to New Hampshire to collect the funds with 
which to purchase liberty for the captives. After considerable delay the 
provincial government of New Hampshire voted him one hundred and 
fift)' pounds, with which he at once prepared to return north ; but the 
rigors of the winter were such as to prevent iiis reaching Canada until 
the early part of 1755. Upon his arrival he was charged with having 
violated his parole, his money was taken from him, and the entire party 
put in prison. Some eighteen months later Mrs. Johnson with her chil- 
dren, except the eldest, who was detained in a convent of the Jesuit order 
in Canada, together with Miss Willard were sent to England, and thence 
returned to Boston ; but Captain Johnson was kept a prisoner in Canada 
for some three years. 

In after years the spot of their first night's camp was several times 
visited by some of the former prisoners, and by whom monuments com- 
memorative of the events were erected. The above narrative records 
the first known visit of white people to the district now called Reading, 
but that was an involuntary and forced errand 

Under the authority of the provincial government of New Hampshire 
the town of Reading was chartered on July 6, 1761, but its first settle- 
ment was not commenced until the year 1772, when Andrew Spear came 
to the locality and began an improvement in the northeastern part of the 
town, east of the hamlet called Reading Center. 

The charter by whicli this town was brought into existence was sub- 



Town of Reading. 383 

stantially the same as those by which other towns were created, and 
needs no full reproduction here ; still, some of the conditions or obliga- 
tions imposed upon the grantees will be found interesting, and for that 
reason are herein given, as contained in the charter on file : 

I. Every grantee, his heirs or assigns shall plant and cultivate five 
acres of land within the term of five years, for every fifty acres con- 
tained in his or her share or proportion of land in said town, and con- 
tinue to improve and settle the same by additional cultivation, on penalty 
of the forfeiture of his grant or share in said town, and of its reverting 
to us, our heirs and successors, to be by us or them regranted to such of 
our subjects as shall effectually settle and cultivate the same. 

II. This section provides for the preservation of all white " and other 
pine trees, fit for masting our Royal Navy," and prohibits their cutting 
or destruction under penalty. 

III. That before any division of the land be made to and among the 
grantees, a tract of land, as near the center of the town as the land will 
admit of shall be reserved and marked out for town lots, one of which 
shall be allotted to each grantee, of the contents of one acre. 

IV. Yielding and paying therefore to us, our heirs and successors, for 
the space of ten years, to be computed from the date hereof, (July 6, 
1761,) the rent of one ear of Indian corn, only on the 25th day of De- 
cember, annually, if lawfully demanded, the first payment to be made 
on the 25th day of December, 1762. 

V. Every proprietor, settler or inhabitant shall yield and pay unto us, 
our heirs and successors, yearly and every year forever from and after 
the expiration of ten years from the aforesaid 25th day of December, 
which will be in the year of our Lord 1772, one shilling proclamation 
money for every one hundred acres he owns, settles or possesses, and so 
in proportion for a greater or lesser tract of the said land, etc. 

The foregoing extracts will serve to acquaint the reader with the char- 
acter of the provisions and conditions of the charter issued and granted 
by Governor VVentworth, but in explanation it should be stated that the 
conditions were not, nor could they be, fulfilled or carried out accord- 
ing to their strict construction. Governor Wentworth evidently con- 
templated a lasting continuance of the authority of his province over 
this territory of land, but the order of the king's Council in 1764 had 



384 History of Windsor County. 

the efifect of substantially terminating the New Hampshire control of the 
district, and giving it over to the province of New York ; therefore the 
annual payment of the proverbial ear of Indian corn, and the shilling 
of proclamation money, was not thereafter demanded or received by 
New Hampshire. And after that "order in council" of 1764 New 
Hampshire withdrew from the controversy with New York, and left the 
settlers then on the grants to contend against the authority of the last 
named province as best they might, or else to acquiesce in it. 

The grantees under the charter from New Hampshire were si.xty-tvvo 
in number, but the shares into which the town was divided numbered 
sixty- eight, the excess in shares being made to provide for donations for 
purposes usually specified " first events," etc. From the time of the 
chartering until the organization of the town its affairs were in the hands 
of the " proprietors," the original grantees, of whose proceedings there 
appear no valuable records. 

But it does not appear that among those grantees there was an ele- 
ment which was disposed to acknowledge and acquiesce in the authority 
of New York ; but who they all were, or the extent of their affiliation, 
cannot now be reliably ascertained. One of the leaders of that element 
was Simon Stevens, and, if ancient accounts are to be relied upon, he 
succeeded in making himself exceedingly obnoxious to the friends of 
the new State — the followers of the famous Green Mountain Boys. In 
truth evidences are not wanting to show that Stevens was many times 
guilty of "inimical" conduct, of "Toryism," for all of which he was 
amenable to the laws laid down by Ethan Allen and his followers. But 
fortunately for Stevens, he lived iri a locality too far from the seat of 
government of the Green Mountain patriots for that body to visit their 
vengeance upon his erring head. 

This same Stevens succeeded in procuring a grant of Reading's ter- 
ritory to himself and others, some of whom were of the original grant- 
ees under Governor Wentworth, but as to who all of them were there 
is no tangible record to show. Their grant was dated March 6, 1772, 
but it is understood that no cliarter was ever granted by New York to 
them. And Andrew Spear, tiie acknowledged pioneer of Reading, 
received his deed from Simon Stevens, which fact is disclosed by the 
town records ; also, the conveyance recited that the land was situate in 




Cl.AKK WaRDNER. 



Town of Reading. 385 



the county of Cumberland and province of New York. The land was, 
moreover, the same as belonged to David Nims, a grantee under the 
charter from New Hampshire. This was hardly an exceptional case, as 
instances were frequent in which the grantors and grantees named in 
the early conveyances recognized and acknowledged New York au- 
thority. 

But it would be unfair and incorrect to assume that Andrew Spear 
was himself allied to the New York cause, simply from the fact of his 
purchase from the notorious Stevens, for such was hardly the case. 
From the meager knowledge obtained from records it appears that Mr. 
Spear represented Reading in the convention at Windsor, in June, 
1777, that gave to the new State the name Vermont, instead of New 
Connecticut, although he does not appear as one of the signers of the 
revised declaration adopted at that time. He also was the first repre- 
sentative of the town in the State General Assembl}', elected in 1779. 
The only other resident of Reading during the year 1777 was Barakiah 
Cady, whose pioneership in the town commenced that same year. 

In 1779 the scanty settlement was re-enforced by the arrival of sev- 
eral families and persons who aspired to residence in the then wilder- 
ness region, among whom were James Sawyer, John Weld, David Hap- 
good, Joseph Sawyer, Jedediah Leavens, Seth and John Sawyer, Samuel 
Gary, Hezekiah Leavens, and possibly others whose names are lost. 
Nebediah Cady and Benjamin Buck came in 1780, and also, about the 
same time, Benjamin Sawyer. 

These were the pioneers, the very earliest settlers of the town, upon 
whom fell the burden of labor during the most trying period of its his- 
tory. Other settlers of course came in from year to year, took their 
proper lands and at once proceeded to clear and cultivate them. But 
the early settlement was slow, — e.xceedingly slow, — as was the case in 
other localities similarly situated. Land titles were in an unsettled con- 
dition, and there was but little inducement for the sturdy pioneer to in- 
vest his small means in lands where there was the possibility of subse- 
quent eviction. In 1 79 1 the town had acquired a population of 748, 
and in 1800 the number had increased to 1,120. The maximum was 
attained in 1830, there then being, as shown by the census enumeration 
of that year, a population of 1,603 souls. From that time there has 

4'.) 



386 History of Windsor County. 

been a gradual thougli continuous decrease, as shown by each succes- 
sive census until that of 1880 was taken, the town then having but 953 
souls within its borders, a number exceeding by only 206 the popula- 
tion it had in 1791. This is certainly a lamentable situation, but is no 
marked exception to the losses of people in many other towns of the 
county and State. 

During the Revolutionary war this town was so weak in population 
and resources that it could hardly be expected to furnish many men or 
much means for maintaining the military of the State, but according to 
its ability so the town did perform. The records of the Governor and 
Council state that in 1781 the town had one man in service, but his 
name is not given; and the records of the town for 1782 also disclose 
the fact that one man was "hired" to enter the service for a period of 
eight months, but no name is here mentioned. But after the close of 
the war, when the affairs of the State had become somewhat settled, and 
her admission to the Union was only a question of time, then the settle- 
ment increased rapidly, and there came to reside here many who were 
patriots of the Revolution, and who became prominently identified with 
the subsequent affairs of the town and county. 

For the service during the second war with Great Britain, and known 
as the War of 1812-15, the town of Reading furnished as many men 
as any town of its population in the county. And during that service 
there was the same division of sentiment that existed in other towns of 
the county, the Peace party and the War party alike having their cham- 
pions, but the latter was largely in the majority. During and prior to 
the outbreak of this war nearly every well settled town had its militia 
organizations, as well as its men "subject to military duty," and at this 
time the militia officers were called upon to furnish the town's quota of 
armed men for the service. Fourteen were " drafted " from the two 
Reading companies, as follows: Josiah Gilson, Willard Holden, Joshua 
Sawyer, Elijah Chandler, Robert Dunlap, Silas Wetlierbee and Samuel 
Dudley from Captain Aaron Townsend's company ; and Rufus Forbush, 
Asa Belden, Benjamin and John Grandy, Kendall Boutwell, Abel Gilson, 
and Amos Lane from Captain Noah Cady's command. These men were 
in the service at Plattsburgh and in the region of Canada, and were at- 
tached to Colonel D. W. Dana's Thirty- first Regiment. And of the men 



Town of Reading. 387 



who were subject to military duty, and possibly others, who enlisted as 
residents of the town, during the same war, were Samuel Johnson, David 
Burnham, John Hackett, Benjamin Nutting, John Hagett, Jos. Wood, 
John Y. Sawyer, Henry Giddings, Elisha Sawyer and Abial Persons. 

The record made by the town of Reading during the war of the Rebel- 
lion, the war of 1861-65, shows to as good advantage and brings as much 
credit to the town as that of any other locality of the county, or of the 
State. A roll of the volunteers who entered the service from Reading 
will be found by reference to chapter ten of this volume, and therefore 
need not be copied in this place. And it is a fact that almost every 
regiment or part of a regiment that was organized and sent from Ver- 
mont during the course of the war had some Reading volunteers in its 
ranks. The exceptions to this statement are indeed few. 

According to the reports of the adjutant- general of the State, Read- 
ing is credited with having one hundred and eighteen men in the serv- 
ice in three years', one year's, and nine months' regiments, and one man 
in the navy. Besides this there were six volunteers re-enlisted, and six 
men were credited miscellaneously and not named. In the town, also, 
ten men were enrolled who furnished substitutes ; nine were furnished 
under draft and paid commutation, and two procured substitutes. There 
were enlisted in the town, prior to the President's call of October 17, 
1863, for 300,000 volunteers, thirty-seven men ; subsequent to that call, 
but still for the three years' service, thirty-seven men ; for one year's 
service, three men ; and for nine months' service, twenty- two men ; navy, 
one man. 

Returning again, and briefly, to the early events of Reading, it is found 
that the town was organized and officers elected in 1780, the first free- 
men's meeting being held March 30th of that year. Concerning the sev- 
eral officers then chosen the records give no account other than the elec- 
tion of Jedediah Leavens as town clerk. At that time and before, and for 
some years after as well, the affairs of the town were in the hands of the 
proprietors, and the organization was a formal act to arrange for local 
government independent of the proprietors' proceedings. 

The town, besides having control over its own civil government, was 
vested with authority to tax the people for the support and maintenance 
of a minister of the gospel, and, if need be, to be at the expense of erect- 



388 HiSTOKY OF Windsor County. 

ing a meeting-house. The charter provided, among its reservations of 
lands, that one whole share be set apart for the " Society for the Propa- 
gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ; one share for the first settled 
minister of the Gospel ; one share for the benefit of a school in said town ; 
and one share for a glebe for the Cluirch of England," etc. The society 
of the Congregational church was the first religious organization to have 
a being within this town, and was formed on the 26th of June, 1787. 
Rev. Nahum Sargeant was the first settled minister, and to him was sur- 
veyed one right of one hundred and seventy-five acres of land, in May, 
1789, and another right of one hundred and twenty- five acres in thesame 
month and year. The first right lay on the western side of the town, 
and the second near the center. The first meeting-house was a log 
structure. The services of the resident minister were paid by general 
town tax, a practice that was kept up until 1797 

Of the early residents of the town a majority were Congregationalists, 
but as new families came to the locality, other societies were orgnnized. 
The society of the Baptist church was formed December 25, 1788 ; the 
Reformed Catholic Society December 12, 1796; and another known as 
the Congregation of the Moral Society in October, 1798. But not all 
of these societies had a church home ; the early meetings were held at 
such places as best suited the convenience of members, a dwelling house, 
and occasionally a barn, or perhaps a grove of forest trees, answering 
their purpose. In fact, the old log church did service as a place for pub- 
lic worship until the beginning of the present century, although frequent 
efforts were made by the town to cause the erection of a more substan- 
tial building for the purpose ; but on account of a wide diversity of 
opinion among the freemen, or some other interference, the matter was 
delayed, or if voted for, was reconsidered, and it was not until the year 
1801 that a commodious frame church building was erected in Reading. 
Unfortunately, however, this edifice was destroyed by fire in 1 8 10. After 
this disaster the town was without a meeting-house until 1S16, during 
which year a brick edifice was erected at Reading Center. But this 
church was burned in i860. 

The Universalist Society of Reading was brought into existence in 
1802, and has remained to the present day, now being the strongest, 
numerically, of any denomination in the town. The Methodist Society 



Town of Reading. 389 



was a later creation, having been formed about 1820, and this too is in 
existence in the town. These two, with the Calvinistic Baptist Society, 
comprise the active working reh'gious societies of the town at present. 
The Union church, at Felchville, was built through the joint efforts of 
these denominations. 

TIic Reading Centennial Celebration. — This was unquestionably the 
greatest event in Reading's modern history, and was celebrated with 
such interesting and impressive ceremonies as the occasion seemed to 
demand. The exercises in full were published in the Woodstock Post 
of August 30, 1872, the celebration having taken place two days earlier. 
From the narrative contained in that paper, written by Gilbert A. Davis, 
and afterward incorporated in his excellent "History of Reading," many 
facts of importance relating to the early institutions of the town are 
gleaned, as well as a synopsis of the events of the celebration itself And 
it is well to state here, parenthetically perhaps, that should the readers 
of this volume desire access to a full, minute and accurate account of the 
history of this town, their attention is respectfully directed to Mr. Davis's 
work, which was published in 1874. The order of the exercises at the 
celebration was as follows : 

Address of welcome, by Dr. VV. S. Robinson, president of the day ; 
prayer, by Rev. J. S Small; historical address, by Gilbert A. Davis, esq.; 
(from this address, among other things, it is learned that "as early as 
April 5, 1778, the town" — proprietors would probably be more accu- 
rate — " voted that Nathaniel Pratt, Asa Wilkin, Samuel Sherwin, John 
Weld, Elisha Bigelow, Abijah Stone, Solomon Keyes. John Sherwin, 
Abel Amsden, John Morse, George Clark, and David Hapgood divided 
the town into (school) districts ";) commemorative address, by Rev. 
T. J. Sawyer, D. D., of Tuft's College ; dinner and intermission ; histor- 
ical poem, by Mrs, Frances Raker, of Chester ; recitation of poem, by 
Stella M. Bryant (less than seven year.s of age) ; address, by Thomas 
Curley, student of Tuft's College; poem, "One Hundred Years," written 
by Minnie S. Davis, of Hartford, Conn., and read by Rev. S. A. Davis; 
address, " On the Changes of a Hundred Years," by Hon. John M. Stearns, 
of Brooklyn, N. Y.; address, by William Watkins, esq., of Towanda, 
Pa.; address, by Scwall Fullam, of I.udlow; poem, by Honestus 
Stearns, esq.; address, by Rev. Samuel A. Davis, of Hartford, Conn.; 



390 History of Windsor County. 

address, by Simeon Ide, of Claremont, N. H.; short addresses, by F. G. 
Weld, of Greenfield, Wis., John L. Buck, of Lockport, N. Y., Hon. 
Julius Converse, of Woodstock, ex-Governor Ryland Fletcher, Hon. 
B. H. Steele, Rev. Horace Herrick. 

From the address of Sevvall Fullam much valuable information is de- 
rived relating to the early industries of the town, and some of the early 
residents as well, from all of which facts it will be unnecessary to pur- 
sue that subject further in these pages, as being of no particular interest 
to the people outside of the town, and those that live therein have the 
facts well before them. 

The town of Reading has four villages, or trading centers, — Reading 
Center, or Reading, Hammondsville, South Reading, and Felchville, of 
which that last named is the largest and most important. Felchville 
was named in honor of William Felch, a native of Royalton, Mass., born 
F"ebruary 3, 1797, but who came to this county at the age of fourteen 
years, and to the locality named for hmi in 1826. He was a generous, 
public-spirited, and industrious citizen, through whose labors the town 
was greatly benefited, and to whose energy the village owed its very ex- 
istence The work begun by him was carried on by others after he re- 
tired from active life, and to each one who followed in his footsteps is 
due a share of credit. But Felchville, like very many other villages in 
the land, has enjoyed its days of prosperity, and has experienced periods 
of adversity. Industries have come and gone, some flourished while 
others were less fortunate; but human judgment is not infallible, and 
mistakes and disasters should never be counted as intentional wrong. 

Felchville was established as the seat of a school district in 1827, but 
the school-house was not erected until the next year. In 1S47 a larger 
and more commodious school building was erected. The other villages 
of the town also have good school accommodations, while the town out- 
side is divided into districts, some full and fractional or joint, as best suits 
the necessities of the several localities and the people that dwell in them. 

Succession of town Representatives in the General Assembly: 1777 
(convention at Windsor), Andrew Spear; 1778, no record; 1779, An- 
drew Spear ; 1780-81, Thomas Hapgood ; 1782, Andrew Spear ; 1783, 
Joseph Sawyer; 1784-89, John Weld; 1790-91, Elkanah Day; 1792, 
John Weld; 1793, Aaron Kimball ; 1794-95, Abijah Stone ; 1796-97, 



Town of Plymouth. 391 



David Hapgood ; 1798-99, Moses Chaplain; 1800, Solomon Keyes ; 
1801-08, Elias Jones; 1809, Lemuel Ida; 1 8 10, Solomon Keyes ; 1811, 
Jonathan Shedd ; 1812, Jonathan Shedd ; 1813-14, William L. Haw- 
kins; 1815, Jonathan Shedd ; i8i6-20, Sewall Fullam ; 1821-23, Jon- 
athan Shedd; 1824-25, Samuel C. Loveland ; 1826, Abel Gilson, jr.; 
1827-28, Samuel C. Loveland ; 1829-31, Simeon Buck ; 1832-33, Will- 
iam Felch ; 1834-35, Shubael C. Shedd ; 1836-37, Bridgman Hapgood; 
1838-39, Solomon Keyes; 1840-41, Benoni Buck; 1842-43, John 
Wheeler; 1844-45, Rufus Forbush ; 1846, John Wheeler; 1847-48, 
Charles Buck ; 1849, Solomon Keyes ; 1850-5 i, Luther Carlton ; 1852, 
Hiram Goddard ; 1853-54, Charles Buck; 1855-56, Samuel Herrick ; 
1857, Samuel Herrick; 1858, Josiah O. Hawkins; 1859, Washington 
Keyes; i860, Washington Keyes; 1861-62, Willard H.Dow; 1863- 
64, Merritt E. Goddard ; 1865-66, Sumner Fletcher; 1S67-68, Prosper 
Merrill; 1869, William P. Chamberlain; 1870-71, Hiram F. Thomas; 
1872-73, Gilbert A. Davis; 1874-75, Gilbert A. Davis; 1876-77, 
George H. Parker ; 1878-79, none; 1880-81, Eleazer Dexter ; 1882-83, 
John McCullough ; 1884-85, Azro White ; 1886-87, Orsemor S. Hol- 
den; 1888-89, William W. Keyes. 



CHAPTER XX. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH. 

THE town of Plymouth, as it is now and for nearly a century has 
been known, was chartered by Governor Banning Wentworth of 
New Hampshire, on the 6th of July, 1761, and was, therefore, one of the 
earlier chartered towns. The grantees under this charter were sixty- four 
in number, and headed by Jeremiah Hall. The town, however, was given 
the name of Saltash, and by that name it was known and called until 
February 23, 1797, when an act of the Legislature changed the name to 
Plymouth. 

The town also seems to have been among those over which the prov- 
ince of New York sought to exercise control by specific acts, as well as 
the general authority she claimed to possess over this whole State ; for 



392 History of Windsor County. 

ill the year 1772, soon after or about the time of tiie erection of Cumber- 
land and Gloucester counties, the governor of the province of New York 
made a grant of the lands of old Saltash to Ichabod Fisher and certain 
associates, the grant bearing date May 13, 1772, but it is not known 
whether or not the New York governor e\er confirmed the Fisher grant 
b_\- charter rights and privileges ; probably he did not. And it is not 
positively known whether Saltash was first settled by persons friendly to 
New York or Vermont, for when the first pioneer, of whom there is a 
record, came to the town, Vermont had become an independent State, 
and had succeeded New Hampshire in extending protection and juris- 
diction over the people of the districts or separate grants But when the 
town was organized, in 1787 or about that year. New York had practi- 
cally lost control of the Vermont towns, although the rights of the latter 
were not then recognized by Congress, and the first officers were elected 
by the freemen in accordance with the laws of this State. 

Geographically, the town of Plymouth occupies a position among the 
towns of Windsor county on the extreme western border, abutting the 
Rutland county east line ; in the north and south measurement of Wind- 
sor county the position of the town is central, being one of the six towns 
that form the central block in the county. 

Plymouth is also reckoned among the more mountainous towns of the 
county, there being perhaps as large a number of peaks and high ridges 
as can be found in any of the county's towns. And the hills, too, do 
not appear to form a continuous range, but a series of broken mountain 
formations, with deep valleys between them, through which course 
large and small beautiful mountain streams. Many of these peaks have 
been dignified with distinguishing names, some given in allusion to the 
surname of an owner or prominent resident of their locality, and others 
applied from the peculiar characteristics of the mountain itself, as fancy 
or taste might dictate. In the northeast part are the so-called Blueberry 
Ledges, on the north side of which were the old Chamberlain cider and 
saw-mills of years ago. Then, still in the northern section, are the other 
hills — Allen's Hill, Morgan Peak, Smith's Hill, Mount Pleasant, Wood's 
Peak, Slack Hill, Plymouth Notch, East Mountain, and many others of 
equal prominence. 

In the central part of the town are a number of mountains, to which 



Town of Plymouth. 393 

have been applied respective names, — Mount Tom, Old Notch, Mount 
Ambrose, South Hudus Mountain and Blueberry Hill ; wliile the south- 
ern part has its Weaver Hill, Dry Hill, Saltash Hill, Tinney Hill, and 
others of less prominence. In the southwestern part of the town, and 
north of Saltash Hill, is a spot that achieved some considerable notoriety 
many years ago, from having been the supposed general rendezvous and 
point of manufacture of a band of counterfeiters ; and for their peculiar 
craft no more favorable location could have been selected, for this region 
of the town has witnessed no settlement, even to the present day. 

The general trend of the mountain system of Plymouth appears to be 
from south to north, with an inclination to the northwest. The town, 
too, possesses water privileges second to none in the county or perhaps 
in the State. The Black River is its principal stream, and has its chief 
source in Woodward's reservoir, although its extreme headwaters are in 
the towns farther north. From the reservoir the river flows southeast to 
a point a short distance from the old Ward lime works, where it broadens 
and forms a body of water known as Black Pond ; thence continues its 
course to the southeast across the town and discharges into Plymouth 
Pond. This is a still larger body of water and from its area would be 
entitled to the more dignified appellation of " lake," should the citizens 
of the locality feel disposed to so designate it. The outlet of the pond 
is a continuation of the Black River, which flows thence into the town 
of Ludlow, crosses the other towns of Cavendish, Weathersfield and 
Springfield, and discharges its waters into the Connecticut in the town 
last named. The principal tributaries of the Black River in Plymouth 
are Patch Brook, Little Roaring Brook, Money Brook, Great Roaring 
Brook, and Tinker Brook, on the west side ; and Kingston Brook, Read- 
ing Brook, Grass Pond, and J3uck Pond, on the east side. Hollow 
Brook and Broad Brook, tributaries of the Otta Quechee River, also have 
their headwaters in Plymouth town. The several ponds of the town are 
stocked with fish of different varieties, and this with the other attractions 
of the locality have combined to make Plymouth a summer resort of 
some prominence. 

A large proportion of the rock formation in the town is primitive lime- 
stone, and fifty and even less years ago the manufacture of lime was one 
of the important industries of the locality. Some of this stone made 

.'lO 



394 History of Windsor County. 

excellent marble, and as early as 1834 a factory, capable of operating 
one hundred and fifty saws, was built and run for a number of years. 
Some of this marble was of a white color and some was beautifully varie- 
gated. Near the vicinity of Mount Tom also there existed, and still 
does, a considerable bed of soapstone, but its production was not carried 
on to any marked extent. 

The town of Plymouth abounds in natural attractions, greater than 
which there is none in southern Vermont, and the greatest and most 
celebrated of those in the town are what has been termed the Plymouth 
Caverns. These were first discovered early in July, 1818, and very soon 
afterward were explored. They are situate at the base of the mountain, 
on the southwest side of the river, and about fifty rods therefrom. 
They were caused by water running through the lime rock, thus making 
considerable excavations. The passage into the main cavern is nearly 
perpendicular, about the size of a common well, and ten feet in depth. 
This leads into the main room, oval in form, thirty feet long by twenty 
feet wide, and about fifteen feet in greatest height. The second room is 
reached through a broad, sloping passage, and is about half the size of 
the first. The third room is reached by a narrow passage, and the room 
is fourteen feet long, eight feet wide and seven feet high. The fourth 
room is thirty feet long, twelve wide, and eighteen high, while the fifth 
room of this cave is ten feet long, seven wide, and but four feet in height 
The sixth and seventh rooms are about the same size, each being about 
fifteen feet long, seven wide, and four high. From the seventh room 
there extends a narrow passage into the rocks something like fifteen or 
sixteen feet, and then seems to terminate. When first discovered the 
roof and sides of this cavern were beautifully ornamented with stalac- 
tites, and the bottom with corresponding stalagmites, but curiosity 
hunters have broken and carried nearly everything away that was most 
desirable. A few rods to the westward of the cavern just described is 
another, about one- third less in size. 

The wealth of history made by the town of Plymouth rests in the 
record made by the town practically during the present century. To 
be sure the town was chartered as early, almost, as any other of the 
county's sub-divisions, but from its somewhat remote and isolated situa- 
tion there was not the inducement here that attracted pioneers to other 



Town of Plymouth. 



395 



towns ; and more than that, a settlement in the district of Saltash or 
Plymouth meant untold privations and hardships to the family of the 
venturesome pioneer who should make his abode within its limits. But 
notwithstanding all this, and in the face of all dangers and trials, the 
town was settled and peopled, and gained steadily in population and 
productions from the very first. The record has it that the first settler 
was John Mudge, and that he came to the town during the year 1777 ; 
and that he was soon afterward followed by the family of Aaron Hewett, 
during the same year. William Mudge, the son of John, was the first 
white male child born in the town, and from that event became entitled 
to and received the customary hundred- acre lot that was awarded to the 
first-born male of the town. 

But pioneer settlement in Plymouth was very slow, more so, perhaps, 
than the majority of the neighboring towns, but no slower than 
others similarl)' situated. The first census, that of 1791, gives the town 
a population of but one hundred and six, which was contained and em- 
braced by about twenty families. Nine years later, or in 1800, the 
number of families had increased to nearly one hundred, and the popu- 
lation to almost five hundred. So near as can be determined, in the 
absence of any written record, the town was organized about the year 
1787, when the number of its families could hardly have exceeded twelve 
or fifteen. Adam Brown is believed to have been chosen town clerk 
in that year. The first freemen's meeting, of which there appears a 
record, was held in March, 1789; and Jacob Wilder was chosen town 
clerk ; Samuel Page, Moses Priest and John Coolidge, selectmen; Eben- 
ezer Wilder, Jonathan. Wilder and Nathan Jones, jr,, listers. These men 
were of course pioneers in the town, but there were others as well, 
whose names, some of them, can be recalled. John Taylor, Lieutenant 
Brown and Captain John Coolidge (both patriots of the Revolution), 
Jonathan Pinney, Isaiah Boynton, Luther Johnson, Nathan Hall, Asa 
, Wheeler, and undoubtedly others whose names have been lost, together 
with those mentioned before — Jacob Wilder, Moses Priest, Samuel Page, 
John Coolidge, Ebenezer and Jonathan Wilder, Nathan Jones, the first 
town officers, — comprised in the main the little colony of pioneers who 
had the termerity and determined spirit to attempt the settlement of so 
uninviting a town as Saltash was at that period. These families are 



396 History of Windsor County. 



believed to have settled in the town as early at least as the year 1800, 
and a number of them before 1790. 

But whatever of hardships the pioneers of this town may have en- 
dured in effecting a permanent lodgment here, they seem never to have 
directly suffered under the smarting afflictions that attended pioneer- 
ship in many other localities, on account of the disturbances between 
New York and the independent State of Vermont; nor were the few 
settlers in the town at all embarrassed in their possessions by being 
called upon to furnish men and means with which to prosecute the war 
against Great Britain, for, at that time, the town had scarce a handful of 
men within her borders, and not enough to become noticed by the 
authorities of the State. The first representatives to the State legisla- 
tive body were chosen in 1778, but the town of Plymouth seems not to 
have chosen a representative prior to the election of Moses I'riest, in 

1795- 

As the town grew in population, as the various remote localities began 

to be populated, as the forests gave way to agricultural improvements 
and development, the fact became disclosed that Plymouth possessed 
other and richer resources than were contemplated, or even dreamed of, 
by the pioneers. These vast mountains which were supposed to be of 
no practical value, except for their forest growth, were found to contain 
mineral and other deposits that once bid fair to place Plymouth far ahead 
of any of her sister towns. Explorations brought to light the fact that 
these hills contained deposits of marble, lime, steatite, iron and gold, 
and other valuable commodities, but the revelations came by periods, 
and each was worked and exhausted in its turn, or else similar produc- 
tions in other States supplied the demand and rendered further opera- 
tions here unprofitable. The marble and lime producing industries of 
the town have already been referred to, so we may now refer to the 
enterprise that founded the village of Tyson Furnace, as formerly known, 
or Tyson of to-day. 

The period of the iron excitement and development of Plymouth be- 
gan in 1835, about which year, or possibly a little earlier, the discovery 
of its deposit was made. Isaac Tyson was experienced in mining op- 
erations, and in crossing the mountains discovered by accident an iron 
deposit in the vicinity of Mount Tom. He examined its quality, and 



Town of Plymouth. 397 

afterward sent to the locality an expert in iron ores, who prosecuted his 
explorations throughout the region with gratifying results. About the 
same time other mining operators became cognizant of the supposed in- 
exhaustible deposits of iron in the town, and they likewise sent prac- 
tical engineers to the town. In 1837 Mr. Tyson commenced the erec- 
tion of his works, which were put in operation the same year. They 
consisted of a large blast furnace, beside a smaller one for convenience. 
Several excavations were made by which ore was taken, a part proving 
to be of superior qualit}', such as is called steel ore. 

As the works became established, and the mining, blasting and cast- 
ing operations in full progress, a town was built up which was named 
after its enterprising founder — Tyson Furnace. Stores, a post-office, 
hotel and innumerable other business enterprises were established at the 
Furnace, and a large and successful business carried on there for a num- 
ber of years; but at length there came a decline, one embarrassment 
followed another, and in a few years more operations ceased and the 
locality lapsed into its tormer state. A number of the old structures 
are still standing, relics of a former age of progress and enterprise, but 
the hundreds of persons who found employment in connection with the 
mining and foundry enterprises have left the community, or sought 
other occupations. 

Scarcely had this great wave of excitement died away and become 
lost in the past than there appeared another ripple on the surface of 
affairs within the town, and it continued to grow and increase until the 
people of the quiet town became almost wholly absorbed in the one 
subject of the vast deposits of gold that lay concealed in the depths of 
Plymouth's mountains. Bridgewater lay substantially within the same 
belt and gold was reported there in great abundance ; therefore, why 
not in Plymouth ? About this time men, who had seen life in the gold 
fields of California, were returning to the East, and a party of them no- 
ticed a striking resemblance in the character of the soil in the two far 
apart places. Investigation followed, and the result proved that Ply- 
mouth, too, had gold deposits, but its quantity was unknown, altogether 
a matter of speculation. The first " claim" was staked out by William 
Hankinson, in 1858, in the vicinity of Five Corners (in the northeast 
part of the town), and within the space of a few square rods of land 



398 History of Windsor County. 

more than four hundred dollars worth of the coveted mineral was found. 
Other operators duf^ in other localities, and even some of the staid and 
quiet towns-folk took up the pick and shovel and went in quest of sudden 
wealth But heavy or extensive operators did not seem to take hold 
of the matter of gold mining in Plymouth to any noticeable extent, 
though the reports of the field had gone abroad some years before ; and 
the digging that was done, and the mineral that was found, was due to 
the efforts of local and some comparatively unknown parties. Still each 
was rewarded for his labor, but riches none of them ever acquired. 

At last, to give the field a practical and thorough test, in the year 
1880 a corporation was formed, known as the Plymouth Gold Mining 
Company. This company came to the field well equipped with capi- 
tal, tools and machinery, and commenced operations in the vicinity of 
Five Corners. They dug and mined along the streams and in the hills 
for a considerable time, taking out some gold of good quality. 

Still later, in 1882, the Rooks Mining Company, comprised mainly of 
New York capitalists, began operations in the town, along the waters 
and in the headlands of the vicinity of the streams in the southeast part 
of Plymouth, the principal scenes of operations being the valleys of 
Reading Brook and its tributary, Buffalo Brook, also Gold Brook. For 
a time these companies were reported as having abundant success; but 
mining operators are a peculiar class of people ; if success is abundant 
they report to the contrary, thus hoping to keep out other operators and 
hold the whole field, and if success is indifferent they are not willing that 
the world should know of their mistakes. 

But whatever of success the companies and private operators have 
met with is not at present generally known, but mining in Plymouth 
to-day is not prosecuted with any great degree of vigor, or at least with 
such vigor as is usually seen in highly productive gold regions. 

All these various enterprises, whether permanent or otherwise, have 
been productive of good results to the people of Plymouth, enabling 
the lumbermen to realize well frtmi the sale of their manufactures, the 
farmer on his products, the merchants from their stores, and to the will- 
ing laborer and mechanic they have furnished profitable employment 
for many years. And Plymouth, too, has held her population better 
than most similarly situated towns in the county, there having been less 



Town of Plymouth. 399 

of decline in number of inhabitants than is noticeable in the majority of 
towns. Manufactures also have been kept up, and are now in as fair 
condition of prosperity as can be found in any town of the county. L. M. 
and H. E. Pinney are manufacturers of carriage rims ; Knight & San- 
derson, E. C. Pinney, of chair stock; E. C. and E. A. Hall, of lime; 
Parker & Piper and Moore & Clay, of lumber; A. F. Hubbard, of lum- 
ber and chair stock; VV. M. Cook, shingles and lath; A. A. Sumner, 
of butter tubs. And within the last five years the following firms, some 
already named, have been engaged in manufacturing industries in the 
town : Christopher C. Hall, Horace N. Ward, P. P. & H. P. Crandall 
and E. A. Hall, lime manufacturers; Frederick A. Butler, grist and 
saw-mill, and manufacturer of shingles and chair stock; John P. Al- 
ward, Parker & Piper, Fullam & Adams, S. I'". Pinney, Lyman F. Pin- 
ney, Henry F. Pinney and Moore & Clay, saw mills; A. A. Sumner, 
A. F. Hubbard, saw and grist- mills; Sanderson & Sumner and George M. 
Whitney, chair stretchers; John W. Pierce, pail handles, butter stamps, 
lath, rolling-pins, etc.; Hubbard & Scott, cheese factory; Francis H. 
Cook, scythe stones. 

The merchants of the town, with their places of location, respectively, 
are as follows : Plymouth Union, L. B. Moore and A. N. Earle; Tyson, 
A. F. Hubbard; Plymouth Notch, G. M. Moore. 

There has been, in past and present, five church societies in the town 
of Plymouth, — Congregational, Baptist, Methodist, Christian and P'ree 
Will Baptist. The Congregational church was formed in 1806, and over 
it Rev. Prince Jenne presided for several years. The first Union meet- 
ing-house was built in the south part of the town in 18 16. Another 
Union church was afterwards built at Plymouth. The only other church 
edifice, the Methodist, is at Plymouth Union. 

Present town officers: Clerk, Mrs. L. B. Moore; treasurer, L. J. 
Green; selectmen, C. H. Scott, E. H. Pinney, A. A. Sumner; h'sters, 
Charles Carpenter, A. F. Hubbard, Henry Hudson ; constable, J. C. 
Coolidge; superintendent, G. M. Moore; town agent, J. C. Coohdge. 

Plymouth representatives in Vermont General Assembly: 1795, 
Moses Priest; 1 796-7-8-9-1 800, Asa Briggs ; 1801, Elias Williams; 
1802-3-4, Asa Briggs; 1805-6-7-8, Daniel Brown; 1809 to 1817 
(inclusive), Ephraim Moore; iSiSto 1821, Asa Briggs ; 1822, Epliraim 



400 History of Windsor County. 

Moore; 1823 to 1825, John Lakin ; 1826, Joseph Kennedy; 1827, none; 
1828, John Lakin; 1829, Samuel Page; 1830, Levi Slack; 1831-32, 
Samuel Page; 1833, Cephas Moore; 1834, Samuel Page; 1835-36, 
John S. Fullerton ; 1837-38, none ; 1839 to 1842, Levi Slack; 1843-44, 
Moses Pollard, jr ; 1845-46, Jared Marsh ; 1847-48, Moses Pollard, jr.; 
1849, Levi Slack; 1850, Abraham S. Day; 1851-53, John W. Stick- 
ney ; 1854-55, Jarius Josselyn ; 1856-57, Isaac Pollard; 1858-59, 
James A. Pollard; 1860-61, Calvin G. Coolidge; 1862-63, James S. 
Brown ; 1864-65, A. B. Martin ; 1866-67, Alpheus N. Earle ; 1868-69, 
Thomas Moore; 1870-71, Charles A. Scott; 1872-77, John C. Cool- 
idge; 1878-81, Alonzo F. Hubbard; 1882-S5, Levi J. Green; 1886-89, 
C. A. Scott. ' 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter of this work. 

Bailey, Warren, born in Chester, Windsor county, Vt , September 28, 1840, lived 
at home in Chester and Cavendish until he was nventy-one years of age. On tlie23d of 
Ootober, 1862, he volunteered as private in Company C, Sixteenth Rei;imeiit Vermont 
Volunteers, Colonel Wheelock tr. Veasey commanding, and was with the regiment in all 
of its engagements, notably Gettysburg. He was mustered out August 1(1, 18(53. He 
married Maich 9, 18G5, Abbie W.. daughter of Andrew and Lydia Maria (Weston) Bald- 
win. She was born in Lowell, Vt., February 8, 1842. Her father was born March 8, 
1805, in Cavendish, died June 5, 1880. His wife, born November 10, 181 1, died April 2, 
1S87. Their children: Joseph A., born April 21, 1833; Edgertun, October 17, 1835; 
Mary E., August 20, 1837; Abbie W.; and Thomas, born August 14, 1845. After mar- 
rying. Mr. Bailey lived three years in Cavendish, then three years at North Hill, Lud- 
low. In 1871 he purchased the farm in Plymouth, known as the "Old Ballard Place," 
in the east part of the town, and has lived there since. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Bailey are Alfred S., born in Cavendish, December 30, 18G0; Elwin A., born in Ludlow, 
February 20. 18G9 ; Alva W., born November 29, 1872 ; Edson H.. born September 8, 
1876; and Mary C, born November 4, 1881. The latter three reside in Plymouth. 

Cheney, George, was born in Mendon, Rutland county, Vt., November 16, 1828, the 
fourth in a family of seven children of John \V. and Abigail (Eastman) Cheney. His 
father moved from Mendon to Shrewsbury, Vt,, where he died in 183G, at the age of 
forty-two. When six years of age George went to live with Cephas Wilder, at the 
■' Notch," Plymouth. He lived there until he was twenty-one years of age. He has 
been three times married. He married, November 13, 1855, Clara, daughter of Thomas 



Old Families. 401 



and Athelia (Pollard) Moore. Sarah B., wife of Darwin Dow, farmer, living in Chester, 
Vt., is their only child. Mrs. Cheney died April 12, 1864. He married, April 12, 1866, 
Roann, daughter of Daniel and .Julia Whitney. George A. Chene}', born May 16, 1868, 
in Woodstock, Vt., is the only child by this marriage. He live* with his father. Roann 
Cheney died January 3, 1878. Jane ilaria, daughter of Samuel B. and Eunice (Sawyer) 
Bradley, was his third wife, whom he married .January 8, 1879. She was born in Beek- 
mantown, N. Y., September 6, 1830. Her father was born in Great Barrington, Mass., 
March 13, 1794, her mother in Rochester, Vt.. March 13, 1800. After his flrst marriage 
Mr. Cheney settled upon the farm now owned by J. R. Sargent in Plymouth. Next he 
purchased a farm in Woodstock, which he sold m 1871, and purchased the farm in Ply- 
mouth, between the " Notch " and '' Five Corners," known as the " Headly farm," where 
he now resides. 

Dix, Samuel, farmer, living in the .southeast corner of the town of Plymouth, is a de- 
scendant in the eighth generation from Anthony Dix, who landed m Plymouth, Mass., 
in the ship Ann, 1623. He was a sea captain ; was captured by pirate Bull in 1632, and 
after his escape, settled in Salem, Mass. He was wrecked on Cape Cod, December 13, 
1636, and drowned. His wife's name was Tabitha. The line from Anthony to Samuel 
Dix, above named, is as follows: First, Anthony ; second, Ralph; third, John ; fourth, 
Samuel; fifth, Samuel; sixth, Samuel; seventh, Stephen; eighth, Samuel. Ralph, 
born December 4. 1643, wife's name Esther, died September 24, 1688. John, born in 
Ipswich, Mass., March 12, 1658, died in Reading, Mass., May 12, 174.5, was twice mar- 
ried, and had four children by his first and six by his second wife. His son Samuel, 
the second child by the last marriage, was born Feb:uary 7, 1705, married Hannah 
Batchelder, March 17, 1730, by whom he had eight children, of whom Samuel was the 
third, born March 23, 1736, in Reading, Mas.s.; was graduated from Harvard College in 
1758; pastor of Congregational Church of Townsend for thirty-six years. He received 
a blow from an axe at a raising, and died a few days tliereafter, September 21, 1802. 
He had seven children, of whom Samuel was the second, born September 5, 1763, and 
died October 21, 1839, aged seventy-six years. He was married October 31, 1785, to 
Chloe, daughter of John and Mary Dix, an own cousin. Of his five children, Stephen 
was born m Townsend, Mass., May 18, 1790, married September 8, 1821, Mary P. 
Gilson. Mr. Dix died September 11, 1867, and his wife May 1, 1864. His father, 
Samuel Dix, moved from Townsend, Mass., and settled in Cavendish, Vt., in 1793. He 
had eight children, all of whom are deceased (1889) except Samuel and Benjamin. Sam- 
uel Dix was born in Plymouth, Vt., January 24, 1824. His father moved from Caven- 
dish and settled in Plymouth on the farm now owned and occupied by Samuel in 1827. 
The house was built by a Mr. Spaukhng in 1797. Samuel Dix married, July 26, 1862, 
Ellen S., daughter of Thomas and Mary M. (Davis) Cummmgs, who was born in Rock- 
ingham, Vt.. October 14, 1848. Her" mother died Jmie 10, 1852. Her father died 
from camp fever in Baton Rouge, La., September 18, 1862. Her brother, Lyman C, 
also a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, is a resident of Chester, Vt. A sister, wife 
of Charles Sisson, lives in Keene, N. H. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Dix are John D., 
born September 18, 1863, married October 2, 1888, Jennie, daughter of Heman and 
Caroline (Ordway) Gilson, of Wautoma, Wis., born July 27, 1869; Chloe M., born Oc- 
tober 6, 1870; and Ernest S., born September 9, 1879. 

Greene, Levi J. — Isaac Greene, grandfather of Levi J., married a Miss Chamberlain, 
raised a large family, and died in New York. His wife survived him, and died in Cav- 
endish, Vt. Their son Isaac married Polly Parker, of Cavendish. Their children were 
Mary, Eliza F., John P., James S., Joshua P., Levi J., Henry C, Hannah M., and Ab- 
ner F. The first four and Henry C. are deceased. All were married, and, except 
Henry C, had children. 

Greene, Isaac, father of Levi, moved from Cavendish and settled on a farm in the 
southwest part of Plymouth in 1817. He died there May, 1853. His wife survived him 

51 



402 History of Windsor County. 



many years. She died in Rutland, at tlie residence of her daughter, Hannah M., now 
Mrs. Tliomas A. Cheney. 

Greene, Levi .T., was born in Plymouth, February 25, 1825, and has been a life-lonp 
resident of the town. He married, April 5, 18.55, Philinda A., daughter of Moses and 
Hannah (.Sawyer) Hall. Mrs. Greene was born in Plymouth, September 29, 1829. Her 
father was the sou of Nathan Hall, one of tlie early settlers of Plymouth. The chil- 
dren of Moses and Hannah Hall were George W., Philinda A., Ellen A., Daniel M., 
Mary Ann, Sally A., A<la E., and two who died in infancy. Mr. Greene bu'lt his resi- 
dence at Plymouth L'nion, now kept as a hotel, in 1853. Besides keeping hotel, he has 
carried on carpentering and carriage-making, also the business of an undertaker. He 
has been .selectman four years, town treasurer ten years, justice of the peace four years, 
and has represented the town in the State Legislature four years. These positions of 
public trust sufficiently attest the estimation in which he is held by the community in 
which he has spent his life. Mr. and Mrs. Greene have one child, Ruth, born June 8, ' 
1><62, married March 28, 1889, to Will D. Boyd, now living in Westminster, Mass. 

Hall, George W., died at the age of sixty-one, leaving a widow and one son, 
Charles M., now residents of Plymouth Union. Daniel !M. is a farmer living in Min- 
nesota. Mary Ann is the wife of Levi B. Moore, merchant at Plymouth Union. Ada E. 
is the wife of Jolin W. Pierce, farmer in Plymouth. Moses Hall was born August 30, 
1800, died March 10, 1882. His wife was born January 7, 1802, died March 31, 1886. 

King, Simeon Hunt. — James King, great-grandfather of Simeon Hunt, Wiis an Eng- 
lishman by birth. He was taken a prisoner from a merchant vessel, by a French man- 
of-war, and was brought as a captive to America. Escaping his captors, he enlisted in 
the English service, and served through the French and English war, subsequently set- 
tling in Hamstead, N. H. His wife's maiden name was Dilly Harriman. They died 
and were buried in Sutton, N. H. Of their children Nathaniel, grandfather of Simeon 
Hunt, was born in Hamstead. When eight years of age his father moved to Sutton, 
N. H., w-here he resided till he was twenty-one years of age. In 1789 he visited Tun- 
bridge, Vt., where he purchased a tract of "land upon which he settled. In 1794 he mar- 
ried Miss Lydia Noyes. Tliey reared a family of five sons and eight daughters. In 
1804 he became a Free Will Baptist minister, and was an earnest and succe.<isful minister 
of that persuasion for more than half a century. He died in Northfield, Washington 
county, Vt., October IS, 1852. His wife survived him seventeen years. She died Feb- 
ruary 5, 1809, at the advanced age of ninety years and six months. For the term of 
thirteen years Elder King was a representative for the town of Tunbridge in the Ver- 
mont Legislature. Of these thirteen children, Nathaniel, father of Simeon Hunt, was 
the sixth and eldest son. He was born in Tunbridge, in 180G. He was a farmer by oc- 
cupation. He was twice married. His first wife was Amanda Hunt ; his second, Re- 
becca F. Whitney. He had six children by the first, and two by the second marriage. 
He held many of the town offices, and for four years was one of the associate judges of 
Orange county. He was for many years a member of the Free Will Baptist Church of 
Nortlifield and Tunbridge. Of his eight children only three, viz.: Orlanilo H., harness- 
maker in Northfield and Tunbridge; Henry C, merchant in Lawrence, Mass.; and Sim- 
eon Hunt, are living. The latter was born in Tunbridge, Orange county, Vt., March 12, 
1836. With the exception of eight years in Northfield, he lived till he was thirty-six 
years of age in his native town, where he received his education in the district school. 
He married, October 17, 1865, in Reading, Harriet .\m.inda, daughter of Dennison and 
Mary H. (Sumner) Miner. Mrs. King was born in Plymouth, January 25, 1844. Her 
grandfather, Andrew Miner, liorn in Stonington, R. I., married Malvina Hick.s. They 
had five children, two sons ami three daughters, of whom her father, Dennison, was the 
youngest. He was born in Brattleboro, Vt., April 30, 1804, and died in Reading, Sep- 
temljer 22, 1878. He married Mary H. Sumner, February 13, 1829, who survives him, 
and lives with her son, Almon D. Miner, in Reading. They had thirteen children, of 
whom four sons aud five daughters are living, one of them in Nebraska, and the others 



Old Families. ' 403 



in Plymouth and the adjoining towns. In 1871 Mr. King moved from Tunbridge and 
settled in Plymouth, and in 1877 purchased the farm known as the "Deacon Clark 
farm," situated in that portion of Plymouth known as the " Kingdom." He is a Repub- 
lican in politics. Both he and Mrs. King are members of the Congregational Church at 
Tyson. Their children are .Jessie Amanda, Abbie Lillian, and Nathaniel. 

McDermott, James, was born in Ballymote, County of Siigo, Ireland, July 12, 1837. 
He emigrated in 1857. His father, James McDermott, emigrated with his family two 
years afterwards, settled in Plymouth, and both he and his wife, whose maiden name 
was Margaret Scanlan, died there, and are buried in the cemetery at the -'Notch," in 
Plymouth. He has had two brothers, John, who resided at Rutland, Vt., until his death 
May 10, 1889, and Owen, who resides in Janesville, Wis. He has two sisters, Mary 
and Margaret, the former, wife of John Harrison, living in Shrewsbury, Vt., and the 
latter, wife of James Malloy, farmer, living in Plymouth. Upon his arrival in America 
James McDermott settled in Plymouth. He enlisted as private in Company G, Second 
Vermont Volunteers, and was with the regiment in all of its engagements after the bat- 
tle of Antietam. He was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, and receives a pen- 
sion. He was mustered out June 19, 1865. At the close of the war he returned to 
Plymouth. He married, October 3, 1867, Mary, daughter of Patrick and Mary (Ilolpin) 
Crosby. Mrs. McDermott was born in Plymouth, August 15, 1850. Her father was a 
native of Ireland, emigrating to America; he settled in Plymouth and died there. His 
wife survives him and lives with her son, Patnck Crosby, in Ludlow, Philip W. Crosby, 
son of Patrick, was killed at tlie battle of Fredericksburg. John Crosliy, another son, 
lost an .irm in the battle of Spottsylvania; now living in Ludlow. In 1872 Mr. McDer- 
mott purchased of his brothers-in-law, John and Patrick Crosby, the Crosby farm, situ- 
ated on the eastern shore of Adsulule Lake, which he has since carried on. The chil- 
dren of James and Mary McDermott are William Monroe, born August 5, 1868; Mary 
Winifred, born September 14, 1871, died March 19, 1877 ; Philip W., born August 27, 
1873 ; and James W., born April 3, 1878. 

McWain, Harmon.— This family is of Scotch origin. It is supposed the first of the 
family who emigrated from Scotland was the great-grandfather of Harmon, and that he 
settled in the town of Hartland. His son, Andrew, married Polly Lampson. Their 
children were Andrew, jr.. Abraham, Asa, Jacob, Lydia V., David J., and Archibald. 
Andrew, jr., lived and died in Canada; Asa, in Batavia. N. Y.; Jacob, in Shaftsbury, 
Bennington county, Vt.; Lydia V., was the wife of Dr. Knight, of Grand Blanc, Gene- 
see county, Mich. She and her brother, David J., lived and died in Grand Blanc ; Ar- 
chibald, at Owasso, Mich. All these children left families in the localities where they 
lived. Abraham McWam married Abigail, daughter of John and Hannah (Carpenter) 
Whitehorn, in Wallingford, Ruiland county. He died there in 1828 ; his wife at the 
residence of their son, Harmon, in Plymouth, April 29, 1869. The children of Abraham 
and Abigail McWain were LucretiaT.", Harmon, Mary Malona, John W., and^Malvina M. 
Harmon McWain was born in Dorset, Bennington county, Vt., September 5, 1817, and 
passed most of his minority there. In 18'14 he married Sarah 8. Beebe, who died in 
1848, leavmg a daughter, Sarah A., born August 8, 1847, the wife of James Ailward. 
Harmon McWain married, October 0, 1850, Amanda M., daughter of Luther and Betsey 
(Jenne) Coolidge. Her grandfather. Captain John Coolidge, a Revolutionary officer.. 
Tfoni Laiioasfer, Mass., who at the close of the war was paid ior his services in Conti- 
nental script, which afterwards became worthless, thinking to better his fortune in the 
new country as it was then, removed his family to the wilds of Vermont. Many were 
the hardships endured, but at last plenty smiled upon them, and at theti me of his death, 
March 23,. 1822, left each of his three sons and two daughters a farm. Luther Coohdge, 
his second son, father of Mrs. :McWain, was born on this place Mar 6, 1781, where his 
father first located, and died there June 11, 1856. Her mother, Betsey Jenne, was born 
in Poultney, Vt., April 27, 1790. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. McWain was the 
Rev. Prince Jenne, the first settled minister in the town of Plymouth, having been sent 



404 History of Windsor County. 

from Massachusetts as a missionary to establish churches in the new settlenients in Ver- 
mont, and after a long and faithful ministry died in 1836, aged seventy-eight years. 
Mrs. McWain was born August IG, 1830, where she now lives, and has lived since her 
marriage with the exception of the first six years, when they resided at East Dorset, 
Bennington county. Of tlieir seven children six are now living. Jennie R. McWain, 
bom October 4, 1852, married Merritt A. Sawyer, in 187-5, and resides in Woodstock, 
Vt. They have four children: Merle, born August 7, 1876; Mary Angela, born Janu- 
ary, 1878; Clifton W., born August, 1879; Wavne Harmon, born Septeiiiher, 1881, died 
April 10, 1884; Charlie Field, born March, 1886. Harmon A. McWain. M.D., born De- 
cember 10, 1855, graduated in medicine at the University of Vermont, at Burlington, in 
1882. He is now located in Chicago. Martha B. McWain, born March 22, 1858, wife 
of Norris D. Wilder, resides at Plymouth Union. Frank Ellsworth McWain, born 
November 8, 1861, died April 10, 1SG4. Flora A. McWain, boin November IS, 1864. 
wife of Charles H. Scott, of Tyson, Vt. Lettie E. McWain, born March 12, 1867, wife 
of F. C. Morgan, M. D., of Felchville, Vt. Stella A. McWain, born August 25, 1870, 
and Lillian Amanda, born December 10, 1879. 

Ravlin, Henry E., was born in Huntington, Rutland county, Vt., May 1, 1825, the 
seventh son, in a family of sixteen children, of David and Louisa (Gay) Ravlin. David 
Ravlin, his father, at the age of twenty-one, came to America from Ireland, as a British 
soldier, but upon arrival in this country he deserted the British service, joined the Con- 
tinental army and served in that till the close of the war. At the close of the war he 
settled in Shelburne, Vt, and married there. He died in Leslie, Jackson county, Mich., 
December, 1854. Henry E. Ravlin married August 24, 1845, Esther M., daughter of 
Eli and Hannaji Manly, of Chittenden. Rutland county. After his marriage he resided 
in Chittenden, Brandon, Middlebury, Ripton, Pittsford and Rutland. From the latter 
place he settled in that part of Plymouth known as "Nineveh," in 1887, where he re- 
sided up to the time of his death, which occurred August 16, 1890. In October, 1861, 
he volunteered, as private, in Company V. Vermont Cavalry, Colonel Piatt commanding, 
and was mustered out of service in 1863. While in the service he received an injury 
that resulted in partial spinal paralysis, on which account he had drawn a pension of 
twentj'-four dollars per month. Mr. and Mrs. Ravlin had seven children, one of whom 
is now living, viz.. Orris E. The latter married Chestina Davis, and they have one child, 
Willie H. Another son, Orlando F., died in the army at Pensacola, Florida. 

Sanders, Albert F. — Isaac Sanders, grandfather of Albert F., was born in Fitzwilliam, 
N. H., August, 1775. He married Susan Woods, aunt of Walter A. Woods, the manu- 
facturer of mowers and reapers at Hoosick Falls, N. Y. She was born in Pepperell, 
Ma.s8. After marriage they settled in Cavendish, where their eight children were born, 
viz.: Susan, Isaac L., Marv Ann, Rosalinda, Nelson, Laura, Rebecca and Harriet. Isaac L. 
was born February 19, 1807. He married, March 24, 1831, Lovisa S., daughter of Ed- 
v?ard and Abigail (Seward) Wilder. She was born September 2, 1810. Her father was 
born in Sterling, Mass., October 18, 1779; her mother, June 11, 1787. Isaac L. lived 
in Cavendish until he was twenty-nine years old, then removed to Westfield, Orleans 
county, Vt, where he lived fourteen years, then thirteen years in Lowell, and finally 
settled in Albany, Orleans county, where he still resides. He is a wheelwright by 
trade, but has followed farming since he left Cavendish. The children of Isaac L. and 
Lovisa S. Sanders are Laura, Lorette, Isaac, Lestina, Mary, Annis, Martha, Lucy, 
George W. and Albert P. Albert F. Sanders was born in Lowell, Orleans county, Vt, 
March 17, 1851. He lived at Lowell until he was seven years of age, a _vear with his 
grandfather, Edward Wilder, in Ludlow, then with J. G. Prie.st, at Plyiiioulh, till he 
was of age. He married July 4, 1878, Alida P., daughter of William T. and Reliecca P. 
(Brown) Merrill. Mrs. Sanders was born in Plymouth, November 11, 1853. William T. 
Merrill, son of Abraham and Sally (Tolbert) Merrill, was born in Weatherslield, Vt, 
July 22, 1814. His wife was born in Plymouth, August 1, 1812, and was the daughter 
of Israel P.and Sally (Brigg.s) Brown. Sally Brown was the daughter of Asa and Eliza- 



Old Families. 405 



beth (Paul) Briggs. Adam BI•o^Yn, Mrs. Sanders's great-grandfather, was the first town 
clerk of Plymouth. After marriage Mr. Sanders settled on the Isaac Greene farm in 
Plymouth. In 1879 he purchased the farm on the east shore of Eclio Lake, known as 
the " Amos Polland farm," which he still owns and carries on. ilr. Sanders is a Re- 
publican in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders are members of the First Congregational 
Church of Plymouth. They have one child. Amy A., born July 2i, 1883. 

Scott, Dr. Charles A., was born in Cavendish, Windsor county, Vt.. January G, 1819. 
His grandfather, Thomas Scott was born in Massachusetts, July 25. 1761. At the age 
of fifteen he enlisted as a private and served tnrough the War of the Revolution. He 
married Olive Proctor, born April 12, 1760. Thirteen children were the issue of this 
union, eight of whom were born in Massachusetts, five in Vermont. Thomas Scott 
moved from Littleton and settled in Cavendish about the year 1795. He died in Pots- 
dam, N. Y., in 1857, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. His wife died in Caven- 
dish in 1829. Of the thirteen children, eleven were married and raised families. The 
two that were not married died in Cavendish. The eleven moved out of Vermont and 
settled in other States. Isaac Scott, the seventh of the thirteen, was born in Littleton, 
Mass., December 7, 1792, married, April, 1818, Polly Eaten, who was bnin April 29, 
1797, m Stoddard, N. H. She was the daughter af William and Bethiah Eaten. After 
marriage he lived in Cavendish until 1837, with the exception of three years passed 
at Crown Point and Ticonderoga. In 1837 he moved to Ohio, settling at Troy, 
and died there January 25, 1881. He, with three of his brother*, were soldiers in 
the War of 1812, and he received a pension on that account. His wife died in Ohio, 
in October, 1873. Their children were Dr. Charles A., Nathan E., and Luther P. 
Nathan B. was twice married, but left no children. He died at Karns City, Septem- 
ber 21, 1880. Luther P. is station agent on a branch of the Pennsylvania Central Rail- 
road in Indiana. Dr. Scott bought his tune of his father when he was eighteen years of 
age; received his preparatory education in the common school with three terms at the 
Chester Academy. He commenced the study of medicine at the age of twenty-one 
with Dr. Abraham Lowell, of Chester, with whom he remained one year. The next two 
years he studied with Professor Joseph Perkins. He was graduated from the Castleton 
Medical College in 1843. In 1844 he commenced the practice of his profession in 
Plymouth, Vt.. and has followed it continuously ever since, and is at the present time, 
1890, the only physician re.siding in the town. The Doctor is a member of the Ver- 
mont State iledical Society, also of the Connecticut River Medical Society. He rep- 
resented the town of Plymouth in the Legislature in 1869 and 1870, and was a member 
of the vState Senate in 1872. He has also filled the offices of justice of the peace, select- 
man and superintendent of schools. In politics the Doctor is a Republican. He has 
been a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church for many years. Dr. Scott 
married January 29, 1845, Betsey B., daughter of Spallbrd and Sally (Parker) Watkins. 
She was born in Reading, August 24, 1826. Mrs. Scott is the sole survivor of her 
father's family. Children of Dr. and Mrs. Scott are Clarence W., born August 20, 1849, 
married Hattie Field, April 30, 1888. He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 
1874, and is at the present time professor in the Department of Agricultural and Me- 
chanical Arts of that College. Charles H., born May 1, 1838, educated in the common 
school and Ludlow Academy, married December 22, 1886, Flora A. McWain. They 
have one child, Betsey Amanda, born January 19, 1889. He represented Plymouth 
in the Legislature in 1886 and 1888 and was selectman from 1886 lo 1889. He is a 
farmer and stock dealer and resides at the homestead in Plymouth. When Dr. Scott 
first settled in Plymouth he located at the " Kingdom," then the most considerable set- 
tlement of Plymouth, but in 1879 he removed to Tyson, where he has since resided. 



4o6 History of Windsor County. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SI'RINGFIKLD. 

SPRINGFIELD is situated in the southeasterly part of Windsor 
county, in latitude 43 degrees, 17 minutes, and longitude 4 degrees, 
28 minutes, and on the west bank of the Connecticut River, which sepa- 
rates it from the town of Charlestown, Sullivan county, N. H. The 
town received its name from Springfield, Mass. It is bounded south 
by Rockingham, Windham county, north by W'eathersfiekl, and west 
by Chester. 

The general surface of the town is hilly, but there are valleys in vari- 
ous localities, which afford excellent farming lands. Skitchavvaug 
Mountain is in the eastern part of the town, rising directly from the river 
banks, and is the only prominent elevation. 

The Black River enters Springfield from Weathersfield, near its north- 
west corner, and flows diagonally across the town, emptying into the 
Connecticut about one half mile south of the Cheshire bridge. It is to 
this river that Springfield owes most of her prosperity, as it contributes 
one of the best sources of water-power in the State. Along its banks 
are located manufacturing establishments which represent a large per- 
centage of the wealth of the town. 

Proprietors' Meeting. — The most honorable and worthy servant of I lis 
Majesty George the III , Beuniug Weutworth, then governor of the 
province of New Hampshire, did on August 20, 1761, give and convey, 
by letters patent, the territory in what is now Springfield and said to 
contain 28,000 acres to the following named gentlemen : Gideon Lyman, 
Simeon P-irsons, Phineas Lyman, Gideon Lyman, jr., John Phelps (chap- 
lain), Phineas Lyman, Caleb Lyman, Aaron Wright, Simeon Parsons, 
Ebenezer Sheldon, Oliver Lyman, Nathaniel Fellows, Samuel Parsons, 
Naomi Lyman, Medad Alvord, Reuben Coats, Seth Clark, Oliver 
Thomas, Stephen Pomeroy, Eleazer Root, Thomas Ouiner, Colonel Seth 
Pomeroy, Samuel Bancroft, John Burt, jr., Selah Wright, Jonathan 
Strong, Selah Wright, Elijah Lyman, William Kennedy, Israel Lyman, 
Daniel Graves, Gideon Lj-man, Elijah Lyman, Josiah Pierce, Ephraim 



Town of Springfield. 407 

Wright, Benjamin Parsons, Elias Lyman, John Lyman, jr., Gad Lyman, 
Elias Lyman, jr., Timothy Ruggles, Captain James Lyman, Stephen 
Root, Nathaniel Day, Gideon Lyman, Richard Cutt, Captain John Ly- 
man, Nathaniel Phelps. Samuel Marshall, Dr. Samuel Mather, John 
Nelson, Theodore Atkinson, Joseph Newmarch, Penning Wentworth, 
Joiin Wentworth, Hunking Wentworth, James Ashthorp, John Gould, jr., 
Henry Hilton, Joseph Little, Samuel Wentworth of Boston, Elijah 
Lyman. 

These men were principally residents of Northampton, Mass., with a 
few from Portsmouth, N. H., and the latter are believed to have been 
favorites of the colonial governor. A large number of the names appear 
to have belonged to the family of Gideon Lyman. 

The patent was subject to the usual conditions in grants given in those 
days — an ear of Indian corn was to be paid as rent, a market established, 
the timber preserved for the royal navy, a village site to be laid out, and 
a reservation made for religious and school purposes. 

The first meeting of the proprietors was held on October 13, 1761, at 
the dwelling house of Gideon Lyman in Northampton, and Josiah Pierce 
was elected clerk. The usual formality of appointing a committee to 
divide the grant into lots was pursuetl, and Elias Lyman, Simeon Par- 
sons and Aaron Wright were chosen for this duty. On their recom- 
mendation the territory between the Black River and Weathersfield was 
divided into one-hundred-acre lots, and each proprietor was awarded 
one lot ; there was to be a further division of timber land and meadow, 
and liberty was given any proprietor to mow, plow, and cut timber in 
any part of the grant not allotted. A tax of one dollar was levied on 
each right and an e.xtra assessment of two dollars to each right, to pay 
the expense of the allotment Subsequently the town was divided into 
sixty-six equal parts, 104 acres being retained for first incorporated relig- 
ious society; 141 acres for the Church of England; 105 acres for the first 
settled minister of the gospel; and eighty-four acres for school purposes. 

From this time, though the proprietors held several meetings, there 
seems to have been little done on their part towards making any settle- 
ment in the grant. Legal measures were taken and executions issued 
against settlers who had taken possession of some of the lands in the 
town before the patent was granted, thus giving the title to the patentees. 



408 History of Windsor County. 

About this time arose the celebrated land controversy between tlie prov- 
inces of New Hampshire and New York, and on May 25, 1772, a pat- 
ent was granted hy Governor William Tryon, of the latter province, to 
the following named men : Charles Shaw, William Sidney, Gabriel L. 
Ludlow, John McKesson, Lewis Graham, Miles Sherbrook, Richard 
Hatfield, Richard Morris, William Witham, Thomas White, Stephen 
Steck, Samuel Jones, Benjamin Kissam, John Barrett, Jasper Drake, Cor- 
nelius Van Olen, James Armitage, Jacob Parris, Anthony Green, Gilbert 
Taylor, Thomas Ludlow, jr., Casey Ludlow, Patrick Dennis, Thomas 
Smith, Peter Goelet, Thomas Duncan, Rudolph Ritzeman. 

This grant called for 28,200 acres. A comparison of the lists will 
show that none of the men who were named in the grant from Governor 
Wentworth were included in the New York grant. The final conclusion 
of this famous controversy is described in an early chapter of this work. 

At a meeting of the proprietors held at the block- house in Spring- 
field, August 27, 1 77 1, Simon Stevens was elected moderator, and John 
Barrett, clerk. At this meeting a further allotment of land was made to 
the proprietors. Other meetings were held, but the organization of the 
town being perfected, there was little of importance done. 

In 1788 a committee consisting of Simon Stevens, Captain Abner 
Bisbee, Hon. Richard Morris and John Barrett was appointed to devise 
ways and means to raise ;£'i,228, 15s. 2d., which was due to New York 
for patent fees, and a tax of ;^I9, is. and 2d. was levied on each propri- 
etor's right. Hon. Richard Morris was appointed collector, and John 
Brirrett, treasurer. 

The final meeting of the proprietors took place September 21, 1789, 
and on account of the failure of the following men to pay their tax under 
the above mentioned levy, their rights were sold at public auction: 
Elijah Lyman, Samuel Wentworth, Benning Wentworth, esq., John 
Wentworth, Joseph Newmarch, James Ashthorp, John Gould, jr., and 
Richard Cutts. Some of these were afterwards redeemed. 

Early Settlement. — Springfield was the first settled town in Windsor 
county, a small number of pioneers having located here as early as 1753. 
Before the beginning of the French war, and eight years previous to the 
date of the charter of the town, Daniel Sawtelle, Jacob Sawtelle, Oliver 
Sawtelle, Combs House, Samuel Douglass, Oliver Farnsworth, Joseph 




°^-ct<n^^/', e^, 



Town oF SpRiNGFiELt). 409 



Douglass, Noah Porter, Nathaniel Powers, Simeon Powers and Simeon 
Powers, jr., " being poor and indigent (as it is recorded), and unable to 
purchase lands in any of the inhabited towns of His JVIajesty's provinces, 
while the lands in said Springfield lay in the open wilderness, waste and 
untilled, without yielding any revenue to His Majesty or profits to his 
subjects, did for His Majesty's profit as well as for the support of them- 
selves, their wives and their children, enter upon, till and improve part 
of the lands in said Springfield." These possessions were, during the 
French and Indian war, defended with bravery and loss of life against 
the common enemy, and stood as an outpost of the settlements farther 
down the river. At the close of the war these hardy settlers, who it 
would seem were entitled to some consideration, petitioned Governor 
Wentworth for a patent for the land which they had improved and de- 
fended ; but their petition was in vain, and the patent was granted in 
1761 to sixty-two associates, friends and members of the family of the 
worthy governor, as noted on a previous page. 

At a meeting held July 5, 1762, the proprietors took action empow- 
ering Gideon Lyman and others to begin legal proceedings against per- 
sons inhabiting and improving the town of Springfield. This resulted in 
their obtaining judgment againstJ_o hn Nott and others in the spring of 
1764, and Simon Stevens, Abner Bisbee, and Jehoial Simmons were au- 
thorized to take possession of all lands on behalf of the proprietors. 
These difficulties were afterwards amicably settled, and most of the orig- 
inal squatters became legal owners of the land improved by them. 

For a few years after the patent was granted there seems to be no evi- 
dence of any settlement, though John Kilburn purchased a right under 
the patent in 1761 ; but he did not enter into possession until the fol- 
lowing year. About this time Simon Stevens located in the town. He 
was a remarkable man for the times, and his influence was soon felt in 
the little colony. He was made justice of the peace and held the office 
more than fifty years. He was a native of Canterbury, Conn., where he 
was born December 5, 1736, and during the French and Indian war in 
1758 was captured by the Indians and held captive more than a year. 
He served as brigade major in the war of the Revolution and held other 
offices of trust. He died in Springfield, February 18, 18 17. 

Settlers came in slowly, but an attempt was made to organize the town 



410 History of Windsor County. 

in the spring of 1764, concerning which the only authentic documents 
known are those called the Stevens papers, of which the following are 
copies : 

" Province of New Hampshire. 

" To Simon Stevens, constable of Springfield and province aforesaid — 
greeting. 

" In his Majesties name you are hereby required forthwith to notifie 
and warn ye Freeholders and other Inhabitants of sd town that are Duly 
qualified by Law to Vote in Town Meeting that they assemble and meet 
at ye House of Joseph Littles in Springfield aforesd on Tuesday ye 13th 
of this Instant at 10 of ye clock in ye forenoon then and there when met 
to Vote and act on ye following articles — viz — 

" First to choose a Moderator to govern sd Meeting — 2dy To choose 
Town Offices agreeable to Charter. 

" Hereof Fail not make Due return of this warrant and your Doings 
thereinto some one of us yesubscribers at or before yeTime of sd Meeting. 

" Given under our hands and seals this first Day of March and in ye 
fourth year of his Majesties reign 1764." 

Signed, Robert Parker, Samuel Scott, Simon Stevens, George Hall, 
Timothy Spencer, Taylor Spencer, Abner Kisbee, inhabitants of Spring- 
field. 

By the above warrant it seems that these inhabitants of Springfield ar- 
rogated to themselves the rights given by the royal charter to the pro- 
prietors. None of the original patentees, excepting Joseph Little, ever 
became actual settlers, and no meetings of the proprietors of any im- 
portance were held after tiiis time, until 1771, when one was called at the 
block-house in Springfield (as before noted), instead of in Northamp- 
ton, Mass., where the earlier meetings were held. 

The meeting for which the warrant of March 13, 1764, was issued was 
held, and George Hall was chosen moderator. It was adjourned to March 
26, but there was no record of its proceedings. The town must, how- 
ever, have been fully organized. 

The other warrant found among the Stevens papers is as follows: 

" Province of New Hampshire. 
" To Jehoial Simmons Constable of the Toivn of Springfield in said prov- 
ince — greeting. 

" In his Majesties name you are required to notify and warn all the 



Town of Springfield. 411 

Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Springfield in said 
province to assemble and meet at the dwelling House of Joseph Little 
in said Town on Monday ye 22d Day of July at one of the clock in the 
afternoon. There and then when met to act on the Following Articles 
— viz — 

" 1st To choose a Moderator to govern said meeting. 

" 2dly To see whether the Town will accept of the Road known by 
ye name of Crown point Roade which leads through sd Town. 

"3dly to see whether the Town will repair said Roade. 

" Hereof Fail and not make Due return of this warrant to some one 
of us the selectmen of Springfield at or before the time of said meeting. 
Given under our hands and seal this 13th Day of July, Ann Dom 
1764." 

Signed, Simon Stevens, Abner Bisbee. 

These two documents prove conclusively that the town was thoroughly 
organized. After this there are no records in existence until April 4, 
1769, when a town meeting was held at which the proceedings were of 
so trivial a character as to indicate a very scanty population. The con- 
clusion is that in the interval noted there was no business transacted of 
sufficient importance to need preservation of records. 

At the meeting of 1769 Simon Stevens was elected to the office of 
town clerk and supervisor. Simeon Bradford was chosen town treasurer. 
Abner Bisbee, Simon Spencer and Noah Porter were made commission- 
ers. Joseph Little, Samue]_Nc)tt_and Nathaniel Powers were elected as- 
sessors. Timothy Spencer was chosen highway surveyor, George Hall, 
constable, and Page Harriman, collector. 

A census taken of Cumberland county, by the province of New York, 
January 16, 1771, gave Springfield a population of twenty-seven fami- 
lies, comprising one hundred and forty- one persons, seventy-five of 
whom were males and sixty-six females. Soon after the patent for the 
land was issued by New Hampshire, Gideon Lyman and others pur- 
chased from a large part of their associates their rights under the charter. 
The uncertainty regarding the land titles rendered the original grantees 
anxious and for small amounts the orignal settlers purchased some of the 
rights, but a large number fell into the hands of Richard Morris, then 
chief justice of New York, and Stephen Ward, also of that province, and 



412 History of Windsor County. 

in 1778 they claimed to own one-sixteenth of the town. At one pur- 
chase under date of June 24, 1766, Richard Morris bought of Pliineas 
Lyman 2,650 acres, being the original rights of Naomi Lyman, Oliver 
Thomas, Daniel Graves, Ebenezer Sheldon, Gad Lyman and Nathaniel 
Phelps. 

The first settlers of Springfield located in the eastern part of the town 
near the river and the Crown Point road. This road began at a point 
on the river about a mile above the Cheshire bridge, running diagonally 
across the town northwest, crossing the Weathersfield line about one 
mile north of the school-house in district number three. The first set- 
tlements were made between the Black and Connecticut Rivers. Ac- 
cording to the records we find the following who were settled previous 
to 1769: Simon Stevens, Joseph Little, George Hall, Jehial Simmons, 
Joseph Douglass, Abner Bisbee, Simeon Bradford, Noah Porter, Simeon 
Spencer, Timothy Spencer, Nathaniel Powers, Samuel Douglass, Oliver 
Sawtelle, Robert Parker, Samuel Scott, Jacob Sawtelle, Combs House, 
Daniel Sawtelle. Page Harriman was among the early settlers, but re- 
turned to Albany county, N. Y. John Kilburn came from Walpole, 
Mass., but remained only a few years. John^Nott settled -in the tow n^ 
but removed to Clarendon, Vt. In 177 1 John Barrett, from VValling- 
ford. New Haven county, Conn., came to Springfield. He had owned 
real estate in the town previous to his settlement and he at once took an 
active part in town affairs. In a document dated February 12, 1772, in 
which he was appointed to represent their interests to the authorities of 
New York, in addition to those already mentioned, we find the follow- 
ing: Nathaniel Harriman, Obadiah Wells, John Hastings, Jacob Bonney, 
Lemuel Hastings and Nathaniel Weston. The last gentleman was a 
house joiner by trade and took an active part in the aftairs of the town. 
Abraham and William Lockwood came from Providence, R. I., about 
1770, the former locating northwest of the present village of Springfield, 
the other on the site of the village. About a year after this John Bisbee, 
Ichabod Waddam, Thomas Lee and John Griswold moved into the 
town. 

For the next few years, owing to the Revolutionary war, there were 
only a few new comers. Daniel Gill, a carpenter, became a resident in 
1770, as did also Davis Goodwin and James Martin, jr. The latter was 







:^,^^^7^ 



Town of Springfield. 413 

made town clerk and filled the position a number of years. His writing 
on the records is to this day clear and distinct. 

In 1774 John and Emanuel Case, Nicholas Bragg and Elisha Brovvn 
became residents of the town, the latter coming from Winchendon, 
Mass. During 1777-78 William McClellan, Hezekiah Holmes, Thomas 
Dumphy (from Northampton, Mass ), Roger Bates (who kept a tavern), 
and Orsamus Holmes are names that appear on the records. 

Jacob Lockwood came from Cranston, R. I., and settled in the town 
in 1779. Lemuel Whitney located in the northern part of the town in 
1789. He was a native of Leicester, Mass., but emigrated from the 
town of Tolland, in Hartford county. Conn. From the same place came 
Dr. Samuel Cobb. He in the same year became prominently identified 
with the affairs of the town, and was selectman and town treasurer for a 
number of years. George Hubbard, who hnd lived across the river in 
Claremont, N. H., moved into town during 1780. He was for many 
years one of the justices of the peace and held other offices. 

In 178 1 William Downer and Eliphalet Chapman, of Tolland, also 
settled in town. John Williams came from Providence, R. I., the year 
previous to this and located in the northwestern part of the town near 
North Springfield. 

Daniel and Luther Field became residents of the town about 1783, as 
did also Abraham and Benjamin Olney, Jesse Sanders, Lemuel Hub- 
bard, Perez and Jacob Whitcomb, the last two being from Massachu- 
setts. Nathan Ward became a resident of the town in 1783, coming 
from Ashford, Conn. 

This brings the settlement down to the close of the Revolutionary 
war and settlers soon became attracted to the hills of Vermont. The 
country began to fill up rapidly, and at the first census taken by the 
United States we find that Springfield had a population of 1,097. The 
town has ever since had a healthy growth. 

It is the only town in the county, with two exceptions, that does not 
show a decrease in population as each census was taken. The follow- 
ing figures give the population of each census, besides those already 
given: 1800, 2,032; 1816, 2,556; 1820, 2,702; 1830, 2,749; 1840, 
2,625; 1850,2,762; 1860,2,958; 1870,2,937; 1880, 3,144- 

Springfield in the Revolution. — The first evidence of the formation of 



414 History of Windsor Countv. 

a militia company in this town is under date of 1766. On the 27th of 
February of that year Simon Stevens was commissioned captain of tlie 
Eighth Company of Foot, by Sir Henry Moore, governor of the prov- 
ince of New York, which was to consist of tlie inhabitants of Spring- 
field. 

It was not until the third convention, which was held to endorse the 
resolves of the Continental Congress by the different towns of Vermont, 
that we find any evidence that Springfield was represented. At this 
convention, held February 7, 1775, at Westminster, Vt., Simon Stevens 
was made one of the standing committee of correspondence which was 
created that the county might be kept well informed of tbe doings of the 
friends of liberty in the different colonies. After several attempts, in 
August, 1775, the militia of Cumberland and adjoining counties was 
formed into a brigade. The company from Springfield was officered as 
follows: Captain, Abner Bisbee ; lieutenant, Timothy Spencer ; ensign, 
Nathaniel Weston. In the following year John Barrett was commis- 
sioned lieutenant colonel of one of the regiments. In September, 1775, 
fifty- one of the inhabitants of the town signed an agreement binding 
themselves to maintain and disseminate the principles of American lib- 
erty and pledged themselves to support the Continental Congress. 

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety held at Westminster, Vt., 
from the iith to the 21st of June, 1776, Springfield was represented by 
Simon S_tevens and Jexathmiel Powers. The militia was re-organized 
in 1778, and on October 20, 1779, the following were commissioned as 
officers of the Springfield company : Captain, Abner Bisbee; first lieu- 
tenant, John Bisbee ; ensign, Taylor Spencer. The constant demands 
on the people to recruit the regiments of the independent State of Ver- 
mont caused much dissatisfaction among the southern towns, and by a 
vote of the town of Springfield taken in August, 1778, twenty-one were 
for New York, nineteen for Vermont, and four neutral. 

In July, 1779, the town was represented at a convention held at Brat- 
tleboro, at which time a petition was addressed to Congress asking for 
its protection, and denying the authority of the pretended State of Ver- 
mont. The feeling against the new State gradually died out, and in 
1780 there was scarcely an inhabitant of the town who was not a loyal 
supporter of Vermont. In that year also five points in the town were 



Town ok Springfield. 415 

provisioned against a possible invasion of the enemy. Men were raised 
to guard the frontier, but nevertheless the town was fined in 1784, by 
Vermont, for not filling her quota, in response to the call for troops in 
1780. 

Reminiscences. — In 1778 delegates were chosen by the town to go to 
Charlestown, N. H., to attend a convention for t'.ie purpose of inviting 
grants east of the Connecticut River to become a part of Vermont. The 
delegates were instructed, however, to do nothing that would lead to 
any quarrel with New Hampshire. 

In 1790 it was voted by the town to petition the State Legislature to 
erect Rockingham, Tomlinson (now Grafton), Londonderry, Andover, 
Weathersfield, Springfield, Chester, Cavendish and Ludlow into a sepa- 
rate county. 

The first frame building erected in the village of Springfield stood just 
below the site of Kimball's blacksmith shop ; it was occupied by Will- 
iam Griffith as a dwelling. He was the first to use the water-power for 
a fulling-mill, doing custom work. He carried on the business for a 
number of years and then removed it to Spencer Hollow. 

In 1836 the question of annexing a part of the northwestern part of 
the town to Baltimore was agitated, but met with bitter opposition and 
was abandoned. 

A notable freshet occurred in 1869. On the 4th of October the Black 
River rose fifteen to twenty feet and its powerful current swept every- 
thing before it. Every bridge over the river in the town was swept 
away. Tlie Vermont Novelty Works, the saw and grist-mill at the vil- 
lage and a number of dwellings were ruined, and a man named Morey 
was swept away in the waters and drowned. The loss to the town and 
individuals was over $100,000. 

The anecdotes that are current as to how that part of the town called 
" Eureka " received its name are worthy of note. One is to the effect 
that it was so named by an old setUer because of its resemblance to a 
place in England where he formerly lived. Another is, that a school- 
master named Searles, after a long journey on which he had sought in 
vain for employment, was hired to teach the school and exclaimed, 
" Eureka " (I have found it). 

On the farm now occupied by Hiram Ellis lived the pioneer Joseph 



4t6 History ok Windsor County. 

Little, and at his house the town meetings were held, and a tavern was 
also kept there, and a store by Lieutenant Roger Bates. There were 
about forty dwellings here, two stores, a blacksmith, saddlery and other 
shops. Colonel John Barrett built the first grist-mill in the town at this 
point, and Dr. Samuel Cobb was the first to practice medicine, living on 
the late Dr. Hubbard farm. School was opened as early as 1/73, ''"d 
was tauglit by Sarah Stevens, who was a sister of Simon Stevens. The 
one hundredth anniversary of the opening of this school was celebrated 
on the 24th of October, 1885, at the school-house. 

Parker Hill is situated in the southern part of the town, and was one 
of the early settled parts. It was named after Leonard Parker, com- 
monly known as " King Parker," who kept a tavern at an early day. 
The hill was on the direct road to Bellows Falls and the highest eleva- 
tion between the Black River in Springfield, and the Williams River in 
Rockingham, Vt. There was quite a village here, with a store, black- 
smith and capenter shops, school-house, and near by a tannery. Among 
those living there fifty years ago were Charles Holt, William Thayer, 
Frink Fletcher, George Cutler, Simeon Harlow, Jehiel Weston, Jesse 
Mclntyre, and Lewis Albee. 

Slave Trade in Springfield. — Slavery and the buying and selling of 
human beings, which for so many years cursed a large portion of this 
country, once existed in the State of Vermont and the town of Spring- 
field felt its influence, as will be seen by the following ancient document : 

" Know all men by these presents, that I Jotham White, of Spring- 
field, county of Windsor, State of Vermont, and in consideration of the 
sum of thirty five pounds in silver money to me in hand, paid by Oliver 
Hastings of Charlestown, in the county of Cheshire, and State of New 
Hampshire, physician, do sell and deliver to the said Oliver Hastings, 
my negro boy slave Anthony about 8 1-2 years of age, until said negro 
boy shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years." Here follows the 
usual form of such documents, with the date of March 2, 1790, and 
signed : Jotham White, Amanda Stone, Joel Reed, witnesses. 

This old bill of sale is still in a good state of preservation. Jotham 
White was one of the most prominent men of the town and occupied 
many positions of trust. 

Also, Colonel John Barrett purchased on the 5th of July, 1 770, of 






f^CJi-tf^^-^ 



Town of Springfield. 417 

Caleb Bull, of Wallingford, Conn., one negro girl named Rose, aged 
about nine years, and brought her to Springfield, and there are .persons 
now living who remember " Old Rose." 

Roads and Bridges. — Springfield, located, as it is, on the Connecticut 
River, which was the favorite pathway of Indian travel, and also the 
great highway of the eastern part of the State by the whites, may have 
been traversed by the white man long before the time of which we have 
any record. A trading station was established at Charlestown called 
" Number Four " in 1727 ; but the first evidence of a wliite man is from 
a diary of John Coss, which states that on April 28, 1730, with a party 
of Indians, he camped about a mile and a half from the mouth of the 
Black River, and on May 1st crossed the river at the falls near the site 
of Springfield village. During the French and Indian war the province 
of New Hampshire, early in 1760, sent troops to build the Crown Point 
road to connect with General Amherst's army, then stationed at Crown 
Point. A block-house was built at a point on the Connecticut River 
about a mile north of where the Cheshire bridge is now located, the road 
running north by west, just skirting the southern point of Skitchawaug 
Mountain. It crossed the Weathersfield line in about the center of the 
town. The road was built in forty-four days to the Green Mountains, 
and Simon Stevens marked the first tree. The block-house, also the 
land adjoining, and two of the king's boats used on a ferry were given 
by General Amherst to Luxford Goodwin as early as 1760, in payment 
for his carrying a packet from him to General Murray, at Quebec. All 
but a small part of this road was discontinued by the town in 1826. 

Mainly through the exertions of Isaac Fisher the road running from 
the central village was completed as early as 1806. It is, of course, im- 
possible in the compass of this work to trace every highway in the town. 

There are at present five bridges across the Black River within the 
town. As early as 1774 the question of building a bridge at Lockwood 
Falls was agitated, but it was not until 1783 that it was accomplished. 
This bridge was rebuilt in 1825-26, and in 1868 an iron bridge was 
erected. This was destroyed by the flood of the following year, and 
the present one substituted. 

Staging. — The first stage route established in this town ran from 
Charlestown, N. H., to Manchester, Vt., a distance of about fifty miles. 
53 



41 8 History of Windsor County. 

It was owned and operated by C. L. Rockwood. The citizens of Spring- 
field, not being satisfied with this Hne, formed a stoclc company in De- 
cember, 1823, of fifty shares at ten dollars each, and purchased the line. 
In the winter of 1849 the Rutland and Burlington Railroad began run- 
ning passenger trains, thus making a stage line unnecessary beyond 
Springfield in that direction. 

The present line of stages at one time made through trips to Wood- 
stock, Vt. They now run only from Charlestown, N. H., to Springfield, 
making five trips daily. 

There is also a stage to Gassett's, Vt., once a day, connecting with the 
Rutland division of the Vermont Central Railroad, and a daily line that 
connects with other lines for Woodstock and Windsor, Vt. 

Railroads. — There have been several attempts to construct a railroad 
within the limits of this town. As early as 1872 a route was proposed 
to follow the Black River valley from the Connecticut, passing through 
the villages of Springfield and North Springfield, and connecting with 
some point on the Rutland division of the Vermont Central Railroad. 
It was to be known as the Ascutney Railroad; an act of the Legislature 
was obtained, giving the town the right to bond itself for eight times the 
amount of the grand list. At a town meeting held in 1872 the town 
voted to bond itself for four times the amount of the grand list, to en- 
courage this enterprise, but the action thus taken was afterwards re- 
scinded in 1873. In 1886 the Springfield Railroad Compapy contem- 
plated building a line from Claremont Junction to Gassett's, but after 
considerable work had been done on it, the matter was dropped. The 
town was surveyed in 1888 for a railroad. The route selected was the 
same as that proposed by the Springfield Railroad Company. 

Temperance. — The records inform us that on the 8th of November, 
1794, Lester Flagg was granted a license to sell spirituous liquors ; but 
it appears that he located too close to the house devoted to church pur- 
poses, for in the following year a complaint was made and he was re- 
quested to move his place of business. 

As late as 1838 ardent spirits were furnished at the town expense to 
its employees. Before this time a gin distillery was operated for a num- 
ber of years west of Springfield village. A petition was addressed to 
the selectmen in 1839 requesting them not to issue any licenses the fol- 



Town of Springfield. 419 

lowing year to any retailers of spirituous liquors ; but this was defeated 
in town meeting by a vote of 57 ayes to 93 nays. An attempt was 
made in the following year to have this vote reconsidered. A memo- 
rial was signed by 1 19 ladies and presented, favoring the non-issuing of 
licenses ; but again the enemies of temperance were successful, as the 
former action was sustained by a vote of 86 ayes to 134 nays 

The eflbrts of the friends of temperance were, however, at last 
crowned with success. In 1844 it was voted that no license should be 
granted to any house of public entertainment to sell intoxicating liquors_ 
Since that time the majority of the citizens have been in favor of tem- 
perance. In 1846 the vote was 160 in favor of license to 254 against. 
Four years later it was decided that the public good did not require the 
granting of licenses to victualling places, shops, or cellars in the town. 
In the same year Jonas B. Spencer received a license to sell small beer 
and cider at the village, but in 1852, according to tlie statute passed by 
the Legislature, a town agent was appointed in whose hands was placed 
the sale of all liquors, and the business is conducted in the same man- 
ner at the present time. 

Hotels. — The first person who served the public as a landlord in this 
town was Roger Bates. He kept a house for the traveling public at 
"Eureka " as early as 1778. A few years later John Griswold, it is said, 
built the first frame house in the town about a half mile north of the 
center of North Springfield village. This house was used as a tavern 
and store. The building of the first church near the common, which 
was used as a town hall as early as 1792, led to the erection of a tavern 
at that place. During the early part of the present century Leonard 
Walker had a hotel at Parker Hill. Jonathan Williams also accommo- 
dated strangers where the present residence of George O. Henry stands, 
in the central village. 

In 1815 Colonel Moses Fairbanks began keeping a tavern where the 
Springfield House now stands. He seems to have been unsuccessful, for 
in 182 1 Horace Hall, of Charlestown, who had come into possession of 
the property under a mortgage, leased the premises to three persons, 
among whom was Justus Brooks, who kept the house a short time. 
After him George Kimball was the landlord and was succeeded by Rus- 
sell Burke, and he by Edmund Durrin. In 1835 Benjamin Sawyer, jr.. 



420 History of Windsor County. 

came into possession of the hotel and conducted it for more than ten 
years. Since that time there have been many landlords, amonCT whom 
may be mentioned D. D. Winchester, H. H. Mason, Frederick Barnard, 
Jonas B. Spencer, George O. Henry, Franklin Barney, jr. 

The hotel was originally named the Black River House, but has been 
called the Springfield House for a number of years. The present pro- 
prietor, Willie F. Miner, has greatly improved the house, and serves the 
public in a satisfactory manner. 

Schools. — Springfield is noted for its e.xcellent schools. As early as 
1782 action was taken by the town towards looking up the school lands, 
and two years later a committee was appointed to divide the town into 
school districts and to take measures to maintain a school. But it was 
not until 1788 that Dr. Samuel Cobb, Captain Nathaniel Weston and 
William Lockwood, a committee appointed for that purpose, laid out the 
town into school districts. These districts were afterwards sub-divided 
and at one time there were nineteen districts, each equipped with a sub- 
stantial school building. The question arose previous to 1 867 of uniting 
districts numbers 7, 8 and 16, they being located in and adjacent to the 
village of Springfield. On March 30th of that year this action was 
taken and they became known as district number 7. At the same time 
the graded system of schools was introduced into this district. There 
was no change in the system of schools for a number of \-ears, 
but in 1876 it was voted in town meeting that if district number 7 
would so vote, the system then in force should be abolished, and the 
town system adopted ; but no action was ever taken on the proposition 
by district number 7. This question of adopting the town system was 
agitated from year to year, and finally by a vote of 125 to 120, in 1S86, 
it was voted to make the change. The act of the Legislature giving 
the town the right to make this change provided that it should be made 
for five years, but in 1887 the act was amended making the stipulated 
time two instead of five years. The first committee elected to have 
charge of the schools under the town system were William J. Johnson 
and Horace L. Howe for one year; Jerome W. Pierce and Daniel O. 
Gill for two years ; Charles A. Forbush and Fred G. Field for three 
years. In 1887 Hermon W. Harlow and Simeon Grow were elected for 
three years to take the place of those whose terms expired. 




.-/' 





Town of Springfield. 421 

As soon as the laws of the State would allow it, at the annual town 
meeting held in 1888, by a vote of 191 for the town system to 215 
against it, the district system was again adopted. District number 7 
still continued her graded system. 

The committee of the district, elected June 25, 1889, were Rod- 
ney G. Britton, for three years; George F. Leland, for two years; and 
Jerome W. Pierce, for one year. 

Cemeteries. — At the time of the building of the Crown Point road an 
epidemic broke out among the soldiers and many died. The bodies were 
buried at a spot east of the line of the road, not far from the present resi- 
dence of C. Horace Hubbard. This was afterwards used by the early 
settlers at Eureka for a place of burial. As early as 1784 the matter of 
providing a suitable place for the burial of the dead was agitated in town 
meeting and the following year the location was selected near the old 
meeting-house. Somewhere about the first of the present century the 
cemetery near the common was begun, and though we find to-day tomb- 
stones recording deaths previous to this date, we are satisfied that they 
were removed here from other burying places. 

The first receiving tomb was built in 1835, and within tlie last year this 
has been replaced by a new one. The cemetery was enlarged in 1862 
and now embraces about five acres. Within these sacred grounds lie 
the remains of those who were the means of making Springfield the most 
substantial and thriving town in the county. Her early pioneers, in set- 
tlement and manufacturing, her lawyers and doctors, with their families, 
are here buried. The first death recorded on any stone is that of Isa- 
bella, wife of Simon Stevens, who died at the age of nineteen, January 
II, 1771. This is a double stone, and also states that Lydia, wife of 
Simon Stevens, died February 20, 1781. At another place is a stone on 
which it is recorded that the son of Dr. Samuel Cobb died at the age of 
three years July 27, 1789; also one to the memory of the first town 
treasurer, Simeon Bradford, who died October 7, 1793. The first monu- 
ment erected on the grounds was by A. N. Johnson, to the memory of 
his wife, who died June 1 1, 1844. Many fine monuments now ornament 
this cemetery. 

There is another cemetery located at North Springfield which belongs 
to the town. A receiving tomb was built there in 1857. Besides these 
two there are a few private burial places in various parts of the town. 



422 History of Windsor County. 



Town Poor. — Previous to the year 1832 the poor of the town were 
provided for by selling out contracts for their support to the highest bid- 
der. The earliest evidence we find of such a sale shows that in 1792 the 
support of Silas Call and wife was bid off to Colonel John Barrett for six 
shillings for a week's board for the term of three months at the public 
market-place. 

In 1832 a farm was leased for the purposes of the support of the poor, 
and later one was purchised and stocked. The present town farm, situ- 
ated in the northern part of the town, was purchased in 1846, there being 
at that time twenty-two paupers. New buildings were erected in 1862. 
In 1876 a donation was made to the town by David R. Campbell, of 
Windsor, the interest of which was to be applied to maintaining the in- 
digent poor of the town. 

Totvii Hall. — As early as 1778 a committee wasappointed by the town 
to select a site for a town hall, but it was not until 1792 that any action 
was taken. In that year the church located on the common, having 
been built by a land tax, was used for town purposes and continued to 
be until 1836, when the basement of the Union church in the village 
was leased for this purpose. This was occupied by the town until 1857, 
and in the intervening time the question of building a hall was frequently 
agitated. A committee was appointed in 1850 to secure a lot and plans 
for the building, but in the same year the church basement was repaired. 
In 1854 it was again considered expedient to build a hall at an expense 
not to exceed $2,500, and it was recommended to purchase a lot owned 
by John Holden for $1,000. This effort, however, proved fruitless. In 
1857 the town purchased the present site, known as the Clements lot, 
and erected the present brick building, the appropriation being limited 
to $5,500. When the hall was first built it was voted that no smoking 
or chewing of tobacco should be allowed in the building. A person was 
to have charge of the hall and rent it for entertainments, the revenue 
thus arising to be expended for the purchase of a chandelier and other 
furniture. The town, feeling the need of a place of confinement for 
criminals, built a jail in the basement of the town hall in 1865, which 
was used for that purpose until about 1880. In that year five hundred 
dollars was expended in building the extension on the rear of the building. 

Springfield Agricultural Society. — The formation of this society was 



Town of Springfield. 423 

the outgrowth of a meeting held at the town hall September 18, 1866 ; 
the call for the meeting was signed by Henry M. Arms and C. H. Hub- 
bard. At this meeting the society was organized and named the 
Springfield Agricultural Society. The following officers were elected : 
C. Horace Hubbard, president; M. C. Roundy, vice-president; Daniel 
O. Gill, secretary ; Henry Lock, treasurer. The first fair was held 
October 4, 1866, on the common in Springfield village. The two fol- 
lowing fairs were held on Seminary Hill, and were free to-exhibitors 
and spectators. 

The society was incorporated by act of the Legislature, November 
19, 1868. In 1878 a constitution was adopted and the following officers 
elected : President, C. H. Hubbard ; vice presidents, D. O. Gill and 
J. R. Walker; secretary, R. W. Whitney; treasurer, R. S. Herrick; 
directors, L. Barry, O. R. Hadwin, P. R. Grimes, E. R. Cutler, J. Bisbee, 
C. H. Hayward and A. B. Damon. The present grounds, comprising 
twenty -five acres, were bought in 1879 from the Springfield Driving 
Park Association and a fair was held October 9, 1879. In 1880 the 
town appropriated four hundred and fifty dollars towards purchasing the 
ground. Citizens also subscribed liberally for the purpose. Fairs have 
been held annually since 1879, and from 1882, excepting 1884, have been 
continued two days. In 1883 J. R. Walker was elected president and 
was succeeded in 1885 by R. W. Whitney, who held the office until 
1888, when Daniel O. Gill was elected. The officers for 1889 were as 
follows: President, Daniel O. Gill; vice-presidents, R. S. Herrick and 
H. W. Jenkins; secretary, Willie F. Miner; treasurer, E. C. Burke; 
directors, L. M. Holmes, R. W. Whitney, F. G. Ellison, John R. Ford, 
Leon A. Cutler and Herbert Streeter ; general superintendent, H. M. 
Arms ; auditor, B. F. Dana. 

Springfield in the IVaj' of t lie Rebellion. — The sons of Springfield re- 
sponded patriotically and nobly to the first call for troops made by 
President Lincoln, and a company was soon raised. At a town meeting 
held June 8, 1861, the town assumed the liability of supporting the 
the families of those who had volunteered, and voted to buy uniforms 
for the drummers, fifers and commissioned officers, viz.: Captain, W. G. 
Veazey ; first lieutenant, Frederick Crain ; second lieutenant, Horace W. 
Floyd. This company joined the Third Vermont Regiment as Com- 



424 History of Windsor County. 

pany A, and did good service during the war. The town also abated 
the taxes of 1861 to those who volunteered. 

In response to the call for 300,000 troops made in 1862 the town had 
some difficulty in filling its quota and offered a bounty of fitty dollars to 
persons enlisting previous to August 18 of that year. This was increased 
twenty-five dollars in September, 1862, and a bounty of one hundred 
dollars was given to nine months' volunteers. The town voted on August 
15, 1863, to pay those men who had been drafted one hundred dollars 
a year as long as they were in the service, payment to be made to their 
families. Three hundred dollars bounty was also voted to those enlist- 
ing previous to January I, 1864, and this was further increased in 
December two hundred dollars, but it was not to be paid to more than 
twenty-nine men. When the call was made for 500,000 troops in 1864 
the town offered five hundred dollars bounty for volunteers and the 
selectmen were authorized to fill the quota by obtaining recruits from 
out of town. In 1865 the town voted a bounty of two hundred dollars 
to all her townsmen who had re enlisted after having served two years 
and had received no previous bounty. 

Such is an account of the action of the town during the war. For a 
further account of the part taken by her volunteers in the memorable 
strife the reader is referred to an earlier chapter of this work. 

Following is a list of those soldiers of the town who received head- 
stones from the government : Homer E Ball, Jasper W. Dutton, Orman 
A. Spring, Hiram Gould, Benjamin S. Kendricks, Major Gould, George 
Clark, Ebenezer M. Cook, Norman Morey, Hiram C. Fairbanks, David 
R. Ward, William J. Bosworth, Moses Olney, Alfred S. Earle, Benjamin 
Rice, H. H. Bemis, W. F. Robbins, George Dartt, Horace Leonard. 

Bonded Debt. — There was issued in 1869 $40,000 of town bonds in 
$100 and $500 denominations, payable $5,800 annually, the first be- 
coming due January I, 1881. In 1S78 another issue of $25,000 bear- 
ing five per cent, interest and of the same denominations were sold, and 
of these $5,000 became due January i, 1890, and the same amount 
matures thereafter annually. 

Lawyers. — The first lawyer to locate in the town and practice his 
profession was Samuel M. Lewis, who resided at the central village 
about 1800, and had an office for a number of years where the Meth- 




cMuJiP^^^ 



Town of Springfield. 425 



odist church now stands. He was town clerk for nearly twenty years. 
A few years afterwards John Helton began to practice law at the central 
village, but he died in 18 1 5, and his brother-in-law, Samuel W. Porter, 
succeeded to his business the same year. At this time Judge Porter 
lived in the brick dwelling house on Main street, now known as the 
Pingry block. About 1835 Henry Closson opened an office, and con- 
tinued to practice his profession until his death. John Ward, at present 
a prominent lawyer of Detroit, Mich., practiced law at Springfield in 
1849. At the breaking out of the civil war Wheelock G. Veazey, one 
of the prominent judges of Vermont, was engaged in business at the 
central village and became captain of Company A, Third Vermont 
Regiment, which was raised in this town. The present lawyers are 
Albert M. Allbe and Jerome W. Pierce. 

A more extended sketch of some of these men appears in a preced- 
ing chapter of this work. There have been others who have practiced 
here for a few years, but are not otherwise connected with the history 
of the town. 

Physicians of Springfield. — The first person to practice medicine in 
this town was Samuel Cobb, who was located at Eureka. The next 
one was Simeon Brown, who practiced for some time in that part of the 
town, but finally located at the central village. Eleazer Crain came to 
Springfield village in 1815, and opened an ofifice and practiced till his 
death, and during a part of the time his son, Henry Foster Crain, was 
connected with him, and after his father's death he continued the busi- 
ness until 1882, when he removed to Rutland, Vt., where he died in 
1885. Leonard Chase was a physician at Springfield village for a num- 
ber of years, and practiced medicine over si.xly years of his life. Moses 
Cobb, a son of Samuel Cobb, was engaged in this business at the village 
during his life, as was also Langdon Sawyer, Calvin Hubbard and Eb- 
enezer A. Knight. At the North village Ariel Kendrick was a prac- 
ticing physician and surgeon, and continued such for more than fifty- 
five years. Granville Knight, who now practices at Maiden, Mass., was 
for a number of years at Springfield village. Mark Richards Crain, a 
son of Henry F. Crain, also practiced here, and is now at Rutland, Vt. 
The present physicians are Daniel W. Hazelton, William F. Hazelton, 
Andrew A. Haig, S. W. Worcester and Micajah Martin. The reader 

54, 



426 History of Windsor County. 

is referred to a preceding chapter for further details of the medical pro- 
fession. 

Political History. — The early settlers of Springfield having under- 
gone a great many hardships, owing to the dispute between the prov- 
inces of New York and New Hampshire, which had jurisdiction over 
them, gladly welcomed the tidings of the declaration of independence 
of the people of Vermont, and on June 22, 1777, Colonel John Barrett 
and William Lockwood were elected delegates to represent the town at 
a convention to be held July 2, 1777, at Windsor, to form a constitution 
for the new State. According to the constitution adopted each town 
having eighty taxable inhabitants was entitled to two representatives at 
the first election held for representati\"e, in December, 1777. In 1784, 
Nathaniel Weston and Daniel Gill having been duly elected to repre- 
sent their fellow townsmen at the State capital, a committee was ap- 
pointed to instruct them in their duties and the wishes of those who, 
by their votes, had placed them in the honorable position. Following 
is a copy of those instructions : 

" Gentlemen : You being elected by the town of Springfield as rep- 
resentatives to represent them in the General Assembly for this year, 
you are therefore to attend said Assembly with fidelity and constancy 
and to remember you are their servants, and all times accountable to 
your constituents for your conduct. You are closely to adhere to the 
Constitution, and not to give your vote in any matter or thing contrary 
thereto. 

" You are to insist upon a full and final settlement to be made witli 
the treasurer, and that all the public accounts be properly adjusted from 
the first existence of this State to the present day, with an intelligible 
account how much money has been raised by public ta.xes and other- 
wise, how and what way every part thereof has been used, that a copy 
of the settlement, together with all the acts of the General Assembly, 
be immediately printed, together with the yeas and nays on any ques- 
tion, vote or regulation of the Assembly agreeable to the tenth section 
of the Constitution. That no vote pass but in full assembly. That 
each town pay their own representatives. That the fees of State officers 
be lowered according to 23d and 33d section of Constitution. That all 
Courts of Justice where jurors are summoned to proceed to trial with- 



Town of Springfield. 427 



out loss of time to the jurors. That the Assembly stop the collecting 
of the two last taxes till a settlement be made with the treasurer. 

"You are likewise to use your endeavors that an act be made in the 
Assembly that no persons professing the tenets of universal salvation be 
allowed the privilege of an oath upon evidence or otherwise in the State. 
That you use your utmost endeavors to have the tax for not raising men 
in the year 1781 taken off, as it is unjust and unequal." 

At an election held for governor in 1794 seventy-eight votes were 
cast, and in the same year L. R. Morris received sixty- three votes and 
Jonathan Hunt three votes for member of Congress. Just one hundred 
votes were cast for governor in 1799, and three years after, by the town 
records, sixty persons were elected to fill town offices, though in the 
same year only ninety nine votes were cast for governor. It would 
seem, therefore, that most of the legal voters of the town were supplied 
with an office for each. 

The town was represented in the various constitutional conventions as 
follows: By Simon Stevens in 1791 ; Lewis R. Morris in 1793, who was 
elected secretary; Asahel Powers in 1814; Leonard Walker in 1822 
and 1828; Nomlas Cobb in 1836; Bezaleel Wood in 1843; and William 
W. Whitney in 1850. 

During the troubles in Kansas over the effiarts of the South to estab- 
lish slavery in that State, a meeting was held in Springfield, in 1854, at 
which the town unanimously adopted a set of resolutions vehemently 
protesting against the further extension of slavery in that direction, and 
pledging themselves to vote only for men who would use their influence 
to the same purpose. Those resolutions indicated the political feeling of 
the inhabitants of this town, whose ancestors had been strong suppor ers 
of the old Federal and Whig parties, whose watchword was the sup- 
pression of slavery. At the next election for presidential electors, in 
1856, the town went Republican by a large majority, and has ever since 
followed in the same footsteps. In the following table the larger num- 
bers give the number of votes cast for Republican electors in the years 
named, and the smaller numbers the votes cast for opposition electors : 
1856, 506, 72; i860, 551, 84; 1864, 630,47; 1868, 628,53; 1872, 
521,97; 1876,591,154; 1880,652,185; 1884,451. 146; 1888,513, 
125. 



428 History of Windsor County. 

Following are the lists of those who have filled the offices of State 
senator, representative, selectman, town clerk and town treasurer. Those 
who filled the last three offices held over until the March of the year fol- 
lowing that given : 

State Sejiators. — Samuel W. Porter, 1836; Abner Field, 1842-43; 
Joseph W. Colburn, 1848-50; George Johnson, 1855-56; Albert Brown, 
1867-68; Fred G. Field, 1880. 

Representatives in the General Assembly. — John Barrett, March 12, 
1778; Samuel Scott, October, 1778; Abner Bisbee, 1 781, 1786-88; 
George Hubbard, 1783 ; Simon Stevens, 1783, 1794 ; Daniel Gill, 1784, 
1792; Nathaniel Weston, 1784-85, 1791 ; Jotham White, 1787-90, 
1797-98; Samuel Cobb, 1783. 1789, 1800-02; Lewis R. Morris', 1795- 
96, 1803-08; John Davis, 1807; James Davis, 1809; Joseph Selden, 
1 8 10; Asahel Powers, 1811-12, 18 17; John Holden, 1813-14; Leon- 
ard Walker, 18 15-16, 1818, 1826; Bezaleel Wood, 1819-20, 1825, 
■1836-37; Jonathan Whipple, 1821-22; Phineas T.Wales, 1823-24; 
Samuel W. Porter, 1827-28 ; William Thayer, jr., 1829-31 ; John White, 
1832; Russell Burke, 1833-34; Abner Field, 1835, 1838, 185 i ; Henry 
Closson, 1839-40; Ormus M. Whipple, I S41-42 ; Hiram Harlow, 1843- 
45 ; James Whipple, 1846-47 ; Moses White, 1848; Ephraim Walker, jr., 
1849-50; Horace Weston, 1852; ^Hamlin Whitmore, 1854; Jonathan 
Martin, 1855; Amasa Woolson, 1856-57; Henry Spaftbrd, 1858-59; 
Joel Woodbury, 1860-61 ; Bezer F. Wood, 1862-63 ; Charles A. l*"or- 
bush, 1864-65; Franklin P. Ball, 1866-67; James E. White, 1868-69; 
Fred G. Field, ^1870-72 ; C. Horace Hubbard, 1874; Horace H. Howe, 
1S76; Frederick W. Porter, 1878; Robert M. Colburn, 1880; Adna 
Brown, 1882; Henry M. Arms, 1884; Daniel O. Gill, 1886; William 
H. H. Slack, 1888. 

Supervisors of the Town under Laws of the Province of New York. — 
1770-71, Simon Stevens; 1772 to 1777, inclusive, Abner Bisbee. 

Selectmen under Laws of State of Vermont. — 1778, Simon Stevens, 
John Barrett, James Martin, jr.; 1779, Samuel Scott, James Martin, jr., 
Roger Bates; 1780, Roger Bates, Nathaniel Weston, Samuel Scott; 1781, 

' Speaker of the House in 1795-96. 

'There was no representative elected in 1S53. 

' Commencement of the biennial sessions of the Legislature. 



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Town of Springfield. 429 

Nathaniel Weston, Abner Bisbee, Josiah Tower, Simon Stevens, James 
Martin, jr.; 1782, Natlianiel Weston, Simon Stevens, Abner Bisbee, Roger 
Bates, James Martin, jr.; 1783, Simon Stevens, Dr. Samuel Cobb, James 
Martin, jr.; 1784, Simon Stevens, Abner Bisbee, Roger Bates; 1785, Ab- 
ner Bisbee, Simon Stevens, James Martin, jr.; 1786, Simon Stevens, Dr. 
Samuel Cobb, Abner Bisbee; 1787, Dr. Samuel Cobb, Simon Stevens, 
Abner Bisbee; 1788, Dr. Samuel Cobb, Lewis R. Morris, Lemuel Whit- 
ney; 1789, James Martin, jr., Totham White, Abner Bisbee; 1790, Si- 
mon Stevens, Abner Bisbee, Jotham White; 1791, Simon Stevens, Ab- 
ner Bisbee, Dr. Samuel Cobb; 1792, Dr. Samuel Cobb, Luther Field, 
Orsamus Holmes; 1793, Thomas Barrett, Abner Bisbee, Luther Field ; 
1794, Jotliam White, Luther Held, Thomas Barrett ; 1795, Abner Bis- 
bee, Thomas Barrett, Jotham White ; 1796, Abner Bisbee, Thomas Bar- 
rett, Isaac Parker; 1797, Thomas Barrett, Abner Bisbee, Isaac Parker; 
1798-99, Thomas Barrett, Abner Bisbee, Daniel Griswold ; 1800, 
Thomas Barrett, Daniel Griswold, James Underwood; 1801, Daniel 
Griswold, James Underwood, Abner Bisbee; 1802, Daniel Griswold, 
James Underwood, Jotham Britton, Nathaniel Holden, Zenas Newell ; 
1803, Abner Bisbee, Zenas Newell, Nathaniel Holden ; 1804, Samuel M. 
Lewis, Luther Field, Nathaniel Holden; 1805-0S, Samuel M. Lewis, 
Nathaniel Holden, John Maynard; 1809, Samuel M. Lewis, Jotham 
Britton, Nathaniel Holden; 18 10, Samuel M. Lewis, Daniel Griswold, 
Leonard Walker ; 181 1-14, James Underwood, Samuel M. Lewis, Daniel 
Griswold; 1815, Samuel M. Lewis, Leonard Walker, Daniel Griswold; 
1816, Henry Perkins, Leonard Walker, Jeremiah Ellis ; 1817, Jonathan 
Whipple, Samuel M. Lewis, Daniel Griswold; 1818-20, Samuel Hem- 
enway, Bezaleel Wood, Elisha Bisbee ; 1821, Bezaleel Wood, Benoni 
Lockwood, jr., Wm. Thayer, jr.; 1822-23, Nomlas Cobb, Benoni Lock- 
wood, jr., Wm. Thayer, jr.; 1824-30, Wm. Thayer, jr., Thomas Dana, 
Bezaleel Wood ; 183 1, Bezaleel Wood, Thomas Dana, John Field ; 1832, 
John Field, George Johnson, David Brown; 1833, George Johnson, 
Jonathan Chase, Reuben Lockwood ; 1834, Jonathan Chase, Reuben 
Lockwood, John Perkins; 1835, John Perkins, Reuben Lockwood, Enos 
Brown ; 1836, John Perkins, Enos Brown, Horace Weston ; 1837, Jona- 
than Chase, John White, Horace Weston; 1838, John Perkins, John 
White, Wm. W. Whitney ; 1839, John Perkins, Abner Field, Hiram 



430 History of Windsor County. 

Haiiow ; 1840, Hiram Harlow, John Field, Hiram L. Houghton ; 1841- 
42, Hiram Harlow, John Field, George Kimball; 1843, Hiram Harlow, 
John Farnham, John Chipman ; 1844, John Farnham, John Chipman, 
Gardner Herrick ; 1845, John Farnham, James Whipple, Gardner Her- 
rick ; 1746, John Farnham, James Whipple, Wm. Dana; 1847, James 
Whipple, Wm. Dana, Dennis Allen; 1848, Wm. Dana, Dennis Allen, 
George Washburn ; 1849, Dennis Allen, George Washburn, Samuel 
Steele; 1850, Samuel Steele, Daniel Gushing, John White ; 1851, Daniel 
Gushing, John White, Wm. McCrae ; 1852-53, John Farnham, Geo. 
Washburn, John Britton ; 1854, John Farnham, Henry Barnard, Samuel 
Rollins ; 1855-56, Samuel Rollins, Sylvester Burke, Jonas B. Spencer; 
1857, George Washburn, Joel Woodbury, James E. White; 1858, 
James E. White, John Farnham, John Hall ; 1859, John F^arnham, John 
Hall, Daniel Gushing; 1860-61, Bezer F. Wood, Leonard Redfield, 
Horace H. Howe; 1862-63, Bezer F. Wood, Benjamin Parker, Jona- 
than M. Boynton, Charles A. Forbush ; 1865, Charles A. Forbush, 
James E White, Sylvester Burke ; 1866-68, James E. White, Sylvester 
Burke, George P. Haywood ; 1869, Rodney C. Britton', Edson Pierce, 
Almon B. Damon ; 1870, Moses P. Chase, John W. Lockwood, Samuel 
Brown; 1871, Moses F. Chase, John W. Lockwood, David F. Safibrd ; 
1872, John W. Lockwood, Franklin P. Ball, David F. Safford ; 1873, 
John W. Lockwood, \Franklin P. Ball, Lucius Streeter ; 1874, John W. 
Lockwood, Lucius Streeter, Rufus O. Forbush ; 1875, Lucius Streeter, 
Royal L. Lovell, Dennis B. Allen ; 1876, Royal L. Lovell, Dennis B. 
Allen, Daniel O. Gill; 1877-78, Denni.s B. Allen, Daniel O. Gill, 
Squire Baker; 1879, Squire Baker, Samuel Brown, Chas. A. Leland ; 
1880-S2, Samuel Brown, Chas. A. Leland, Frederick W. Porter ; 1883- 
84, Samuel Brown, Frederick W. Porter, Durant J. J. Boynton ; 1885, 
W. H. H. Putnam, J. E. White, Ru.ssell S. Herrick ; 18S6- 87, W. H. H. 
Putnam, Russell S. Herrick, Edward Woodbury; 1888, W. H. H. Put- 
nam, Romani A. Spafford, Allen L. Slade ; 1889, Daniel O. Gill, Ro- 
maui A. Spafford, Allen L. Slade. 

List of Town Clerks. — Simon Stevens, from 1769—83; Dr. .Samuel 
Cobb, 1784; James Martin, jr., 1785-89; Jotham White, 1790-93; 
Thomas Barrett, from- 1794-1800; Samuel M. Lewis, from 1801-17; 

' Resigned ; Charles A. Forbush elected to fill vacancy. 



Town of Springfield. 431 



s 



Samuel Hemenway, from 1818-20; Nomlas Cobb, from 1821-34 ; Mill 
N. Duncan, 1835 ; Henry Closson, 1836-43 ; Bezaleel Wood, 1844-47 ; 
Samuel W. Porter, 1848-80; Arthur E. Bosworth, 1881 ; Merrill L. 
Lawrence, 1882 to present time. 

List of Town Treasurers. — Simeon Bradford, from 1769-73 ; William 
Lock-wood, 1774; Simon Stevens, 1777-7^, 1781-86; Dr. Samuel 
Cobb, 1787-89; Lewis R. Morris, 1790-94; Dr. Simeon Brown, 1795- 
96; Samuel M. Lewis, 1797-98; Joseph Selden, 1799-1814, 1817-20; 
Thomas Marble, 1815 ; Aaron Spinner, 1816; Phineas T.Wales, 1821- 
30; Don Lovell, 1831-36; John Perkins, 1837; Samuel W. Porter, 
1838; Russell Burkei, 1839-52; Geor^'e W. Porter, 1853-68; Charles 
E. Richardson, 1869-70; Gershom L. Closson, 1871 ; William H- 
Wheeler, 1872 to present time. 

Springfield Church History. — The early settlers of Springfield, few in 
numbers and bearing the burdens incidental to all pioneer settlements, 
found but little time or opportunity for the establishment of a religious 
organization in their midst; but as the town became more thickly set- 
tled the desire for public worship grew in the hearts of the people. As 
early as 1775 the question of having preaching in the town was discussed 
in town meetings, and in 1779 an effort was made to induce thirty wlio 
would subscribe with sufficient liberality to support a minister. Then 
arose the vexing question as to which denomination he should belong, 
and the effort was fruitless. In 1781 the town voted money to support 
preaching and a call was extended to Rev. John Foster, and a commit- 
tee was appointed to contract with him, he to receive ^45 annually for 
two years, after which his pay was to increase at the rate of ^5 annually 
until the amount reached ;^65, which salary he was to receive as long 
as he continued his work there. Instead of money, he was to take 
wheat for his pay at the price of five shillings per bushel. A meeting 
house was to be built, the laborers on which were to be paid three shil- 
lings for a day's work. On October 3d of that year a church consisting 
of sixteen members was organized. A site for the church was selected 
on Eureka street, then one of the most thickly settled parts of the town. 
The frame was erected, but that is as far as the building ever progressed. 
Attempts were made' to finish it, but the feelings of the people seemed 
to have undergone a change ; the town began to grow rapidly towards 

' Died in office in 1852. and George W. Porter elected for the remainder of the year^ 



432 History of Windsor County. 

the center, and many were dissatisfied with the location, and in 1785 the 
contract with Mr. Foster was annulled and the church frame ordered 
sold at auction. A new site was selected on what is now the common 
at Springfield village, and ;^I50 was appropriated by the town to help 
erect a church. Those taxpayers whose religious belief differed from 
that of the majority were, by filing a certificate of membership in any 
church, to be exempt from all tax to build a church or support a minis- 
ter. This tax, as usual, was to be paid in wheat, if money was not in 
hand for the purpose ; wheat was rated at five shillings per bushel, 
beef at twenty shillings per hundred- weight, rye at three shillings a 
bushel and Indian corn at two shillings sixpence. The dimensions of 
the structure to be erected were fifty-six feet long, forty feet wide and 
twenty- one feet high. But after all these preliminaries were arranged 
there was still no church built. • The people seemed unable to decide 
whether the denomination should be Baptist or Congregationalist, and 
of course this momentous question had to be decided before anj'thing 
could be accomplished. 

At a town meeting held in the early part of 1788 it was voted that 
the denomination of the church should be Baptist, there being forty- 
four votes in favor of that creed to thirty-three against, tinder date of 
December 20, 1787, the following men agreed to support a church of 
that denomination, to be known as the Baptist church of Springfield : 
William Lockwood, Abraham Olney, William Olney, Nicholas Williams, 
John Grisvvold, Joseph Lockwood, Thomas Cook, Jacob Lockwood, 2d, 
Abraham Lockwood, Amasa Randall, Daniel Field, Benjamin Olney, 
Timothy Williams, jr., Daniel Avery, Benoni Lockwood, Joseph Covell, jr., 
Hendrey Lockwood; Luther Field, James Dunphy, William Lockwood, jr., 
Joshua Lockwood, Abraham Williams, Jacob Lockwood (tailor), Abra- 
ham Lockwood, 2d, Nicholas Bragg, Darius Whitman, Eber Blie, John 
Williams, Thomas Corlew. 

Later in the year 1788 it was again decided to erect the church on 
Eureka street, and a preacher of the Congregational or Presbyterian 
denomination was to be invited to fill the pulpit. The matter, however, 
finally resulted in the building of the church on the site near the com- 
mon, and the structure was partly finished in 1792, so that meetings 
could be held there. It was a wooden building capable of seating five 
hundred persons and had cost up to that time ^358, los. S^d. 



Town of Springfield. 433 

On April i, 1793, Rev. Benjamin Stone, a Congregational minister, 
began to preach at a salary of ^^75 annually for ten years, but for some 
reason he remained only a short time. During the next year an effort 
was made to finish the church and pews were sold at public auction, the 
proceeds to be devoted to that purpose. In 1795 an invitation was ex- 
tended to Rev. Joseph Prince, which was not accepted; but during that 
and the next year the pulpit was supplied from time to time by Rev. 
Stephen Williams, Rev. Archibald Campbell, and Rev. Nicholas B. 
Whitne}-. After a further sale of pews the church was finally finished 
in 1798. After 1807, the support of the town having been withdrawn 
from the church, its history more properly belongs to the First Church 
of Christ, which appears a little further on 

In 1803 a society of Free Will Baptists was formed in the town, over 
whom was settled Elder Stephen Place. A formal notice was given 
that he was the first settled minister of the gospel. At a town meeting 
held in that year, by a vote of ninety-nine to seventy-two, the Congre- 
gationalist Society was recognized as having settled Rev. Robinson 
Smiley previous to this Then there arose the question of the minis- 
terial grant, and in 1808 it was divided, one-half being given to the Rev. 
Mr. Smiley, and the other half was to be held by the town, and the in- 
come arising from it to be divided equally between the Methodist, 
Congregationalist, Baptist, and Universalist societies as long as they 
maintained churches in the town. This settlement of the matter, it 
seems, did not please the Free Will Baptist Society, and a civil suit was 
brought against the town and judgment obtained ; but in 1820 in an- 
other suit brought by the same society the town appointed Nomlas Cobb 
and Samuel VV. Porter agents to defend, and a judgment and execution 
was obtained against the society. In 1825 the society petitioned the 
town to be relieved of this execution, which was agreed to on condition 
that the society repay the town the first judgment obtained against 
them This ended the controversy over the ministerial grant. Pre- 
vious to 1823 Rev. Robinson Smiley deeded his half of the lot back to 
the town for school purposes, and since 1823 the income has been de- 
voted to that purpose. 

TIic First Cliiircli of Christ {Congregational). — As previously stated, 
this society held their meetings in the church built by the town and in 



434 History of Windsor County. 

1 80 1 settled the Rev. Robinson Smiley as their first pastor. He was 
familiarly known as " Father Smiley," and is still remembered by many 
of the older inhabitants. To his faithful care, which ended in 1825, the 
church to-day owes its standing in the communit_\'. 

The pulpit was next filled by Eldad W. Goodman in 1827, and he re- 
mained until 183 1, when he was, in the following year, succeeded by 
Rev. Daniel O. Morton. He was the father of Hon. Levi P. Morton, 
the present vice-president of the United States. Both he and his son 
are distinctly remembered by many citizens of the town, and the house 
in which they lived is still standing near the common. Rev. Mr. Mor- 
ton continued to preach until 1836, and while he was in charge the 
present church on Main street was erected, in 1834. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Henry B Holmes, who was dismissed in 1840, and in that year 
a call was extended to the Rev. Calvin D. Noble, who occupied the 
pulpit until his death on August 23, 1844. Rev. Lathrop Taylor was 
installed in 1845 and continued until 1S51, when he was succeeded in 
the ne.xt year by Rev. Solomon P. Giddings, who remained until 1858. 
Rev. Nathan J. Haseltine began preaching in 1859, but his death oc- 
curred January 22, i860. He was followed that year by Rev. John W. 
Chickering, who filled the station till 1864. From this time until 1867 
Rev. Asa Mann acted as pastor, but was not settled. In 1867 Rev. Levi 
Henry Cobb was installed and occupied the pulpit until 1874, when a 
call was extended to Rev. Perrin B. Fisk, who continued to preach until 
1877. In 1878 he was followed by Rev. Thomas M Boss, who was 
dismissed in 1884, and in the following year Rev. Charles S. Mills was 
installed as pastor and continued until 1888. Since that time the pulpit 
has been occupied by Rev. William O. Weeden, a graduate of Andover 
Theological School 

The centennial of this church was celebrated September 26, 1881. 
The present church edifice is the same as built in 1834, excepting that 
in 1 868 extensive repairs were made, the front and the tower being added. 
In 1887 an organ loft was built in the rear and the interior thoroughly 
renovated. At that time was also placed in the front of the church a 
memorial window by the widow of Frederick Parks. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Springfield. — Methodism was first 
introduced into Vermont in 1796, but it was not until 1804 that there 



Town of Springfield. 435 

was any attempt to organize a society in Springfield. In that year per- 
mission was given to hold a quarterly meeting in the church supported 
by the town. In 1813 a church was built by subscription, on Seminary 
Hill, it being the present high school building. The pulpit was supplied 
by circuit preachers, the Rev. Mr. Skeels being among the first ; also 
Rev. Dexter Bates. During service the males and females sat on oppo- 
site sides of the church. The district at this time included, besides 
Springfield, Perkinsville and Charlestown, N. H., and was under the 
charge of New Hampshire Conference. Rev. R. H. Spaulding was pastor 
from 1839 to 1 841, and was succeeded by Rev. W. J. Kidder, who re- 
mained one year. In 1842 the district comprised Chester and Spring- 
field, and by agreement the pastors, Revs. C. Fales and Isaac W. 
Huntley, alternated. During 1843 the present stone church was fin- 
ished, and dedicated December 17, 1844. On the formation of the Ver- 
mont Conference, in 1844, it assumed jurisdiction over this district, and 
Rev. J. Clark was appointed pastor. The old meeting-house was dis- 
posed of in this year for four hundred dollars. The annual meeting of 
the Vermont Conference was held at Springfield, June 10, 1846, and the 
town was made a district by itself Rev. J. C. Aspinwall became pastor 
in that year and the following men have filled the position since, the 
year denoting the commencement of their terms, which generally began 
in the middle of the year: 1849, Isaac Smith; 1852, P. P. Ray; 1854, 
Silas G. Kellogg ; 1856, A. T. Ballard; 1858, Kimball Hadley ; 1859, 
S. H. Collum; 1861, H. W. VVorthen ; 1863, W. D. Malcolm; 1865, 
Israel Luce; 1866, E. E. Bass; 1868, J. C. W. Coxe ; 1871, H. W. 
Worthen; 1874,0. M. Boutwell ; 1876, D. Dorchester; 1878, N. F. 
Perry; 1881, A. L. Cooper; 1882, J. McAnn ; 1884, W. J.Johnson; 
1886, A. L. Cooper; 1888, R. L. Bruce 

The presiding elders since 1836 have been as follows : 1836, E. Jor- 
dan ; 1840, W. D. Cass; 1841, S. Jared Perkins; 1844, C. C. Hardy; 
1849, J. C. Aspinwall; 1852, Z. Twitchell ; 1854, H. Eastman; 1858, 
A. Webster; 1861, L. C. Hooker; 1863, H. W. Worthen; 1867, L. C. 
Dickinson; 1871, J. W.. Gurnsey ; 1875, J. D. Beaman ; 1879, H. A. 
Spencer; 1882, A. L. Cooper; 1886, Richard Morgan. 

The Univcrsalist Society of Springfield. — Of the early history of this 
society in Springfield but little is known, as no official records are now 



436 History of Windsor County. 

to be found. It is a fact, however, that an organization existed here as 
early as the latter part of the last century, as the following taken from 
the town records will show : 

"Springfield, November, 1795. 

"This may certify whom it may concern that Silas Boyer is of and 
belons^s to the Universalist society of the town aforesaid. 

" Zebulon Streeter, Elder." 

This society was located at Parker Hill and its members were resi- 
dents of Rockingham, as well as Springfield. Among those who com- 
posed the society were Leonard Walker, Leonard Parker, Phineas White, 
James Walker, David Fletcher, Timothy Goodnow, William Thayer, 
William Haseltine and Jonas Haseltine. A small but convenient house 
was built and known as " Society House of Worship," whicli was occu- 
pied for meetings on Sunday and for school on week days. The Rev. 
Russell Streeter was settled over this society during the early part of 
the present century, but after his removal the society depended on tran- 
sient and itinerant preachers, among whom were Revs. Warren and 
Adolphus Skinner. About 1830 the Rev. William Bell was pastor of 
the society and meetings were held at the brick school- house which 
stood near the present Universalist church in Springfield village. In 
1834 the present church edifice was built by the Universalists and Epis 
copalians and known as the Union church. From this time until 1840 
the pulpit was occupied by various preachers of both denominations, 
even Parson Smiley consenting to fill the position for a season. The 
Rev Solomon Laws was resident minister during 1S40, and in the fol- 
lowing year was succeeded by Rev. George W. Bailey, who continued 
to 1847. During his ministry a church was organized with a member- 
ship of sixty-five. Others who filled the office of pastor were Rev. 
W. S. Ballou for two years ; Rev. J. W. Ford, 1849-51 ; Rev. J. Fisher, 
1S51-52; Rev. Luther Rice, 1852-56; Rev. Silas Farrington, W. H. 
Bassett, and Harrison Closson, 185610 1863 ! Rev. Asher Moore, 1864- 
67. The latter was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Farnsworth, who re-organ- 
ized tlie church and had at one time a membership of one hundred 
and fifty-one ; but owing to deaths and removals the present member- 
ship is only about sixty. The society was re-organized about 1870, 
adopting a new constitution, which received the signatures of about 



Town of Springfield. • 437 



eighty. Rev. Mr. Farnsworth was succeeded in 1873 by Rev. J. F. 
Gates, and during that year the church edifice was remodeled and re- 
paired at a cost of nearly $8,000, and it became the sole property of the 
Universalist Society. The successive pastors after that time were Rev. 
J. F. Simmons, 1874 to 187S; Rev. Mrs. R. A. D. Tabor, 1878-79; 
Rev. G. W. Patten, 1880-82 ; Rev. F. S. Rice, 1882-87. In 1888 Rev. 
L. L. Green began to preach and remained to 1889. There is now no 
settled minister. There has been connected with the church since 1842 
a large and prosperous Sabbath-school, sometimes numbering two hun- 
dred and fifty teachers and scholars. 

North Spriilgfield Baptist Clmrcli. — Though the name "Baptist" 
occurs in various places in the early town records, it refers to a society 
known as the Free Will Baptist church, which existed for a number of 
years and then became known as the Christian church, and now is the 
Advent church of North Springfield. In 1799, through the exertions 
of Rev. Aaron Leland, a Baptist minister of Chester, a powerful revival 
was begun which extended to the adjoining towns. This necessitated a 
division of the church at Chester, and on August 31, 1803, an ecclesi- 
astical council was held, and the " Weathersfield and Baltimore branch 
of the Chester Church" was made an independent body. The first reg- 
ular meeting was held September 8, 1803, at the house of Ephraim 
Boynton in Weathersfield, and messengers were elected to make appli- 
cation, which was received during September, 1803, to join the Wood- 
stock Baptist Association. Seth Houghton was elected first clerk, and 
Beman Boynton first deacon, which office he held until September 5, 
1807, when Silas Bigelow was chosen, and filled the position till his 
death, August 27, 1833. At a council held February 8, 1809, Beman 
Boynton, having been licensed to preach, was ordained and became the 
first settled minister, and continued until 18 17. The first baptisms in 
the church occurred March 4, 1810, the candidates being Enos Young, 
John Streeter, Elisha Bowen, Polly Kendall, Lydia Farwell, Anna 
Young, Amy Young, and Lucy Streeter. During 181 5 the first meet- 
ing-house was built, northeast of the present one about a quarter of a 
mile distant. It faced south, and was forty-three feet wide, and nearly 
sixty feet long. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Elder Aaron 
Leland. Jewett Boynton, sr., became clerk September 2, 1S15, but 



438 History of Windsor County. 



resigned in 1823, when Jonathan Boynton was chosen. The pulpit was 
filled by Rev. I.saac Hticklyn for a short time in the years 18 17-18, and 
he was succeeded by Rev. Revel Lathrop to 1819; in November, 1820, 
Rev. Richard M. Ely accepted the pastorate. In May, 1830, Jewett 
Boynton, jr., was made clerk, and in November of the same year Rev. 
Ezra Eisher began preaciiing, and continued to November 9, 1832. 
From May 19, 1833, to May 6, 1837, Rev. Cyrus W. Hodges officiated 
as pastor, and during his service the present brick church was erected ; 
it was dedicated December 30, 1835. Other succeeding pastors were 
Rev. M. D. Miller, from April, 1837, to 1839; Rev. Benjamin Brierly, 
to 1841 ; Rev. D. M. Crane, 1842 to 1845 ; R^v. Nathaniel Cudworth, 
1845 to 1849; Rev. Baxter Burrow, 1850 to 1858; Rev. W. L. Picnell, 
January, 1858, to his death September 28, 1867; Rev. Ephraim P. 
Frenyear, November, 1867, to December, 1 868; Rev. D. M. Crane, 
1870 to 1875 ; — during the early part of his pastorate the present 
parsonage was built; — Rev. Robert G. Johnson, August, 1875, to 1883; 
and from that time to 1885 the church was under the care of Rev. J. H. 
Robbins. The church was thoroughly repaired and remodeled at an 
expense of about $2,000 in 1885-86, during which period there was no 
settled minister. Rev. I. W. Coombs began preaching in 18S6, and 
continued to the spring of 1888, and was succeeded by the present 
incumbent. Rev. W. H. Bartlett. In 1888 Joshua Upham was elected 
clerk, succeeding Edson X. Pierce, who removed from town, having held 
that position since 1861. 

St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Church. — From the early settlement 
of the town there were members of this church among the inhabitants, 
and prior to the present century parishes were organized in Wcathcrs- 
field and Rockingham. In 1834 the present Universalist church was 
built, the Episcopals aiding in the work and owning pews; but theirin- 
terest was afterwards .disposed of to tlie Universalists. 

At this time Rev. Luman Foote was rector, he being a resident of 
Drewsville, N. H., and he had charge of both parishes for a time, after 
which the society depended on ministers sent by the bishop of the dio- 
cese and those who were especially invited to preach. Through the 
efforts of the ladies of a sewing circle and the Episcopal members an 
attempt was again made to establish a parish, and the present name was 



Town ok SPRiNGFlELt). 439 

given to the church. The Rev. Joseph McIIvvaine was rector during 
parts of the years 1868-69, After his departure the interest seemed to 
die out, and meetings ceased entirely. In 1887 Rev Charles W. Coit, 
rector at Cliarlestown N. H., persuaded a number of the members of the 
church to hold meetings, and offered his services gratuitously. A meet- 
ing was held September 18, 1887, the society having been organized in 
the spring of 1886. Rev. Mr. Coit continued in charge of the parish 
until his removal from Charlestown in September, 1888. Since that time 
Rev. Edward N. Goddard, of Windsor, Vt., has had charge, under 
appointment of the bishop. Meetings are held in the vestry of the 
Congregational church on alternate Sundays. 

TIic Reformed Methodist Church. — This church is located in the west- 
ern part of the town, and the edifice was erected in 1840 ; it has a seat- 
ing capacity of two hundred. The formation of the society antedates 
that time, and meetings were held in the school house in the district, the 
first preacher as far as known having been Elder Ebenezer Davis. Elder 
William Mack officiated as early as 1840, and was in charge when the 
church was dedicated. From 1847 to 1849 Elder Theophilus Smith was 
in the pulpit. On May 11, 1852, the society received a perpetual lease 
of the church building from Benjamin Lewis, as long as it was used for 
no other purposes than the religious services of the Reformed Methodists. 
At this time the society was re-organized by Benjamin L*ewis, George 
E Lewis, W. B. Chittenden, William Kirk, Benjamin Aldrich, and 
others, and had a membership of thirty- six ; this number is now reduced, 
owing to deatiis and removals, to about eighteen. Since the re- organi- 
zation of the society the pulpit has been filled by different pastors, Elder 
George E. Lewis having had almost sole charge of the congregation. 
It is largely owing to his unselfish labor that the society has been main- 
tained. 

The Free Will Baptists. — A society of this denomination was organ- 
ized in the northern part of the town as early as 1793. Meetings were 
held in the dwellings of Daniel Field and Isaac Ellis, and also in the 
school-house. The first preacher seems to have been Elder J. Watkins, 
who preached to the early settlers of both the Baptist and Congrega- 
tional sects. He was succeeded by Elder Thomas Cook, and he by 
Elder Stephen Place. The society was finally dissolved for lack of 
members. 



440 History of Windsor County. 

The Christian Church. — Owing to the exertions of Elder Daniel 
Hazen, a Christian- Baptist who had before been a Free Will Baptist, 
several meetings were held in 183 1 at North Springfield, and a society 
was organized. No stated meetings were held, but at different times 
the following ministers officiated : Elders James Hudson, Seth Ross, and 
I. H. Shipman. In the year 1840, that being the time when the second 
coming of Christ was prophesied, a number of revivals were held, but 
the society finally died out. 

The Second Advent Chiireli. — This is located at North Sprmgficld, and 
was organized by the Rev. H. F. Carpenter, who became the first pastor 
of the society, October 6, 1869. He resigned in July, 1874, and the 
Rev. Ballard B. Chedel succeeded. He continued to preach until the 
summer of 1881, and was succeeded by Rev. D. W, Davis, who was dis- 
missed in 1887. The society was without a pastor until January 5, 
1889, when the Rev. Oscar Beckwith was installed. The membership 
is thirty-five. 

St. Patrick' s Roman Catholic Churcli. — Meetings of Catholics were 
held in Springfield previous to 1872 in a hall, but not at stated times. 
In that year a society was organized, and purchased from the town their 
present building, which was remodeled. Services were held once a 
month, but since 1889 have been held on alternate Sundays. The first 
priest was Rev. Edward Jeandious, who was followed by Rev. Edward 
Reynolds, both of Bellows Falls, Vt. The present pastor is Rev. P. J. 
Houlihan. 

Springfield Village. 

The village is situated at Lockwood Falls on the Black River, four 
and a half miles from its junction with the Connecticut. The falls 
amount to 1 10 feet in an eighth of a mile, fifty of which are nearly per- 
pendicular, and are regarded as one of the greatest curiosities in the 
State. In some places the channel through which the river passes is not 
more than nine feet wide, and for twenty rods it passes through a deep 
ravine from nine to fifteen feet in width, walled by perpendicular ledges 
of mica slate from sixty to eighty feet high. The village and the sur- 
rounding scenery is highly romantic and interesting. 

The first attempt to establish any definite boundaries was made in 




John Davidson. 



Village of Springfield. 441 

1819. Oa November nth of that year an act was passed by the State 
Legislature in regard to restricting certain animals running at large in 
villages, and the following boundaries were designated by the selectmen 
of the town on the petition of fourteen freeholders, December 27, 1819 : 
" Beginning at Eli Ames' house on the road through the village, cross- 
ing Black River by the woolen-mill, as far down the river as ten rods 
south of Noah Safford's house. Also, from the bridge across the falls 
eastwardly to the west line of Bezaleel Wood's farm. Also, from Peter 
White's to the foot of the hill near the school- house in the center school 
district, including the common by the east meeting-house ; also from 
the bridge by Mr. Carlisle's westwardly as far as four rods west of the 
Methodist meeting-house in said Springfield and including common by 
said meeting house." There was no other authority conferred by this 
act other than that specified, therefore no organization was necessary. 
The Springfield Fire Department. — The State passed an act Novem- 
ber 3, 1832, giving towns the right to establish fire societies and to fix 
the bounds of the fire district. In pursuance to said act the selectmen 
of the town of .Springfield, upon the petition of three-fourths of the free- 
holders of Springfield Center village, on March 19, 1833, established the 
following bounds: To comprise all school district number 16 except 
Elijah Burke's, James Whipple's and John Miller's lands ; but also in- 
clude within the bounds Enos Brown's and James Litchfield's home 
farms; Rev. Daniel O. Morton's lands occupied by George Washbourne ; 
Samuel Chipman's, Eleazer Crane's, Josiah Belknap's lands; also the old 
meeting-house common and lands occupied by Dr. Moses Cobb. The 
fire society was fully organized on April 2, 1833, and the following were 
chosen as its officers : John Perkins, president ; Don Lovell, vice-presi- 
dent ; Dr. Moses Cobb, Edmund Durrin, S. W. Porter, James Chipman, 
Nomlas Cobb, George Washbourne and Jonathan Chase, fire wardens; 
Russell Burke, clerk; and Horatio G. Hawkins, treasurer. A code of 
laws was adopted, of which we give a brief summary : The duties of the 
president were limited to presiding at meetings. The vice-president, in 
the absence of his superior officer, was to try and fill his place. The fire 
wardens were to have full charge of fires, and to carry, as a distinguish- 
ing badge of their office, a staff five feet long painted red with a suitable 
head covered with gold leaf. Every member of the society owning or 

50 



442 History of Windsor CoUnTY. 

occupying a dwelling house requiring one fire, was provided with one 
leather bucket; for four fire-places or stoves, two buckets were furn- 
ished ; and so on up to four buckets were provided according to the size 
of the house. 

The society owned one hand-engine and the company who operated 
it was called the Springfield Engine Company No. i. The engine-house 
was located back of where the Woolson block now stands. This com- 
pany was to consist of not less than fifteen or more than twenty- four men, 
and was to be ofiicered by a captain and two lieutenants, who were re- 
lieved from all militia duty. In 1835, by a special act, the Springfield 
Center Village Corporation was incorporated as a fire district and sub- 
sequently the property of the fire society was purchased by that corpo- 
ration. 

Another engine-house was built on the lot north of the Union church. 
There was also kept about this time a small hand-engine at the David- 
son & Park Machine Company, called "No. Two." In the winter of 
1846 the first ladder company was formed consisting of eight members, 
their duty in case of fire being to bring the ladders from where they 
were stored and place them in position for use at the fire. Hand- engine 
Torrent, No. 3, was purchased in 1848, from Hunneman & Co., and a new 
engine company of thirty-six members was formed, they to receive as 
compensation $2 annually. There seems to have been an unexpended 
balance of $10.50 in the treasury of the old fire engine company, 
which was promptly donated to give an oyster supper to the new 
company. In 1848 the town appropriated $240 to purchase hose, 
couplings and carriages, to be placed in charge of Springfield Center 
village. For a number of years there was little acti\'ity in the fire de- 
partment. An attempt was made to run it on an economical plan ; the 
annual stipend of each member was changed to fifty cents, which he was 
to invest in an oyster supper ; afterwards his poll tax was to be rebated 
for his services; and finally it became not a voluntary action on the part 
of the taxpayers, but the captains of the companies were authorized to 
fill vacancies, giving those chosen the privilege of furnishing a substi- 
tute. But in 1852 the corporation became more liberal and purchased 
forty-three uniform suits for the members, two suits of India rubber cloth- 
ing for the hosemen and two torch lights. In 1854 the question arose 



Village of Springfield. 443 



ofpiocuring better accommodations for the fire department, and on March 
6th of that year a lot located at the east end of the falls bridge was 
bought for $350, and repairs amounting to over $500 were put upon 
the building. In the upper story a room was set aside for the use of the 
corporation, who held their first meeting there January 4, 1855. An- 
other appropriation of $200 was voted the corporation by the town of 
Springfield in 1859. A new act having passed in 1858, relating to fire 
districts, the selectmen of Springfield were petitioned by freeholders of 
the corporation to more clearly define its boundaries, and on February 
II, i860, a new district was formed called Fire District No. i ; this was 
again changed when the present village was incorporated by a special 
act which was accepted by the citizens December 3, 1866. 

The following were the first officers elected under the act of incorpo- 
ration : F. VV. Porter, B. F. Dana, James Mitchell, Charles Holt and 
R. C. Britton, trustees ; A. C. Bingham, chief engineer ; A. L. Robin- 
son, first assistant engineer ; Franklin Barney, second assistant engineer; 
J. M. Pierce, clerk ; Albert Brown, treasurer; and William A. Lewis, col- 
lector. 

The act of incorporation was amended and allowed by the Legisla- 
ture of 1888 and was adopted by the citizens December 3, 1888. The 
officers of the village elected on that date were Daniel O. Gill, president; 
Willie F. Miner, William Sparrow and Brad Harlow, trustees ; William 
H. Wheeler, treasurer ; E. C. Burke, clerk. 

With these changes the fire department property passed into the hands 
of the new organization. 

Torrent Engine Company, No. 3, was re-organized January 7, 1867, 
R. C. Britton being elected captain, E. M. Eaton, first lieutenant, and 
George W. Graham, second lieutenant. As early as 1869 the question 
arose in reference to building a new engine-house, and in 1871 of buy- 
ing a steam fire-engine and force pump to be located at the grist-mill. 
Between 1871 and 1876 the town at various times decided to buy a 
hand fire-engine and finally a steam-engine, and a contract was made 
with Hunneman & Co. to build the former, but on March 7, 1876, a 
forfeit of $350 was paid that firm to release the village from its contract. 
During 1879 the force pump was put in at the grist-mill and three hy- 
drants built at an expense of $1,750, but owing to the severe winters 



444 History of Windsor County. 

the pump became incapacitated and is most of the time not in running 
order. In the same year the W. H. H. Slack Hose, No. i, whicli was 
formerly called the Woolson Hose Company, was fully equipped by the 
gentleman whom it was named after and presented to the village. At 
last, yielding to the spirit of enterprise, the town finally voted to pur- 
chase a steam fire-engine, and in 1882 the committee, consisting of F. B. 
Ball, Adna Brown, C. D. Brink, W. H. H. Putnam and W. H. H. Slack, 
contracted with the Silsby Co., of Seneca Falls, N. Y , and the engine 
" Skitchawaug" was delivered to the village, April 19, 1882. The pres- 
ent house was built in the same year ; the total outlay amounted to over 
$8,000. 

The corporation purchased on November 10, 1882, a heater which 
was placed in the engine-house for the purpose of always keeping water 
boiling, thereby saving time in getting up steam. The department is 
fully equipped, having, besides the steamer, three hose carts with about 
2,000 feet of hose. The force consists of twenty-eight men, regularly 
organi7.ed and officered, and they are paid six dollars annually, and forty 
cents an hour when on active duty at fires. 

Among the many disastrous fires that have taken place in tiie village 
that have not previously been spoken of are the following: May, 1S59, 
Park & Woolson Machine Company was entirely burnt out ; also otiier 
buildings south of them on the river. In December, 1877, the Indus- 
trial Works at the upper dam were completely destroyed ; loss over 
$30,000. 

June 25, 1878, a fire occurred at Vermont Novelty Works ; loss $70,- 
000; insurance $37,000. Whitmore & Dillon suffered a loss of $2,500, 
January 31, 1878 ; dwelling house of E. C. Nason, loss $3,500; insured 
for $1,850. 

July 28, 1880, fire at barns of John Brady and Thomas Carmody on 
High street; loss $650, partially insured. January i, 1881, C. M. Ball's 
residence on Main street burnt ; loss $1,500; insurance $1,000. Sep- 
tember 17 and 21, 1880, slight fires at woolen-mill; loss $300. Feb- 
ruary 19, 1881, Springfield Toy Manufacturing Company suffered a loss 
by fire to the extent of $1,000. 

On January 20, 1882, the grist-mill of John Gowing ; Springfield 
Hosiery Company, owned by Thomas Carmody ; Fairbanks & Porter's 




^--ey^u^ c c^' 




7 



Village of Springfield. 445 

block; and residence of Mrs. John Chipman, on Main street, totally de- 
stroyed by fire ; loss $30,000. Also the village force pump was lost and 
replaced at an expense of about $1,000. 

June 8, 1882, fire broke out at the Vermont Snath Company's; loss 
estimated at $20,000. October i, 1882, Sparrow's block burnt; loss 
about $1,500, fully insured. March 2, 1883, two dwelling houses and 
barn burnt just north of the covered bridge. August 21, 1885, barn of 
Adna Brown destroyed by fire; loss $1,500; insurance $700. Decem- 
ber 21, 1886, fire in Pingry block; loss $500. April 18, 1887, resi- 
dence of Mrs. Frederick Parks; loss $20,000; insured for $11,000. 
May 12, 1887, wheel- room and machine shop of Vermont Novelty 
Company burnt; loss $3,200, fully insured. 

Post-Office. — The post-office was established in 18 18, Samuel W. Por- 
ter receiving the appointment November 28, of that year. He filled the 
office till 1828, and received a salary aggregating one hundred and fifty- 
seven dollars annually. He was succeeded by Frederic A. Porter, 
July 2, 1828, who made way in 1834, owing to a change in the admin- 
istration, for George Washburne. He retained the position till 1848, 
when Moses Chase was appointed and served till 1852. The Demo- 
crats having come into power in that year, George Washburne was re- 
appointed and served till 1861, when Frederic W. Porter succeeded him 
and was postmaster till 1868. In that year Henry Harlow took charge 
of the office, which he filled till 1874,. when Loren B. Hurd was ap- 
pointed, serving till 1885, when the present incumbent, Jerome W. 
Pierce, received his appointment. 

The Neivspapers of Springfield. — The first attempt to establish a news- 
paper in Springfield was in the winter of 1833, by Coolidge & Sprague. 
It continued to live till 1836. It was twenty years before another effort 
was made. On February 11, 1853, L. T. Gurnsey began the issue of 
the Springfield Telegraph, and continued the same two years. The next 
attempt was made by D. L. Milliken, who issued the first number of the 
Record and Farmer November 1, 1866, but this paper having been 
bought by the Vermont Journal in April, 1868, it was discontinued. 
These papers were all issued weekly. On January i, 1873, F, W. Stiles 
began to publish the Enterprise, a monthly. It failed in the next year. 
The Weekly News was started by E. D. Wright, March i, 1873, but its 



446 History of Windsor County. 

life was short, as six months afterward it was purchased by the Wood- 
stock Post. O. A. Libby issued the Springfield Bulletin, November 3, 
1875, but in eight months it suffered the fate of its predecessors. Jan- 
uary 4, 1878, F. W. Stiles issued the first number of the Springfield Re- 
porter. Mr. Stiles, though discouraged by a good many of his townsmen, 
knew no such word as fail, and bravely pushed the Reporter through tiie 
first year of its existence. The second year it was enlarged to a 20 x 40- 
inch paper of four pages of eight columns, and continued to be issued at 
that size until January, 1889, when it was changed to an eight- page 
paper of six columns, the size being 30 x 44 inches. This paper gives 
perfect satisfaction to its patrons and no other attempt was made to es- 
tablish another paper, excepting that on November 14, 1879, the Ver- 
mont News Company began to issue the Vermont Neivs ; but this 
enterprise died in its infancy, it having lived only seven weeks. 

The Springfield Wesleyan Seminary. — The Methodist Episcopal So- 
ciety of Springfield, having built themselves a new church in the cen- 
ter of the village, their old meeting-house located on what is called Sem- 
inary Hill was vacant. An effort was made by several citizens of the 
town in 1846 to purchase this building and form a literary and scien- 
tific association under the name of the Springfield Wesleyan Seminary. 
Several meetings of those interested were held, but nothing was accom- 
plished till 1853, when a sum of money was raised among the towns- 
men, and an equal amount appropriated by the Vermont Conference of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. An act of incorporation was ob- 
tained November 26, 1853. Joseph C. Aspinwall, Jonathan Martin, 
Charles R. Harding, Samuel Taylor, John W. Risbee, Henry Closson, 
Ebenezer A. Knight, Zeb. Twitchell, and Samuel W. Porter being 
named as incorporators. The school was opened under fovorable au- 
spices, and for a number of years there was a large attendance, there 
being at one time about three hundred students of both sexes ; but for 
various reasons it became non-supporting, and was finally closed. The 
building was occupied for several years, when it was purchased by 
Springfield village on May 19, 1869, for $5,000, and has been used ever 
since for a high school. The purchase money for starting the seminary 
having been contributed, half by the citizens of the village of Spring- 
field, they donated their part of the amount received by the sale of the 



Village of Springfield. 447 

property to establish a permanent village library fund. By an act of 
Legislature passed November 14, 1870, the Springfield Wesleyan Sem- 
inary was legislated out of existence. 

Springfield Toivn Library. — The foundation of the present library 
was commenced previous to the late war. About twenty- five of the 
citizens of Springfield, under the name of the Springfield Central Library, 
associated themselves together, and by paying a monthly assessment, 
created a fund which was to be expended in reading matter to be owned 
jointly, and for the mutual benefit of all. The collection of books 
amounted to about two hundred volumes at this time, but by the break- 
ing out of the war some of the subscribers to the fund left town, and in 
1862 Jerome W. Pierce, having moved into the village, took the trouble 
to re-collect the volumes and place the library in running shape again ; 
he has since devoted considerable of his time to the permanent establish- 
ment of the library. On September 6, 1870, the town received aprop- 
osition from Henry Barnard, the trustees of the Wesleyan Seminary 
Fund, and the Springfield Central Library to establish a permanent 
library and a fund to support the same for the benefit of the town. This 
fund was to be created by the trustees paying three thousand dollars. 
Henry Barnard was to pay three thousand dollars, the only condition of 
the latter gift being that the income arising from it was to be used for 
the support of the library; the town failing to do this the amount was 
to be returned to the donor or his heirs; the Springfield Central Library 
contribution to the fund was all of its assets, there being at that time 
about eleven hundred volumes. 

This proposition was accepted by the town and a yearly appropriation 
of two hundred dollars was voted to support the library, and a vote of 
thanks was extended to Henry Barnard and his associate contributors 
for their generous donations. By an act passed by the Legislature 
November 3, 1870, the following, Henry Barnard, Horace W. Thomp- 
son, Joel Woodbury, Franklin P. Ball, and Jerome W. Pierce, with their 
associates and successors, were incorporated under the name of the 
Springfield Town Library. Liberal as the proposition was, it never was 
consummated on the part of Henry Barnard, but on March 18, 1871, 
the trustees of the seminary fund made a payment of $2,533.68, to 
which was afterwards added about twenty-five dollars. The Springfield 



44^ History of Windsor County. 

Central Library performed their part of the contract, and thereby a 
permanent fund was established. In 1874 the town made another 
yearly appropriation of fifty dollars, and also in that year voted that all 
fines collected by the town and village should be paid into the fund ; 
but the latter was revoked in 1888. The death of Mr. Barnard having 
taken place, his heirs were notified in 1S76 that the town had complied 
with their part of the contract in regard to his donation of three thous- 
and dollars, and asked them to fulfill their part, but no response has as 
yet been received from them. The total number of volumes is now 
over five thousand and the trustees are Joel Woodbury, Robert M. 
Colburn, Jerome W. Pierce, Frederick W. Porter and William H. Cobb. 

Si. John's Lodge, No. 41, F. and A. M. — The history of Masonry in 
Springfield dates back over one hundred years. The order was first 
introduced into this section of country by Colonel John Barrett, a 
member of Hiram Lodge, No. i, of New Haven, Conn. Colonel Barrett, 
with nineteen other gentlemen, under date of Cornish, Vt., November 
8, 1 78 1, petitioned the St. Andrew's Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for 
a charter, which was granted November 10, 1781, and named Vermont 
Lodge, No. I, and located at Springfield, Vt. The first meeting of the 
lodge was held at the inn of Abel Walker, in Charlestown, N. H., on 
November 29, 17S1, and the following officers elected : John Barrett, M.; 
Phineas Hutchins, S. W.; George Eagar, J. W. The communications 
of the lodge continued to be held in Charlestown till 1 788, when, owing to 
the fact that some members believed that the meetings were illegal on 
account of the charter stating that they should be held in Springfield, 
application was made to charter a new lodge at Charlestown. The lodge 
property was divided and the original lodge removed to Springfield. 
Up to this time we notice only a few of the names of the early settlers 
of Springfield among the lodge members. Besides Colonel Barrett there 
appear the names of James Martin and Roger Bates. This lodge seems 
to have taken no part in the formation of the Grand Lodge in 1794, but 
in the following year it was represented by John Barrett and Jotham 
White, both citizens of Springfield, the latter being elected grand junior 
warden at that session. A petition was also granted that year to re- 
move the lodge to Windsor. 

The next attempt to establish a lodge of Free Masons in Springfield 



VlTXAGfe OF SPRINGFIELft. 440 

was in i8i i, when James Underwood, John Davis, Andrew Dunn, Calvin 
Haskins, David Campbell, Ethan Allen, Sela Graves, Nathaniel Walker, 
Timothy Goodenow, Oliver Parmenter, Caleb Washburne, Samuel Good- 
ridge, John Brown, Thomas Dana, Jonathan Williams, Henry W. Read, 
Isaac Read, jr., Leonard Parker, Samuel Herrick, William Stoddard, 
Abel Bixby, Levi Harlow, jr., Ebenezer Harlow, Simeon Harlow, Bar- 
num Harlow, William Harlow, Leonard Walker, Amasa Bellows and 
John Eddy, petitioned the Grand Lodge for a charter, which was granted 
October 7, 181 1, the lodge being named St. John's Lodge, No. 31. The 
first communication was held October 21, 181 1, the first named charter 
members being elected officers. The first candidate to receive the de- 
grees after the charter members was Thomas Gould. The lodge held 
its meetings at the inn kept by Leonard Walker, located on Parker Hill, 
in the south part of the town, and held jurisdiction not only over Spring- 
field, but the balance of the towns in the southern part of the county 
and the adjacent towns in Windham county. The communications of 
the lodge continued to be held at Leonard Walker's till the fall of 1816, 
when the)' removed to the center of the town and were held in the halls 
of the different inns in the village. During the anti- Masonic times the 
lodge rapidly decreased in membership, and for a number of years no 
communication was held of the Grand Lodge and the communications 
of the subordinate lodges were held only quarterly. The last meeting 
of St. John's Lodge was held at Dr. Moses Cobb's house, August 7, 1832. 
Though yielding for a time to public sentiment, many of the members 
were too deeply impressed with the principles of Masonry to let them 
die out forever. More than twenty years passed when we find that on 
May 7, 1853, there was a revival of old St. John's Lodge, No. 31, a com- 
munication being held on that day in a hall located in the Tontine 
building. The records of these communications show that those who 
were so reluctant to yield to the sentiment of the public in 1832 were 
the ones who infused new life into resurrected Masonry in 1853 ; among 
those who so nobly defended the principles of Masonry we mention the 
following : Rev. Robinson Smiley, James Chipman, Ebenezer Harlow, 
James Lovell, Simeon Harlow, Elias Damon, A. L. Thompson, Barnum 
Harlow, besides many others. Communications were held at various 
times and the Grand Lodge was petitioned and charter granted January 

57 



456 History of Windsor CouNtV. 

15, 1857, to re-organize St. John's Lodge, the number being changed to 
41. The foUowing are named in the charter: James Lovell, Ehas 
Damon^, E. H. Meacham, A. L. Thompson, Ebenezer Harlow, Asliel 
Burr, Martin Snell, Abial S. Smart', L. M. Smith, Daniel Thompson, 
John Tolles', W. R. Pierce, Simeon Harlow, A. Bixby, Laforest M. 
Smith, Ray Matthews, Barnum Harlow, Setli Damon, and George W. 
Porter. The lodge was re-organized February 3, 1857, by O. H. Macken- 
zie, R. W., district deputy. The following being named in the charter 
were duly installed : James Lovell, M. ; Elias Damon, S. W. ; E. H. 
Meacham, J. W. Regular communications continued to be held at a 
Masonic hall located where the Woolson block now stands, from this 
time till May 26, 1863, when a new hall was fitted up over the Tontine 
building. On the re-organization of St. John's Lodge their jurisdiction 
extended over Chester, Cavendish, and Weathersfield. In January, 
1861, permission was given to form La Fayette Lodge, No. 53, at Caven- 
dish, and in 1865 Olive Branch Lodge, No. 64, at Chester, Communica- 
tions continued to be held in Tontine building till January i, 1 87 1, when 
the present hall located in the Woolson block was secured. The mem- 
bership is one hundred and forty one, and communications are held on 
the first Tuesday of each month. The present officers are W. M., Le 
roy M. Holmes; S. W., James H. Putman ; J. W., George F. Leland ; 
treasurer, Hermon W. Harlow; secretary, George W. Porter; S. D., 
Henry D. Sparrow; J. D., Charles H. Stone; S. S., K. C. Nason ; J S., 
Charles H. Moore ; chaplain, Plllis W. Morse ; marshal, James P. Way ; 
tyler, David H. Haskins. 

Springfield Council, Xo. xZ, Royal and Select Masons, vjas chartered 
June 1 1, 1878, the names appearing on the document being Jerome W. 
Pierce, Augustus L. Robinson, and Augustus Lane, who were duly ap- 
pointed the first officers of the council. They hold their communications 
in Masonic hall. 

Jarvis Post, No. 7, G. A. R., was named after Major Charles )arvis-, 
and was organized August 21, 1S68, the following officers being elected: 
Commander, H. W. Floyd; senior vice-commander, T. R. Proctor! 
junior vice-commander, Adin H. Whitmore ; sergeant-major, Edward D. 

' Were made members of the order between 1853 and 1857. 

'For sketch of the life of this gentleman see history of Weathersfield. 



Village of Springfield. 451 

Hatch; adjutant, J. Wood Hastings ; quartermaster, L. A. Pierce; sur- 
geon, L. M. Tuttle; chaplain, E. N. Dean. The post was disbanded in 
1874, and was re-organized in July, 1884, with the following officers: 
W. H. H. Slack, C. ; W. H. H. Putnam, S. V. C. ; William Sparrow, 
J. V. C. ; A. O. Coburn, adjutant; William M. Lewis, quartermaster; 
S. Grow, chaplain. Meetings are held first and third Wednesdays of 
the month and the present membership is seventy-eight. The offi- 
cers elected in 1 888 were : C, William Sparrow ; S. V. C, Justus Dartt ; 
J. V. C, C. C. Johnson; adjutant, A. W. Stickney ; Q., D. B. Lock- 
wood ; chaplain, Adelbert Allen. 

Brook Freshets. — The brook running through the village has its source 
in the northern part of the town and empties into the Black River, be- 
ing about three miles in length. At about half-past two o'clock on July 
12, 1883, a black cloud heavily charged with electricity was seen over 
the village during a rain-storm. Without a moment's warning a perfect 
wall of water came rushing down what is called the Brook road, swiftly 
across Main street, carrying everything before it that impeded its prog- 
ress. The loss to the village and individuals was estimated to be $15,- 
000. Not quite a year afterwards, on June 9, 1884, at one o'clock in 
the afternoon, during the progress of a thunder-storm, the water in the 
brook again rose to a perfect torrent and for over a mile devastated the 
roadway, destroying the new bridge built over Main street, and causing 
damage to individuals aggregating over $10,000. At the time of the 
building of the present bridge over Main street the corporation thor- 
oughly walled the sides of the brook and changed its course. 

TIic Spri>igfield Board of Trade \NA.s organized April 25, 1887, and 
the following officers elected : President, Adna Brown ; vice-president, 
R. G. Britton ; secretary, H. W. Harlow ; treasurer, B. V. Aldrich. At 
a meeting held February 7, 1888, the present officers were elected, viz.: 
Adna Brown, president ; W. H. H. Slack, vice-president ; M. L. Law- 
rence, secretary ; and C. A. Leiand, treasurer. There has been no 
meeting held since 1888. 

Tlie Exchange Bank was incorporated by special act of the Vermont 
Legislature December 5, 1853. The books were opened to receive sub- 
scriptions to the stock February 5, 1854, the capital stock being $50,- 
000, divided into one thousand shares at fifty dollars each, and the same 



452 History of Windsor County. 



was taken by one thousand different parties. At the first meeting of 
the stockholders held March 8, 1854, John Holmes, Sylvester Burke, 
Samuel Alford, jr., Joseph W. Colbiirn, John Perkins, Aaron L. Thomp- 
son, and Mason C. Richardson were elected directors. The directors 
at a subsequent meeting chose Joseph W. Colburn, president, and Albert 
Brown, cashier, who filled these positions until the charter of the bank 
was surrendered. During the continuance of the bank there was but 
one change in the board of directors, John Holmes being succeeded by 
Levi C. Fay. The bank was located in the east side of the brick build- 
ing facing Main street, and was opened for business June 9, 1854, In 
the early part of 1865 a proposition was received from the stockholders 
of the First National Bank of Springfield, to the effect that if the char- 
ter of the Exchange Bank was surrendered, $50,000 of the stock of the 
first named corporation would be reserved and subscriptions taken only 
from stockholders of the latter institution. This was accepted and the 
two corporations were merged into one, every dollar of stock reserved 
being taken. This plan being rather a slow way to close up the busi- 
ness of the Exchange Bank a proposition was submitted on January 29, 
1866, by Albert Brown, that on condition of all the assets being turned 
over to him, he would redeem the capital stock at fifty-seven dollars a 
share. This proposition was unanimously accepted by the stockholders 
and Mr. Brown received a vote of thanks for the faithful discharge of 
his duties while officer of the institution. The dividends paid by the 
Exchange Bank during the eleven years of its existence averaged eleven 
and one-quarter per cent, annually. After purcl^sing the assets of the 
bank Mr. Brown carried on business as a private banker for two years. 
Sprhigfield Savings Bank. — This institution was incorporated by a 
special act of the Legislature December 6, 1853, the original incorpora- 
tors being Samuel W. Porter, George Johnson, John White, Samuel 
Whitcomb, Henry Barnard, Abner Field, John Farnum, George Wash- 
burn, James Whipple, Calvin Hubbard, James Lovell, Hamlin Whit- 
more, John Holmes, and George Kimball. At the first meeting held 
Henry Closson, Leonard Chase and George W. Porter were added to 
these incorporators, the minimum being thirty who had rights given 
them by the charter to choose the officers and who were required to be 
residents of the county. The following have been elected at different 





-/^^.^<^yCi::i/}''-^7i^ 



Village of Springfield. 453 

periods to fill vacancies : In 1858, Amasa Woolson, William M. Pingry, 
Otis B. Litchfield, Jonathan Martin ; 1859, Hyrem Henry, Samuel Rol- 
lins; 1S60, Charles A. Forbush ; 1863, Daniel Rice; 1S64. John R. 
Hall, George P. Haywood, George C. Porter; 1869, James B Whipple, 
Isaac G. Davis, Fred C. Field ; 1872, Charles E. Richardson, Gershom 
Closson, William H. Wheeler, John C. Loveland ; 1874, Rufus O. For- 
bush, James E. White, Rodney C. Britton, Horace H. Howe, Franklin 
P.Bali; 1879, Lucius Streeter, Justus Dartt ; 1880, Fred W. Porter, 
Benjamin F. Dana; 1881, Edson X. Pierce; 1882, Albert M. Allbe ; 
1883, Adna Brown, Daniel O. Gill ; 1884, Samuel Brown ; 1886, George 
Barrett; 1887, Charles F. Aldrich, Benjamin F. Aldrich ; 1889, Robert 
M. Colburn, Miles Smith and Albert D. L. Herrick. The first presi- 
dent was Henry Barnard, who was succeeded by Henry Closson in 1864, 
who held the position till 1874, when Charles A. Forbush became the 
next incumbent, he being succeeded in 1879 by Samuel Rollins. Since 
the organization of the bank there have been only two treasurers — 
George W. Porter, from 1853 to 1879, and Charles A. Forbush, the 
present incumbent. This bank is one of the most successful in the 
State and has a larger surplus than any other institution according to its 
liabilities. The amount on deposit July i, 1889, was $583,892.38 and 
the surplus at that date amounted to $60,544. The officers for 
1889 were as follows: Samuel Rollins, president; Horace H. Howe, 
vice-president; Charles A. Forbush, treasurer; George C. Porter, as- 
sistant treasurer ; Samuel Rollins, Charles A. Forbush, Horace H. 
Howe, Isaac G. Davis, Lucius Streeter, James B. Whipple, Roger G. 
Britton, Frederick W. Porter, Albert M. Allbe, trustees. 

Tlie First National Bank of Springfield was organized May 25, 1863, 
and received its charter, which was numbered one hundred and twenty- 
two, November 11, 1863. The capital stock was $200,000 and on Jan- 
uary 12, 1864, the bank commenced business. Henry Barnard was 
chosen president ; George W. Porter, cashier ; and the following consti- 
tuted the board of directors: Henry Barnard, Leonard Chase, Charles 
A. Forbush, Udney Burke and Daniel Rice. There has been several 
changes in the presidency of the bank since organization. Mr. Barnard 
was succeeded in 1870 by Albert Brown, who, being elected cashier the 
following year, was succeeded by Joseph W. Colburn, whose death occurred 



454 History of Windsor County. 



in March, 1870, and the vacancy was filled by election of Henry Barn- 
ard, who served till the latter part of 1873. At his decease in Decem- 
ber, 1873, Samuel Alford, jr., became president and held the office till 
1878, when the present incumbent, Amasa W'oolson, was elected. Mr. 
Porter filled the position of cashier from time of organization of the bank 
till 1865 ; E. P. Gilson was then elected, but owing to his removal to 
Rutland, Vt., in 1866, Charles E. Richardson was chosen his successor. 
The latter gentleman resigned in October, 1870, and at the next annual 
meeting in 1871 Albert Brown was elected and filled the position till 
August 6, 1877, when B. F. Aldrich became his successor. He resigned 
in April, 1887, and the following June Gershom L. Closson became 
cashier, which position he now holds. At a meeting of the stockhold- 
ers held July 9, 1878, the capital stock was reduced to $100,000. In 
1882 the bank was re-chartered for twenty years. The present board 
of directors are Amasa Woolson, R. A. Forbush, B. F. Dana, C. E. 
Richardson and C. A. Forbush. 

Early Mamifactiires. — In the year 1806 Isaac Fisher, then a resident 
of Charlestown, N H., purchased the property lying on both sides of 
the Black River, thereby controlling all of the water privileges. During 
the following year he came to Springfield to live and made sales to vari- 
ous parties, giving them the right to use the water. The flat on which 
the cab shop now stands was bought in 1807 by Stephen Morse, who 
con-.menced to build a tannery. Mr. Morse was also from Charlestown, 
and in 1813 sold the works to Levi Carlisle, then a resident of Weathers- 
field ; the latter carried on the business for a number of years, and after 
passing through othei- hands, it was finally purchased by David Brown 
and his son William T. The latter continued the business till I 841, when 
he was succeeded by his brother Albert, who sold the plant in 1848 
and the business was discontinued in 1850. 

Journeying north on the same side of the river, in 1821, Don Lovell 
erected a fulling-mill, and upon the brow of the hill a foundry was 
located, run by Noah Saftbrd ; this latter building was afterwards de- 
stroyed by fire. Where the cotton- mill now stands in early days was 
located a machine shop, run by Isaac Fisher, where card machines were 
manufactured ; this was destroyed by fire in 183 i. On the corner where 
W. H. H. Slack's mill now is was a two-story building; the upper part 



ViLLAGfe Of SpriNgMeLC. 455 

was used by Horace Hawkins to manufacture furniture as late as 1842; 
in the lower part John Holmes made lead pipe and pumps. Across the 
road going north was the old cotton-mill built by Isaac Fisher, jr., pre- 
vious to 1820, which subsequently came into the hands of the Holmes 
Brothers as stated elsewhere. The cotton-mill was a two-story build- 
ing, the upper part being used to manufacture cotton, which was the 
first made in the State. The yarn was afterwards sent to the State 
prison, where it was woven by hand. Between the old cotton -mill and 
the bridge sand-paper was manufactured by Daniel Adams, Vespasian 
Messinger and Hiram Spafiford. Lucius Page also had a machine shop 
in the same building. Opposite the old cotton-mill there was erected as 
early as 18 12 a blacksmith shop by Luke Parsons. Above the mill on 
the same side of the road Isaac Fiiher, jr., built an oil-mill, which was 
operated by different parties. The next building above this was a small 
carpenter shop and still further north a cabinet shop was built in 1820 
by Abial Smart, it being a large two-story building, where the Parks & 
Woolson Machine Co. is now located. The buildings north of the sand- 
paper shop, and including the Parks & Woolson works and situated on 
the same side of the road, were destroyed by fire in May, 1859. Besides 
these buildings, previous to 1830, there were only the residences of Don 
Lovell, Samuel W. Porter, Samuel, John and Enos Holmes, besides the 
Methodist church, and card factory of F. A. Porter & Co., on that side 
of the river till you arrived at the residence of the late Enos Brown, and 
on the other side of his house there were no buildings till you reached 
Ginnery Hill. On the opposite side of the river, where the machine 
shop of Oilman &Townsend now stands, the manufacture of shoe-pegs 
was commenced in 1835 by Hiram Houghton and Smith K. Randall. 
This was afterwards purchased by Isaac and Ira Davis, who sold it in 
1852 to Alpheus Batchelder, who carried on the business for six years in 
the building now occupied by George W. Graham. The works were 
then purchased by John Holmes, who removed them to the tannery flats 
and afterwards to White River Junction. The last house in the village 
on the Charlestown road was occupied b}' Noah Safiford, and on the op- 
posite side of the road in a small shop he manufactured straw cutters. 
Among the early blacksmiths were John Nourse, George Kimball, Jo- 
seph Bigelow and Arthur Field, the latter located on a brook west 



456 History ok Windsor CouNtY. 

of the village and made hammers and hoes, being assisted by his son 
Richard. He gained the reputation of making the best hoes in the 
country. Tliis constituted the manufacturing of the village previous to 
1840, excepting that mentioned in other parts of this work and a few 
eff(5rts which proved unsuccessful. 

Cobb & Derby Mill. — In 1774 a saw-mill was built on the site of this 
mill by William Lockwood. The property passed through several hands 
and in 1795 was purchased by Lester Fling from Nicholas Bragg and 
Elisha Rogers. In the conveyances made by these parties there is the 
first mention made of a grist-mill. Mr. Fling seems to have been un- 
successful, as in 1798 executions were served against him in favor of 
Aaron Dean and other persons of Charlestown, N. H. In January, 
1799, the property came into the possession of David Houghton, who 
sold it on March 14, 1802, to Samuel M. Lewis and David Seymour, 
who in the following year sold to John White, who came from Grafton, 
Mass. In 1806 Isaac Fisher purchased the property on both sides of 
the river, and in 18 13 sold to Peter White, reserving the right to the 
upper part of the buildings, which had been leased to his son, Isaac 
P"isher, jr., for the purpose of carrying on the carding and clothing busi- 
ness, there being a dye house in connection with the works. Mr. White 
ran the grist-mill until 1844, when he was succeeded by Daniel Gush- 
ing, who sold to Henry Safford in 1857. The mills were destroyed in 
the flood of 1869, and the property passed into possession of Charles 
Holt and Granville A. Leland, who built a new mill. Mr. Leland after- 
wards disposed of his interest to Allen Slade, who subsequently sold to 
Charles Holt, and on March 16, 1876, the latter sold to Samuel E. and 
John R. Gowing, who were burned out January 20, 1882. In the spring 
of that year the present proprietors, William H. Cobb and Granville S. 
Derby, bought the site and erected the present buildings. They confine 
themselves to custom work and deal in all kinds of grain. 

D. M. Smith & Co. — On the site occupied by this firm the Spring- 
field W'oolen and Cotton Company originally located, and in 1812 con- 
structed a dam twenty or thirtj' rods farther up the stream than the 
present one. They also built at the same time the present brick shop. 
Jonathan Williams was interested in that company, and the business was 
afterwards carried on by his son, Luke. Among the later occupants 



Village of Springfield. 457 

were Hamlin Whitmore and Luke Williams, under the firm name of 
Whitmore & Williams, who manufactured woolens. Afterwards Smith, 
Luther & Shoals made shoddy cloth there, but they suffered by fire. 
The Vermont Hames Company made hames in one part of the build- 
ing. The firm of D. M. Smith & Co. was formed in 1853, consistingof 
Albert Brown, Hamlin Whitmore, D. M. Smith and Henry H. Mason, 
for the purpose of manufacturing a patent spring clothes-pin invented 
by D. M. Smith. They occupied the building on the west bank of the 
river, on the southwest corner of the falls bridge. They afterwards re- 
moved to the cab shop flat, where they remained till i860, when they 
took up their present location and built the dam. During the flood of 
1869 the bulkhead was destroyed, but it was repaired, and the dam was 
rebuilt in 1886. The business of manufacturing mop-heads, to which 
that of Diamond churns was added, has been carried on for a number 
of years. On May 22, 1875, Mr. Brown purchased the interest of D. M. 
Smith, and on March 16, 1877, that of Hamlin Whitmore, but disposed 
of the same to H. H. Mason, November 23, 1887, who now carries on 
the business. He employs from fifteen to twenty hands, and manufact- 
ures about 5.000 gross of clothes-pins and 600 gross of mop-heads 
yearly. He also turns out 1,300 dozen of a jointed wooden doll an- 
nually ; this doll was invented by Joel H. Ellis, and was formerly made 
at North Springfield, but in September, 187S, having been purchased 
by W. H. H. Slack, it was removed to Springfield village. D. M. Smith 
& Co. attempted to manufacture this doll on a royalty, but it proved 
unsuccessful, and in April, 1884, H. H. Mason purchased the patent and 
has continued to manufacture it. Mr. Mason also purchased from A. B. 
Oaks & Co., in the spring of 1889, their business of manufacturing ox- 
bows, 500 dozen of which are now turned out annually; a small num- 
ber of Diamond churns are also made. 

Jolin C. Holmes & Co. — In November, 1821, Samuel Holmes, a former 
resident of Peterboro, N. H., purchased of Isaac Fisher a cotton-mill lo- 
cated on the west bank of Black River. In March, 1S23, his brother 
John became a member of the firm, and in June of the same year a 
fourth interest was purchased by another brother named Enos. Samuel 
disposed of his interest to his brothers April 23, 1827, and they carried 
on the business together for a number of years. Under date of April 13, 

58 



45 H History of Windsor County. 

1835, the property was sold to a stock company called the Black River 
Manufacturing Company. The factory up to this time was located be- 
tween the road and the river, the upper story of a two-story building 
being used. In 1836 the present brick building was erected on the op- 
posite side of the street, and the property was consolidated with the Vil- 
lage Falls Manufacturing Company, but owing to the failure of that con - 
cern Nathaniel P'ullerton purchased it in 1838, and in 1847 sold a half 
interest to Frederick E. Fullerton, and in 1848 Jonathan Martin, who 
had been connected with the factory since 1838, became a partner, 
under the firm name of Fullerton, Martin & Co. During the year 1865 
John Holmes purchased tlie mills, forming the firm of John Holmes & 
Co., which was changed in 1874 to the present title, John C. Holmes & 
Co. The wooden addition to the mills was finished October i, 1879, 
and in i886 an interest was purchased by Wilson S. Lovell. About 
twenty- two hands are employed, and there are nineteen hundred spin- 
dles in operation, manufacturing fourteen and eighteen principally, with 
occasionally twenty-two and twenty six cotton, 200,000 pounds being 
turned out annually. 

Springfield Toy Manufactitring Company. — Upon the site occupied 
by this company there was begun in 1826 one of the most original in- 
dustries ever carried on in Springfield. The present buildings, except- 
ing additions built on the north and south of the main building, were 
erected at that time. Frederick A. Porter, a brother of the late Judge 
Samuel W. Porter, being attracted to Springfield on account of the resi- 
dence of the latter, and also by the first-class water-power to be obtained* 
came from Greenfield, Mass., where he had been employed in helping to 
manufacture card machines. Mr. Porter was a practical mechanic and 
conceived the idea of making machines on his own account. A copart- 
nership was formed by him with his two brothers, Samuel W. and 
Charles E., under the firm name of F. A. Porter & Co., and prepara- 
tions were begun for making the machines, the construction of which 
devolved on F. A. Porter. He personally made sixteen and made many 
valuable improvements, the most noted of which was an automatic stop 
by which one girl could attend to twenty machines, while before a girl 
was required to each one. By this stop the slightest inequality in the 
setting of the teeth, or in any part of the machine, caused stoppage with- 




<t2^^. 




Village of Springfield. 459 



out incurring any damage. None of these improvements were ever pat- 
ented for fear that they would be duplicated. Mr. Porter had a work- 
room located in the lower story of the building, where he could lock 
himself in, and allowed no visitors. The entrance to his machine room 
was protected by a locked door, through which a hole was cut to ascer- 
tain who wished to enter. No mechanics were allowed on the premises. 
While Mr. Porter was a man of great mechanical ability he did not adopt 
the modern style of conducting business, relying on himself wholly to 
manufacture the machines, thereby losing the opportunity of securing 
great financial returns from his valuable inventions. The cards com- 
manded at one time four dollars a square foot, but afterwards through 
competition the price was reduced to eighty cents a square foot, the cost 
of the raw material being about the same at the different periods. In 
1837 Samuel W. Porter sold his interest to his brother, George W., and 
the style of the firm was changed to F. A. & G. W. Porter & Co. 
Owing to the breaking out of the civil war, and the ill-health of F. A. 
Porter, the firm was dissolved, the works closed down and the machinery 
sold. The plant remained idle until 1868, excepting two years, when it 
was occupied by the Western Hoop Company. The property about 
this time was bought by William H. Wheeler and F. W. Porter, who, 
under the name of the Springfield Toy Manufacturing Company, began 
to manufacture wheel wooden toys. In 1870 Mr. Porter purchased his 
partner's interest, and in 1873 R. H. Holbrook was given an interest. 
In 1884 Frank F. Porter acquired an interest. Employment is given to 
fifteen hands, and, as Mr. Porter jocosely says, he " makes 75,000 chil- 
dren happy every year." 

The Parks & Woolsoii Machine Company. — This industry was estab- 
lished in Springfield in 1829. Previous to this time John Davidson, the 
inventor of the cloth-shearing machine, was engaged in manufacturing 
them at Acworth, N. H , and formed a partnership with his son-in-law, 
Frederick Parks, under the style of Davidson & Parks. There being 
no water-power at Acworth, they decided to seek another location, and 
came to Springfield. They purchased a two-story wooden building on 
the west bank of Black River, formerly used as a cabinet shop. In 1846 
Amasa Woolson became a partner, the firm name being changed to 
Davidson, Parks & Woolson. Their buildings were entirely destroyed 



460 History of Windsor County. 

by fire in May, 1859, and the following year the present brick shop was 
erected. The business was incorporated under the present name in 
1874, the capital stock being $60,000. Amasa Woolson was elected 
president and superintendent. In January, 1881, Adna Brown and 
Charles E. Richardson purchased of Amasa Woolson his interest in the 
concern. There are at present twenty-five hands employed and one 
hundred and fifty machines are manufactured annually. The present 
officers are Adna Brown, president and superintendent, and Charles E. 
Richardson, treasurer. 

The Black River Woolen-Mills. — These mills were established b)' the 
Village Falls Manufacturing Company in 1836. Of this company 
Samuel W. Porter was president, and among the stockholders were Don 
Lovell, George Kimball, John Holmes, David Brown, Hamlin Whit- 
more, and others. This company failed during the panic of 1837, 'i"<^ 
for a number of years the mills were idle, but finally in 1854 were started 
by John Holmes, George Kimball and Hamlin Whitmore, each taking 
a quarter interest, and Albert Brown and B. F. Dana taking an eighth 
each, under the firm name of Holmes, Whitmore & Co. Shoddy cloths 
were manufactured. The mills were burned in the year 1S54, and from 
1868 to 1 87 1 were again idle. In the latter year M. Collins, William 
Dillon and Hamlin Whitmore formed a partnership under the name of 
Collins, Dillon & Co., and began the manufacture of Union cassimeres. 
Mr. Collins's interest was bought October, 1874, by Albert Brown, and 
the firm was changed to Whitmore, Dillon & Co. Mr. Brown disposed 
of his interest to his partners in March, 1877, and the firm became 
Whitmore & Dillon. In July, 1884, Mr. Dillon purchased the entire 
machinery, leasing the property from Whitmore Brothers & Co. The 
products of the mill are twenty- three thousand yards a month. There 
are four sets of machinery, and employment is given to seventy-six 
hands. 

The Upper Dam. — In 1836 the Village Falls Manufacturing Company, 
which was a stock company, formed in that year, consolidated a number 
of the different industries on the west bank of the river. This included 
the cotton, woolen and oil-mills, and they erected on the upper dam a 
paper-mill for the manufacture of letter paper. This company failed in 
the panic of 1837, ^""^ the paper-mill came into the possession of Irving 




'^ir^ c^^^:^^-^ 



Village of Springfield. 461 

& Blake, who disposed of it to Dr. Ebenezer Knight. After running it 
for three or four years he sold it to another party, who afterwards went 
into bankruptcy. The property was finally converted into a saw-mill, 
fully equipped with wood- working machinery, by Moses D. Barrett, who 
did a successful business for a number of years. Among the latter oc- 
cupants was the Industrial Company, a co-operative manufacturing con- 
cern that made wooden-headed dolls; but they had a disastrous fire, 
causing a loss of about $30,000. Also, at one time, Judson Fulfem car- 
ried on the stencil business. For a number of years the water-power 
has not been used, excepting as a reservoir for the dam below it. 

Springfield Marble and Granite Works. — The monumental business 
was begun in Springfield by Abel H. Grennell, who came from Dorset, 
Vt., in 1841. This was the pioneer works in this line in the county, the 
nearest competitors being at Concord, N. H., and Fitchburg, Mass. 
Even the marble quarries at Rutland were not then in existence, and 
the stone was brought from Dorset by teams. Mr. Grennell, although 
a first-class marble worker, was unsuccessful in business, and was suc- 
ceeded in 1849 by Hiram Houghton and Smith K. Randall, under the 
firm name of Houghton & Randall. In the fall of 185 i Franklin Bar- 
ney came to Springfield to work for this firm, and in 1852 purchased 
Houghton's interest, the firm becoming Randall & Barney. After one 
year they sold out to Alden W. Sherwin. In 1855 he sold to Henry 
Harlow and George H. Stowell, the firm being Harlow & StovvelL 
They afterwards bought the monumental works at Claremont, N. H., 
the latter removing to that place, and they operated both works for sev- 
eral years. In i860 the firm was dissolved, Mr. Harlow retaining the 
Springfield works, which he sold in the following year to Franklin Bar- 
ney, who established the present works. This is the only shop in the 
vicinity that finishes their work by power. During the thirty years Mr. 
Barney has been located at Springfield hehas wellsustained the reputation 
of his predecessors for doing first-class work. A visit to the village 
cemetery shows many artistic and beautiful monuments, the result of 
his handiwork. 

Gilnian & Townsend. — As previously stated in this work, on the site 
occupied by these parties there was originally carried on the manufact- 
ure of shoe pegs. Ira and Isaac Davis, who were connected with this 



462 History of Windsor County. 

industry, began, about 1850, to manufacture locks of various descrip- 
tions suitable for banks, dwellings, etc., which had been invented by 
D. M. Smith, who was associated with them in business. This venture 
proved unsuccessful, and on March 18, 1853, the property was sold to 
Farley B. Gilman, who in connection with Isaac Davis ran a job ma- 
chine shop. In the following year Mr. Davis retired. For a number 
of years a patent scythe-snath, the invention of Pinckney Frost, was 
manufactured. About this time Mr. Gilman helped to make a machine 
for turning shoe-lasts, which was sent to Canada. It was there seen in 
successful operation by an interested party, who soon after ordered a 
similar one made. This was sent to Boston, and, upon its being pro- 
nounced the best machine for the purpose in the market, Mr. Gilman 
began improving and making the same. The manufacture has been 
continued uninterruptedly up to the present date, various improvements 
having been made from time to time. In 1884 Mr. Gilman was success- 
ful in producing a lathe that turns both rights and lefts with perfect ac- 
curacy from a single model, by the simple change of a gear. 

The lathes find a ready market throughout the United States, and in 
European and other foreign countries. The firm also manufactured a 
rotary shears for cutting sheet- iron, steel, brass, etc., which is used by 
last- makers and others, and they also do a general jobbing business. 

In 1 86 1 F. V. A. Townsend became a member of the firm. The 
present buildings were erected in 1869. Emploj-ment is given to ten 
hands, the annual production being about $15,000. 

Vennont Snath Company, Brass and Iron Foundry. — The site occu- 
pied by this company is located at the lower end of the village, where 
originally a foundry was built about 1840 by Noah SafTord, who after- 
wards sold to Mitchell Shepardson. The old building on the west side 
of the road now used for a pattern store-room was the first Congrega- 
tional church, located on the village conmion. After passing through 
various hands it was sold by C. E. Richardson to the above company, 
in January, 1872. During the year 1852 Pinckney Frost began to man- 
ufacture scythe-snaths on this plant, and the following year admitted 
F"ranklin P. Ball as a partner, the firm being Frost, Ball & Co. In the 
same year C. C. Church became a partner, and the title was made Frost, 
Ball & Church, The latter interest was bought in 1853 by Udney 



Village of SprIngfielc. 463 



Burke, and from that time till August, 1863, the business was conducted 
under the name of Frost, Burke & Co. From 1863 to 1866 Smith K. Ran- 
dall had an interest in the business, but in 1866 the firm was dissolved, 
and in the same year a new one was formed by Franklin P. Ball and 
Horace W. Thompson, under the style of Ball & Thompson. An act 
of incorporation was obtained Novernber 18, 1868, and a stock company 
organized under the present name August 21, 1869, the capital being 
$30,000. On the night of June 8, 1882, the works were visited by a 
terrible fire, entailing a loss of $20,000, destroying the buildingson the 
north side of the road, including the snath buildings and part of the 
foundry. The present buildings were erected in that year, excepting 
the new pattern-room in the rear of the old one, which was built in 
1888. It is a two- story building and basement, 30 x 50 feet. Before 
the fire the principal production was scythe-snaths, but since that time 
the manufacture of this article has been discontinued. Employment is 
given to about thirty hands, and stoves, mill machinery, brass and iron 
castings are manufactured. ' Miles Smith has been president of the com- 
pany since 1875, and Joseph White treasurer since 1882. 

Vermont Novelty Works Company. — The foundation of this company 
was laid in 1857, when J A. H. Ellis, H. H. Mason, Hamlin Whitmore 
and Albert Brown formed a partnership under the style of Ellis & Co., 
and began to manufacture splint baskets. The factory at that time was 
located on the east bank of the Black River, just north of the covered 
bridge. Employment was given to about twenty hands, and in the fol- 
lowing year splint baby carriages were added to their product, being 
the first manufactured in the United States. The firm proved unsuc- 
cessful in business, was dissolved, and in the winter of 1858 J. A. H. 
Ellis and R. G. Britton became partners as Ellis & Britton, and made 
toy carts. During the month of February, 1859, E. M. Eaton became 
a partner, the name of the firm being Ellis, Britton & Eaton, and to the 
former business was added baby carriages of various designs, toy per- 
ambulators, and wooden toys of different patterns and shapes. Requir- 
ing more room for manufacturing purposes, in the summer of 1863 the 
present plant was purchased, and extensive buildings and a twenty-two- 
foot dam built. The main building was of stone, 100 x 60 feet, having 
an ell 50 x 25 feet. Owing to a rise of the river in November, 1863, 



4^4 History of Windsor County. 

one- half of this building was carried away, but the works were fully 
completed in the summer of 1864. The flood of 1869 destroyed the 
dam and made a complete wreck of the buildings, entailing a loss of 
over $40,000. Notwithstanding these disasters, in 1 870 there were com- 
plete two three-story buildings on the site, and a jomt stock company 
was incorpoiated in that year under the present title, William A. A. 
Heyer, of Boston, being elected president, Albert Brown, secretary, and 
J. A. H. Ellis, treasurer. The works at this time were run to their full 
capacity, from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five hands being 
employed, and the annual production aggregated $100,000. The 
company was to meet its next enemy in the shape of fire. On June 25, 
1878, the works were entirely destroyed, the loss reaching over $60,000. 
Again they were rebuilt, the capital stock being reduced to one-fourth 
of its original amount, but evincing the same determination on the part 
of the corporation to brave all adversities. Employment is now given 
during the busy season to about seventy hands, and the yearly produc- 
tion is about $50,000. The present buildings are si.x in number, the 
different departments of the works being now conducted in separate 
Duildings. The present officers of the corporation are A. M. AUbe, 
president; N. W. Andrews, secretary; E. M. Eaton, superintendent 
and treasurer. 

W. H. H. Slack, Manufacturer of Shoddy and Flocks. — This business 
was established in 1871 by W. H. H. Slack and Frederick G. Ellison, 
under the firm name of Slack & Ellison, and is situated on the west bank 
of the Black River, near the falls bridge. Mr. Ellison disposed of his 
interest in 1875 and the business has since been conducted by Mr. Slack, 
excepting during 1883-84, when C. D. Brink was a partner. The three - 
story flat roof extension to the works was built in 1887. Employment 
is given to twenty hands. 

Tlie Jones & Lamsoii Machine Company was originally located at 
Windsor, Vt., but a majority of the stock being purchased in 1887 by 
Springfield parties, and the town exempting them from taxation for ten 
years, the company, on April 10, 1888, began to build tiieir present 
shops, which are of wood, two stories in height, and 50 by 150 feet. 
The company owns patterns for the manufacture of lathes, planers, and 
drills, but makes a specialty of brass monitors and screw machines, 



Village of Springfield. 465 

making of the latter the largest constructed by any works. The capital 
stock is $60,000. From seventy-five to one hundred hands are employed, 
and the new industry is destined to prove a great financial benefit to the 
village of Springfield. The present officers are as follows : President, 
Amasa Woolson ; treasurer, William Woolson ; directors, Amasa 
Woolson, Adna Brown, Charles E. Richardson, C. K. Larabee, R. L. 
Jones. 

Springfield Creamery Company was organized February 28, 1888, the 
following officers being chosen: President, Henry Arms; clerk, James 

E. White ; who, with the following, form the board of directors : Leroy 
M. Holmes, Charles F. Aldrich, F. H. Nichols. The building was 
completed in the spring of 1888, having a capacity for one thousand 
cows, and though the enterprise is new in this locality, it is fast becom- 
ing popular among the farmers. The present officers are : President, 
Samuel Brown ; clerk, Charles F. Aldrich ; who, with Leroy M. Holmes, 

F. H. Nichols, and Daniel O. Gill, form the board of directors. 
Mercantile. — The first merchants of Springfield village : Before there 

was a settlement in what is now the center of the village there were two 
stores situated near the common. One of these was located on what is 
now Mansion Hill, and was kept by James Whipple. The other was 
subsequently removed to where the town hall now stands and run by 
James F. Brown. The oldest building in the center of the village is the 
one situated on the northeast corner of Main and Park streets, and was 
originally used by a Mr. Day, for the manufacture of hats, and afterwards 
was occupied by Mr. Whipple, who moved from the hill. He was suc- 
ceeded by John Perkins, who, owing to misfortune, was obliged to 
dispose of his business to Mills Duncan. He moved West and John 
Perkins again carried on business at the same store as late as 1845. The 
next occupants were Adams & Bundy. After several changes in this 
firm it was changed from a general store and occupied by Charles Sabin, 
who carried on the drug business. The building was purchased of Mr. 
Sabin about 1850 by Noble J. Crain and Frederick W. Porter, who 
added jewelry to the stock. On the death of the former, Mr. Porter 
carried on the business alone, but in 1854 William H. Wheeler pur- 
chased an interest and they continued in partnership till 1870. Since 
that time Mr. Wheeler has conducted the business alone. 

59 



466 " History of Windsor CountV. 

On the opposite corner where the Woolson block now stands, in 18 15, 
May & Wales, of Westminster, Vt., erected a store and engaged in 
trade, which they followed till about 1830, though during the latter part 
of the time the business was conducted by Phineas Wales. Tiie next 
firm at this stand was Whitmore & Morris, who were succeeded by Ed- 
win Whitmore ; he by B. F. Dana, who afterwards took as a partner 
George W, Porter, and thej' were succeeded by C. K. Larabec, the last 
occupant before the present block was built. 

On the opposite side of the street, in the Tontine building, which was 
originally built for tenements. Cook & Boynton ran a general store as 
early as 1830. Afterwards it was converted into a stove and tin shop 
and run by a man named Ingraham, and afterwards as a grocery run by 
the Robinsons. Crossing to the foot of the hill, Jonathan Chase there 
built a store before 1830 and carried on business till his death in 1851. 
Ne.\t to this, in what is now the Randall block, Russell Burke kept the 
first store about 1826. A. L. Thompson was afterwards associated with 
him as partner. From 1S53 to 1863 Charles A. Forbush was engaged 
in the mercantile business at this stand and sold the same to Walker & 
Howe, who failed. At the head of Main street the brick building was 
erected by George Washburn and others. Mr. Washburn came to 
Springfield in 1823 and was a harness-maker, and began work in Burke's 
store and afterwards carried on that business in this block till his dcatii 
in 1866. 

Opposite the hotel Selden Cook, a shoemaker, began business about 
1830. He afterwards became a partner with George W. Porter in a 
general store under the firm name of Cook, Porter & Co., F. W. Porter 
being a member of the firm. About 1850 this firm dissolved, Mr. Cook 
continuing the boot and shoe business and George W. Porter ami 1'". W. 
Porter the jewelry trade. Sylvanus Blanchard kept the first exclusive 
grocery and confectionery store in the village and was the first one to 
keep horses to let. As early as 1830 D. A. Graves kept a tailor shop. 
Thomas Dana, who came to Springfield in 1800, was one of the first 
masons and helped to build all of the early buildings in the village. 

The first jeweler of the village was John Holden, who came from 
Quincy, Mass. The ne.xt one was David M. Smith, who had the south 
end of the Wales store. In 1844 F. W, Porter opened a jewelry store 



Village of Springfield. 467 

where the town clerk's office now is, which was afterwards removed to 
Smith's old stand and finally he became a partner with Cook, Porter 
& Co. 

North Springfield. — This is a small hamlet situated in the northwest 
corner of the town, on Black River. It has two churches, a store, be- 
sides a number of small mills, and about sixty-two dwelling houses. 
The selectmen of the town, in response to the petition of sixteen free- 
holders, laid out the boundaries of the village March 1 1, 1833, in accord- 
ance with an act passed by the State November ii, 18 19, as follows: 

"Beginning at the west end of the bridge across Black River, near 
Joel Griswold, on the road by Timothy Williams, to Weathersfield line, 
from thence by Francis Griswold and by the brick meetiug-house to 
Isaac Williams, and also by Oliver Cook to the bridge across the big 
brook, from thence by Moses White's on the road through the village to 
the place of beginning; and also from the old school- house across the 
bridge by widow Hannah Williams south to the first bridge and east 
from the widow Williams to the first bridge." 

In 1840 there were located at this point three stores and two hotels, 
besides various other business industries. Where the present store and 
post-office are located, in 1831 was a dwelling-house occupied by Otis 
Litchfield, and in that year Sylvester Burke and Abner Field, under the 
firm name of Field & Burke, changed it to a store and purchased an eight- 
thousand-dollar stock of goods in Boston, Mass., and Hartford, Conn., 
and opened a general store. In 1834 Mr. Field disposed of half his in- 
terest to Josiah Barnes and in 1837 the firm of Field, Burke & Co. was 
dissolved, Mr. Field continuing at the old stand until 1847, when Benja- 
min Smith carried on business for two years and was succeeded by D. C. 
Griswold & Co. The next change was to a co-operative and protect- 
ive union store. No. 269, which lasted a number of years and was suc- 
ceeded by John Hall and Ryland Harrington, under the firm name of 
Hall & Harrington. Mr. Harrington's interest was purchased in 1865 
by Fred G. Field, and since that time, though he has had several part- 
ners, he has continued in the business. The following partners between 
1865-77 have been interested with him: John Hall, Henry B. Wood- 
bury, Hiland E. Chandler, and Charles A. Leland. When Sylvester 
Burke retired from the above firm he built in the fall of 1837 a store, the 



468 History of Windsor County. 

first building west of the Baptist church, vvliere he continued business till 
the spring of 1856, when he sold to John Hall and J. W. Lockwood. 
The latter subsequently bought the former out, and Henry Newell and 
Sidney Rurke became partners. This firm was in business only one year 
when Sylvester Burke and C. H. Shipman engaged in trade, and after 
disposing of their stock, the building in 1870 was occupied by John Hall, 
who continued till 1875, when it was remodeled into a dwelling house. 

Post- Office. — The post-office was established at North Springfield 
solely through the exertions of Abner Field, who was appointed the first 
postmaster in 1832. Owing to a change in the administration he was 
succeeded in 1836 by John White, who held the position till 1S49, when 
D. C. Griswold was appointed and served till 1852. John White was 
then re-appointed and kept the office till 1861, when the present incum- 
bent, John Hall, received his commission. 

The saw and grist-mill at North Springfield was built by Joel Gris- 
wold in 1837-38, and in the following year Dr. Leonard Chase purchased 
an interest and the firm became Griswold & Chase. The former sold out 
to John Farnham, and Abner Field had an interest in the business, the 
firm being Chase, Farnham & Field. The latter, however, did not long 
remain a member of the firm and the two others in 18.59 sold the grist- 
mill to Phineas Parker. The saw-mill was afterwards sold to Lyman 
Ellis, who had James Thompson in company with him. The freshet of 
1869 washed the property away and it was bought by Durant J. Boyn- 
ton, who now carries on the saw-mill. In 1866 Phineas Parker sold the 
grist-mill to Abner Hall, who disposed of it to Elisha Keith, who after- 
wards sold it to D. M. Crane, Fred G. P'ield, and Ariel Kendrick, and 
from them William J. Johnson purchased the property and operated the 
mill a number of years. Upon his death it came into the hands of the 
present proprietor. 

Frank D. Martin s Fancy Box Manufactory . — Upon the site occupied 
by this novel industry as early as 1843-44 Henry Dyer had a blacksmith 
shop and a few years later Luke Taylor began to manufacture mop- 
heads as late as 1863. Mr. Martin was engaged in the manufacture of 
chairs, but in 1865 began making and turning wooden handles for all 
kinds of wire utensils. This business was carried on till January i, 1879, 
when Frank D. Martin began in a small way to make fancy wood boxes. 




y^'f^'f'l.jt^ J'-^L.CZ^^C^ 



Old Families. 469 



On September 3, 1884, the works were entirely destroyed by fire, the 
loss being over $8,000. The present structure was immediately erected 
and consists of a two- story and basement wood building thirty by fifty 
feet, which is equipped for either water or steam-power. Over 100,000 
boxes are made annually and employment is given to twenty-six hands. 

The Cheese Factory was built in 1877 and was run from that time till 
1884 by Charles A. Leland and Fred G. Field. From 30,000 to 60,- 
000 pounds of cheese were made annually, milk being obtained from 
150 to 350 cows, though the factory has a capacity of 400 cows. The 
present proprietor is Orange P. Dunn. 

There was also established at North Springfield in 188 1 the Slack Fer- 
tilizing Co., but this industry was removed in 1887 to Gloucester, Mass. 

The Henry Parker Company is located at what is called Gould's Mills 
and sometimes Parker's Mills, situated in the southern part of the town 
on the Black River about three miles from Springfield village. As 
early as 1774 a saw-mill was built on the site and was known as Morris 
Mills. At present there are about twelve dwellings, a school-house, a 
saw and grist-mill and a bobbin and spool factory. Here the latter was 
established by Henry Parker in 1865 and in August, 1882, was pur- 
chased by P. W. & S. B. Gould. The senior member of this firm at 
that time was a resident of Pittsfield, Mass., but in September, 1883, 
came to Springfield and has since managed the business. All kinds of 
bobbins and spools are manufactured, but a specialty called the Wait's 
patent crossed-grain quill is the chief article produced. The improve- 
ment claimed for this quill over all others is that a ring of white oak is 
cemented and inserted in the groove at the ends of the bobbin, thereby 
making a sure protection against splitting. Employment is given to 
about twenty-five hands. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a gen- 
ealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the town. 
The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and have 
manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. For 
sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer to a 
later chapter of this work. 



470 History of Windsor County. 

Adams, Eli, came from Stoddard, N. H., to Springfield in 1791. He married Ilepsey 
Farley and had the following family : Anna, married Abel Lockwood, and died in Xew 
YorkState; Joseph, died in Stockbridge, Vt.; Amos, died at Charlestown, N. 11.; Sally, 
married Henry C. Dana; Jessie, died in Springfield. 

Adams, Joseph, (son of Eli) wa.s born at Stoddard, N. H., February 16, 1784, and died 
April 13, 1844. He married Polly Goodnow ; they liad six children, viz.: Vianna, mar- 
ried Samuel Roundy ; Mary, married Alpheus Dean ; Sarah, widow of J. C. Hall, resides 
in Springfield; Marietta, married Asel Wyman; Abel resides in Springfield, Vt.; and 
Cyrus, who resides in Bridgewater, Vt. 

Adams, Abel, son of Joseph, was born in Springfield, Vt., September 6, 1821, and 
married Susan Felch. Of their family of ten children one died in infancy. The others 
were George H., a resident of Springfield ; Sarah Jane, wife of Foster L. Piper, of Spring- 
field ; Laura, wife of Allen Woodward, of Springfield ; Abby, wife of John C. Eaton, of 
Springfield ; Eddie, died at the age of fifteen years ; Mary, died at the age of four and 
one-half years; Marcia, Mary and .John reside in Springfield, Vt. 

AUbe. Albert M., of Springfield, ihe only son of Ellery and Hannah (Messer) AUbe, 
was born in Westminster, Vt., November 13, 1821. After attending the district schools 
lie took an academical course at Walpole and Chesterfield, N. H., and studied law with 
Hon. William 0. Bradley, a prominent lawyer of his native town. He was admitted to 
the Windham County Bar in 1843, and began the practice of his profession at West- 
minster, Vt., but removed in the latter part of the year to Londonderry, Vt,, and owing 
to ill-health he was obliged to relinquish his practice in 1848. From that time he was 
engaged in various pursuits until 1872, being from 1852 to 1855 in California, and from 
1855 to 1861 he was engaged in farming in Westminster, Vt., but in the latter year he 
became engaged in business in Fitchburg, Mass., which he followed until 1865. Re- 
turning to Londonderry, he was connected with a woolen-mill, but resumed the practice 
of law in 1S72, and in the summer of 1874 located at Springfield, Vt., where he has since 
continued to practice his profession. He married Mary C, daughter of Barnet Wait, an 
old resident of Londonderry, where he now resides in his ninety-fifth year. Their chil- 
dren by this marriage are Alia N., wife of F. W. Pierce, a druggist of Chester, Vt.; Cora 
Annette, wife of Dr. E. S. AUbe, a practicing physician and surgeon of Bellows Falls, 
Vt.; and Gertrude A., wife of AlvaC. Spencer, of Ro.'lindale, Mass. 

Barry, Leonidas, was born in Rocl-'ingham, Vt., December 29, 1844, and is the third 
child and second son in a family of five children, of Aldis and Lulhera Lovell Barry. 
His ancestors have been residents of his native town since 1876, and Mr. Barry removed 
to Springfield in 1875 and purchased the old General L. R. Morris farni located on the 
Connecticut River, and lives in the old mansion which was erected in 1795. Mr. Barry 
married Jennie Britlon, and has two children, viz.; Lena L. and Leon H. W. 

Brown Family. — The first .settler of this family in Springfield was Elisha Brown, who 
came from Winchendon, Worcester county, Mass., and bought land from James Bates. - 
The deed was dated October 28, 1778. He married Merriel Bates, of Cohasset, Mass., 
and had a family of seven children : one died in childhood ; Luke, who died in Spring- 
field, leaving no male issue; David; Enos; Abel, died in Springfield, has .sons living in 
Vermont; Jonathan, died in Springfield, two daughters reside in Springfield, Vt.; 
Betsey, married John Thompson; Elisha, died September 10, 1827. 

Brown, David, son of Elisha, born in Springfield, May 20, 1786, married Susanna 
Thayer, of Rockingham, Vt., and had the following children: William T., died in 1845, 
and left no children ; Susan L., married Frederick Barnard ; Albert ; Sarah E., wife of 
Clark Wadner, of Reading, Vt.; David Rush, resides in Springfield ; David, died April 20, 
1874. 

Brown, Albert, son of David, born in Springfield, February 24, 1822, married for his 
first wife Sarah Mausur, of Claremont, N. H., by whom he has one child, Abba Eliz- 
abeth, wife of John Stoddard, of Rockingham, Vt. His second wife was Sarah Floyd, 



Old Families. 471 

of Lebanon, N. H.; has two children, Alice Alma, wife of Herbert Ellis, of Trenton 
N. J., and Clara Bell. 

Butterfield, .Jonas, son of William and Esther Hale Butterfield, was born in Dunstable, 
(now Nashua, N. H.,) October 8. 1S08, and married Maria L. Eaton. Of their five chil- 
dren, two died m infancy. The others are Jonathan M.; William E., resides in Charles- 
town, N. H.; and Ellen M. Jonas came to Rockingham, Vt., with his father in 1813, 
and removed to Springiield in 1855, where he died September 22, 1885. Jonathan M., 
son of Jonas, was born in Rockingham, Vt., July 17, 1833. He has been twice married, 
his last wife being Elethea D. Morse. They have one child, Estella M. 

Burke, Edmund Chaplin, son of Udney, was born in Stanstead, Province of Quebec. 
Canada, October 5, 1833, and married for his first wife Blnora Mason. Their one child, 
Arthur Udney, resides at Kansas City, Mo. Ills second wife was I>oantha, daughter of 
Gardiner and Lucy Herrick. Their one child is Mary Edna, wife of Charles H. Moore, 
of Springfield. 

Closson, Hon. Henry, of Springfield, was born in Springfield, Vt., February 1, 1799, 
and was the youngest son in a family of nine children of Ichabod and Sallv (SafTord) 
Closson. His father died when he was nine years of age and he was placed in charge 
of his uncle, Noah Safford, to learn the carpenter's trade. Taking a dislike to this occu- 
pation, young Henry prevailed on his uncle in 1817 to give him his freedom; at this 
time he was in Rochester, N. Y., engaged on a contract for his uncle. The latter finally 
acceded to the request and gave the young man ten dollars. With this sum he started 
to walk to Springfield, which place he reached with his capital reduced to one dollar and 
a half. He then began the stmiy of law with Lsaac Holton, and pa,ssed the winter in 
teaching school, but in 1818 was a student in Chester Academy for three terms. The 
following year he studied law with Judge Asa Keyes, of Putney, Vt., and was admitted 
to practice at Newfane, Vt., at the March term in 1824. In the same year he began 
the practice of his profession at Mount Clemens, Mich., where he remained two years, 
removing to Lodi, N. Y., and in 1828 came to AVhitingham, Vt. In 1835 he returned to 
his native town, where he practiced law until his death, April 24, 1880. Judge Closson 
held a number of public offices during his life: he was town clerk from 1836 to 1844, 
State's Attorney for the county in 1840-42, member of the Vermont Legislature for 
1839-40, was appointed by Governor Fletcher in 1855 to fill vacancy of Probate Judge 
for Windsor District and afterwards elected twelve years to fill that position, was a 
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1870. Judge Closson married on June 1, 
1830, Miss Emily Whitney, of Marlboro, Vt., and had a family of five children, viz.: 
Henry Whitney, a graduate of West Point, at present stationed at Atlanta, Ga., as colo- 
nel of the Fifth U. S. Heavy Artillery ; Emily Satibrd, wife of Dr. A. M. Fellows, of 
Parsons, Ivan.; Geishora Lyman, born in Springfield, April 20, 1838, married Lina W. 
Loveland, has two children, John Henry, a resident of Walla Walla, Wash., and Ger- 
shom Loveland, of Springfield. Ger.shom Lyman has resided the greater part of his life 
in Springfield, engaged in mercantile business, but at present is cashier of the First Na- 
tional Bank of Springfield. The other two children of Judge Closson were Sarah Jane, 
wife of Henry M. Arms, of Springfield, and Frank Hubbard, who died in infancy. 

Colburn, Hon. Joseph W., of Springfield, was a son of Simeon and Abigail (Vose) Col- 
burn, and was born in Claremont, N. H., April 14, 1800. His early life was a constant 
struggle against adverse circumstances, and at the age of ten years he was thrown upon 
his own resources for a livelihood. His education was limited to what he could obtain 
in the district schools, availing himself of this privilege only during two or three 
months of early _vears, until he was eighteen years of age. Being strongly attracted to 
agricultural life, he devoted himself to farmimg and was one of the most successful in 
the State, and created by his own endeavor the beautiful farm " Mont Vale," which he 
purchased in 1840, and by constant industry and attention made attractive and product- 
ive. While steadily following the pursuit of a farmer, he was called to occupy honor- 
able positions in the town, county and State. He was State Senator for 1848-49-50; 



47^ History of Windsor Countv. 

Assistant County Judge four years; was one of the founders and also president of the 
Exchange Banii I'roui its organization until it was supplanted by the First National Bank 
of SpiiiiglieUl, and at the time of his death was president of that institution. Judge Col- 
burn was a well-known agric iltural writer and his articles to the public journals always 
attracted wide attention. His articles in ISGG and 1SG7 upon " Protection to American 
Wool Growers" were very generally read and were of great influence in shaping the 
National legi.'^lation upon that subject. Judge Colburn died at his home in Springfield, 
February 17, 1871 ; his widow, who was Miss Emily Kdgerton, of Bridgewater, Yt., sur- 
vives him. Their children were Emily Josephine (deceased), married Dr. R. A. Bacon; 
and Robert M. 

The Cook Family. — Thomas Cook came from Johnston, R. I., to Springfield, about 
1795. His wife's maiden name was also Cook, but she was Mrs. Betsey Turner when 
he married her. They had seven cliildrcn, viz.: Hopestill, died at the age of two years; 
Edward, removed to Canada, where he died; Ohver, died in infano_y ; Oliver; Whipple, 
emigrated to Canada, where he died; Otis, died in Springfield ; Charlotte, died single at 
the age of eighty years ; and Thomas, died in New York State. Another Oliver died 
August 20, 18G3. 

Cook, Oliver, son of Thomas, born in Johnston, R. I., August 29, 1781, married 
Polly Bruce, of Baltimore, in 1804, and had eight children, viz.: Barna A., resides in 
Chester; Selden C; Seym lur A., died in Cheater ; Mary Ann, died single; Franklin B., 
died young ; Charlotte R., widovir of Rev. Isaiah Shipman, resides in Lisbon, N. H.; 
Lewis E., died in Springfield ; Susan B., widow of Salmon Winchester, resides in Spring- 
field. Oliver died August 20, 1863. 

Cook, Selden O., son of Oliver, born in Springfield, May 4, 1809, married Mary Batch- 
elder. They had seven children, four of whom died in infancy. The others are Ellen M., 
widow of 0. S- Tuttle; George S., resides in Bellows Falls; and Everet B. Selden O. 
died January 16, 1882. 

Cook, Everett B., son of Selden O., born in Springfield, January 30, 1852, married 
Jennie O. Wolfe, and has two children, Bernice M. and Bruce. He is engaged in the 
boot and shoe trade at Springfield village. 

Cutler, Loammi, was born July 1, 17G3. and came to Springfield in 1790. He was 
twice married, his first wife being Sally Darling, his second wife. Delight B. Damon. 
He died October 22, 1837, and had a large family of children, of whom George was the 
eldest son. He was born in Springfield in 1799, and died in 1859. He married Sophia 
Allbee, and had seven children, viz.: Sophia (deceased), married George Harlow; Sarah 
(deceased), married Henry H. Mason; George Lewis; Olive (deceased), married Hi- 
ram C. Woodward ; Silas A.; John D.; and Charles. 

Cutler, George Lewis, son of George, was born in Springfield, October 31, 1825, and 
married for his first wife Harriet Adams, and their five children are : Leon A., who 
married Mrs. Addie J. Adams, has one son, Roland, and is a resident of Springfield ; 
Fred A., married Etta J. Brown, has one child, Alice, and lives in Springfield ; Myron, 
a Universalist minister, resides at East Jatl'rey, N. H.; Charles, lives in Springfield ; and 
Wilbur, a resident of East JaflVey, N. H. His second wife was Mattie Sherman, and the 
family consists of six children, viz.: Rose II., Sadie L., Belle M., Carleton, G. Clarence, 
and Maude E. 

Cutler, Silas A., son of George, born in Springfield, August 14, 1829, married Maria 
Woodward, has two chililren, viz.: George and Olive. 

Eaton, Asa, the son of Benjamin and Lydia Ireland Eaton, was born November 29, 
1785, and came to Springfield from New Ipswich, N. H., in 1809. He married Debo- 
rah Marble, and had the following children : Ellis M.; Emily P. (deceased), mariie d 
Timothy Putn.im ; Maria, widow of Jonas 13utterfield, lives in Springfield ; Darius, died 
in Acworth, N. II.: John P.; Tila O., widow of John Tower, resides in Springfield. Asa 
died August 17, 1866. 



Old Families. 473 



Eaton, Ellis M., son of Asa, was born in As^hburnham, Mass., March S, 1806. He 
moved from Spiingfield to Rockingham, Vt., in 1830, and died in the town April 22, 
1844. He married Bet.sey, daughter of Amos Parker. Their children were Calvin M.- 
Mary (deceased), married Samuel Stimson ; Ellis M.; Leonard P., of Woodstock, Vt.; 
Lewis, died at the age of ten years ; and John, died at the age of twelve years. 

Eaton, Ellis M., son of Ellis M., was born in Rockingham, Vt., October 2, 1832, married 
Abby Brown ; has one child, Everett H. He has been a resident of Springfield since 185G. 

Ellis, Joseph, the son of Joshua, wlio was the son of Manoah, was born at Harwich, 
Mas.?., in 1737, and settled in Springfield in 1797. He married Jemima, daughter of 
Deacon William Eldridge, and they had five children : Isaac, died at Potsdam, N. Y.- 
Jacob, was a seafaring man, and the supposition is that he was lost at sea; Thankful, 
died at the age of eighteen years; Jeremiah; and Ziba, who resided in Springfield a 
short time, but died at Carlton, N. Y. Joseph died March 25, 1808. 

Ellis, Jeremiah, son of Joseph, was born in Harwich, Mass., December 8, 1771. He 
was a seafaring man, but came to Springfield m 1802-3 to take care of his aged parents. 
His first wife was Bridget Smalley, by whom he had nine children, two of whom died 
in infancy. The others were Jacob, who died in Springfield ; Jemima, married Harvey 
Latham, both died in Springfield ; Isaiah, who died in Weathersfield ; Jeremiah, jr., 
who died in Springfield ; Leonard, who died in Marion, Ohio; Christopher, who died in 
Springfield Lucy, who was first married to Alden Tyrrell, second to Samuel Tyrrell, but 
now a widow residing in Stockton, III. His second wife was Mrs. Sarah Clark, whose 
maiden name was Ellis. Jeremiah died September 29, 1802. 

Ellis, Jeremiah, jr., son of Jeremiah, born March 24, 1800, married Hannah Whitcomb, 
and their children were Joseph W., resides at Albany, N. Y.; Hiram; Maria R. (de- 
ceased), married Eri J. Spaulding; Isaac; Mary S.; and George resides at Rutland Vt. 
Jeremiah, jr., died December 15, 1856. 

Ellis, Hiram, son of Jeremiah, jr., born in Springfield, September 19, 1831, married 
Emily A. Proctor, who died January 21, 1876. There are no children. 

Fairbanks, Oliver, born in Dedham, Mass., in 1752, came to Stoddard, N. H., and from 
there to Springfield in 1795. He died in 1839, and was married to Elizabeth Clark ; they 
had the following family : Oliver Edward ; Moses, who was one of the old tavern-keep- 
ers in Springfield, and died in Claremont, N. H., he had a son John, who became a 
prominent citizen of Detroit, Mich.; Lewis; Aaron, died in Springfield; David, died 
young ; Polly (deceased), married Isaac Whitney ; Sally (deceased), married Simeon 
Stoddard ; Fanny and Betsey, both died single. 

Fairbanks, Oliver, son of Oliver, was born in Dedham, Mass., in 1777, and died at 
Springfield in 1854. He married Polly Powers, and had eight children, viz..- Lucius, died 
in Chariestown, N. K.; Asahel Powers ; Cynthia (deceased), married, first, Orrin Kendall, 
second, Jason Kendall ; George, died in Springfield ; Lewis, died in Abington, Mass.; 
Charles, resides in Whitman, Mass.; and Emehne (deceased), married Oilman Gould. 

Fairbanks, Asahel Powers, son of Oliver, was born in Springfield, Vt., September 3, 
1806, and married Lucretia Whitney. Of their twelve children, six died in infancy. 
The others are Hiram C, who died from sickness contracted in the army, and left no 
male issue; Harriet A., twice married, resides at Grafton, Vt.; Mary, wife of George G. 
Gregg, of Weathersfield ; Eliza, wife of William Westney, of Acworth, N. H.; Franklin, 
of Springfield; and George H., of Bostonville, Vt. 

Fairbanks, Edward, son of Oliver, was born in Hubbardston, Mass., June 26, 1786, 
and died May 7, 1878. He married for his first wife Betsey Stoddard, by whom he had 
two children, viz.: Eaton ; Harriet (deceased), married Daniel Bowker. His second wife 
was Sally Parker, and their children were Nathaniel; Lucy, died aged twenty years; 
John ; Emerancy (deceased), married David Saft'ord ; Amos P., married E. Amelia White, 
March 26, 1867, resides in North Springfield, Vt., and has three children, John W., Mar- 
60 



474 History of Windsor County. 



cella E. and Abbie A.; Parmela (deceased), married John Finegan ; Ellen, widow of 
Horace Britton. resides in Springfield. 

Fairbanks, Nathaniel, son of Edward, was born in Springfield, June 8, 1818, and mar- 
ried Sarah J. Randall, He had three children : Melvin E.; Percy W. (deceased), married 
A. W. Gilson, who died in California, May 31, 1886; and Lottie E., wife of Ernest Gil- 
son, of Springfield, Vt. Nathaniel died May 31, 1886. 

Fairbanks, Melvin E., son of Nathaniel, born in Springfield, December 30, 1850, mar- 
ried Lestina E. William.?, of Bridgewater, Vt,, and has two children, Fred M, and Mabel P. 

Fairbanks, Lewis, son of Oliver, born July 29, 1791, and died October 23, 1860. He 
married Pamelia Parker, and their children were Edward, who died in Springfield; 
Frederic; Eliza (decea.sed), married Lincoln Field; Jane (deceased), married James 
Wooley ; David; Lois, widow of Beza F. Wood, resides in Charlestown, N. H.: Maria 
(deceased), married Richmond Rawson ; Frank, born in Springfield, July 24, 1836, mar- 
ried Betsey Parker, has no children ; and Harriet, died young. 

Field Family. — Pardon Field was an early settler of this family in Windsor county, 
lie came to Chester about 178G. He was born at Cranston, R, I., April 13, 1761, and 
was a son of James, who was a son of .Jeremiah. His wife was Elizabeth Williams, 
who was of the fifth generation from Roger Williams. They had the following children : 
Hannah, married John Kibling; Lydia, married Robert Field ; James; Jeremiah; Ab- 
ner; Joseph: Sarah, married Stephen Austin ; Welcome; Pardon; and Elizabeth, who 
died young. Pardon died October 28, 1842. 

Field, Abner, son of Pardon, was born in Chester, Vt,, November 28, 1793, married 
Louisa Griswold, and had four children : Walbridge Abner; Cordelia Louisa, died at the 
age of eight years; Fred Griswolil; and Isadore, wife of Durant J. Boynton, of North 
Springfield. Abner died December 19, 1S64. 

Field, Walbridge Abner, son of Abner, born in Springfield, Vt., April 26, 1833 ; grad- 
uated from Dartmouth College in 185.5; e.K-memberof Congress, and one of the justices 
of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. He married for his first wife Ellen E. McLoon ; 
has two daughters, Eleanor Louisa and Elizabeth Lenthal. His second wife was Frances 
Farwell. He resides at Boston, Mass, 

Field, Fred Griswold, son of Abner, born in Springfield, Vt., Janu-ary I, 1842, married 
Anna M. Tarbell, of Cavendish, Vt.; has two children, viz.: Fred Tarbell, born Decem- 
ber 24, 1876 ; and Bertha Isadore, engaged in the mercantile business at North Springfield. 

Gilman, Farley B., was born in Unity, N. H., December 16, 1824, and is the eldest son 
of Jonathan and Mehitable A. (Farley) Gilman. At the age of twenty years he went to 
Claremont, N. H., as an apprentice at the machinist trade, and in 1847 came to Spring- 
field to work. He marrieil Emily L. Royse, and has had five children : Ellen A., wife 
of Dr. Harry Knight, of Belleview, Fla,; Ida L,, who is engaged in teaching in the 
Freedmen's schools of the South; Wilbur F., who died at the age of three years; Wil- 
bert F. and Gertrude, who at present are attending Boston University, College of Lib- 
eral Arts, 

Griswold, Daniel. — The subject of this sketch (Squire Griswold, as he was familiarly 
called) was born at Meriden, Conn., December 5, 1762, and was the son of John and 
Mary (Ward) Griswold. At tl'.e age of si.\teen he entered the army and was employed 
as a teamster instead of serving in the ranks. He purchased land in Springfield, Au- 
gust 24, 1784, and worked two seasons in improving it. In .January, 1786, he married 
Annah Lenthal Ames, a native of Middletown, Conn. With his wife he made a per- 
manent settlement in Springfield in 1790, traveling the distance from Connecticut with 
an ox team, taking ten days for the journey. In 1793 he built a frame house now 
standing at North Springfield. He died August 4, 1836, and is buried in the cemetery 
at North Springfield. His children were Lenthal, married Amos Hulett; Mary, married 
Levi Boynton ; Hannah, married Enos Brown ; Joel ; Daniel, removed to Indiana; Lucy, 



Old Families. 475 



married Samuel Stimson ; Martha, married Russell Lockwood ; Louiida, married first Lu- 
cius H. Cheney, second, Sylvanus Newhall ; Sarah, married Charles Sherwin ; and Louisa, 
married Abner Field. Daniel married for his second wife Mrs. Abigail Davis Woodbury. 

Griswold, Joel, son of Daniel, was born at Springfield, Vt., April 25, 1792, and died 
April 22, 1871 ; married Mar}' Chase. Their children were Daniel C, engaged in the 
wholesale notion business in Boston, JIass.; Collins S., died at the age of four years; 
Mary J., married Milton K. Paine, of Windsor, Vt. 

Hadwen, Oliver R., was born in Danby, Vt., March 25, 1825, and is the youngest son 
and child of eleven children of Barney and Mercy Vaughn Hadwen. He was engaged 
in farming in his early life and removed to Poultney, Vt., where he purchased a farm 
and resided in that town eleven years. After living in Rutland, Vt., he removed to his 
native town, remaining three years, and came to Springfield in 1872. Of his father's 
family seven are living, the eldest being eighty-six. The three that died lived to be 
seventy-seven, sixty-six and eighty-eight years of age. He married Sarah Jane Baker, 
of Granby, N. Y., and has four children, viz.: Chester B., a resident of Rockingham, 
Vt.; Emma Jane, wife of George F. Tanner,, of Springfield ; John E., resides in Spring- 
field ; and William E., in Danby, Vt. 

Holmes, John, was born in Peterboro, N. H., May 8, 1802, and was the son of Na- 
thaniel and Catharine (Allison) Holmes. His first wife was Hepsey, daughter of John 
and Abieail (Demary) Cutter, whose ancestors came from England and settled at Wo- 
burn, Mass., as early as 1640. Their children were John C; Bmeline Duncan, died aged 
twenty-one years; and Abigail Demary, died at the age of eighteen years. His second 
wife was Emeline Woodbury, by whom he liad one child, Nathaniel Cutter, born Janu- 
ary 20, 1857 ; he was a lawyer, and was admitted to the bar in St. Loui.s, Mo., practiced 
at Gardiner, Mass., and died at Jaffrey, N. H., June 24, 1887. His third wife was Sybil 
Eliza Gates, who had one child that died infancy. John died September 24, 1874. 

Holmes, John C, son of John, was born at Springfield, Vt., April 2, 1827; married 
for his first wife Marcia A. Kimball; had one child, Otto Kimball, who died at the age 
of nine years. His second wife was Rebecca, daughter of Noah and Nancy (Tower) 
Safford. They had one child, Henry Bigelow, born at Washington, D. C, March 12, 
1868, and is now interested in the firm of J. C. Holmes & Co. John C. was a resident 
of Springfield all of his life, excepting from 1859 to 1861, when he was located at White 
River Junction, Vt. He was second heutenant of Company E, First Vermont Cavalry, 
and was from 1863 to 1874 employed in the Post-office Department at Washington, 
D. C. He died July 26, 1884. 

Huey, James, came from Massachusetts to Springfield in 1790, and died in that town 
in 1833, at the age of sixty-one years. His wife was Polly Brown, and their children 
were Rlioda (deceased), married Joseph Perham ; Jeremiah; James, died in Spring- 
field; Abiel, died in Pennsylvania; Philena (deceased), married Joseph House; and 
Nancy (deceased), married Noah Bailey. 

Huey, Jeremiah, son of James, was born in Sprmgfield, April 16, 1797, and married 
Susan G. Weaver. Their family are George Washington ; Sarah, wife of Charles Cady, 
of West Windsor ; Jeremiah L.; AVilliam Eldridge, lives in California; Susan (deceased), 
married Barnum A. Read; James Henry, died at the age of seven years; Leonard E,; 
John Henry ; and Phix'be P., widow of Morris Newton, resides in Reading, Vt. Jere- 
miah died October 6, 1878. 

Huey, Jeremiah L., son of Jeremiah, was born in Springfield, July 28, 1829, and mar- 
ried Sarah Weston, and has two children : Ella M. and Harold Irving. He was a resi- 
dent of California from 1850 to 1877. 

Huey, Leonard E., son of Jeremiah, was born in Sprmgfield, December 22, 1836, and 
married Frances Maria Dodge. They have five children : Inya, wife of Levi Fairbanks, 
of Springfield ; Inez, wife of A. J. Crockett, of Boston ; Alice E.; Wallace L.; and Guy 
Arthur. Some members of the family spell their name " Hewey." 



476 History of Windsor County. 

Kimball, G-eorge, a native of Tetnplfi, N. H., was born January 23, 1800, and came to 
Springfield in 1821. Having learned the trade of blacksmithing of .John Bales, of Wil- 
ton. N. li., he engaged in that business and built, in 1824, the present shop now occu- 
pied by his son, located on the west side of Main street, just north of the covered Ijridge. 
He was at various times interested in different manufacturing interests of Springfield, 
and about 1840 began to manufacture horse rakes, making from one thou.sand to two 
thousand annually, and selling and shipping them all over the country, even as far as 
California. He continued this business till his death, which occurred November 24, 
1875. Four of his brothers learned the trade of blacksmithing at his shop, and one of 
them, Brooks Kimball, was for a number of yeais associated with him as partner. Mr. 
Kiml)all was also extensively engaged in building and he erected r.bout si.xty buildings 
during his life within the corporation limits. He married November IS, 1823, Abigail 
Bisbee, and had three children : George ; Marcia A. (deceased), married John C. Holmes ; 
Francis .T., a resident of Chicago, 111. 

Kimball, George, son of George, was born in Springfield, Vt., October 3, 1S24, mar- 
ried Rindella M. Cheney, and had three children, viz.: George Eugene, lives in Eve. ett, 
Mass.; Lillian Louisa, resides at Springfield ; and Alice Appleton, died at the age of three 
years. Mr. Kimball carries on business at his father's old stand. 

Ma.son, Henry Hubbard, was born in Unity, N. H., January 31, 1.^21, and was the 
fourth son of Peter and Abigail (Weed) Mason. At the age of seventeen ye.ars he was 
apprenticed for four years to Otis Bardwell, of Walpole, N. H., to learn blacksmithing. 
After serving his time he followed the business one year, l)ut was forced to relinquish it 
on account of injuries received. He then came to Cliarlestown, N. H., where his father 
resided, and in 1844 removed to Springfield, and began work for D. M. Smith & Co., 
who were then manufacturing abdominal supporters, an invention of Dr. Eleazer Crain. 
He followed this business until 1804, employing at one time as many as sixty girls. 
During the years 1848-49 he was proprietor of the Black River Hotel. At one time he 
was a member of the firm of Smith, Mason & Co., formed for the purpose of manufact- 
uring a spring hook and eye. Mr. Mason married for his first wife Sarah, daughter of 
George Cutler; has one child, Sarah, wife of Prof. Benjamin, Blanpied, and resides at 
Albany, N. Y. His second wife was Vesta, daughter of Abe! Gilson, of Proctorsville, Vt_ 

Smith, Miles, was born in Unity, N. H., April 28, 1.82t>. When he was one year old 
his father removed to Acworth, N. H. He is the eldest son of Kimball and Angelina 
(Cummiugsj Smith. When nineteen years of age he began to work in cotton-mills and 
was at Lowell, Mass., from 1845 to 1851, and came to Springfield in ls54, to take charge 
of Fullerton, Martin & Co.'s mill, remaining here till 18(i0. Three years after this he 
entered the snath works, and on the formation of a stock company became one of the 
stockholder-s. He married Lucy .Vnn Lawton ; she was his first wife, and there was one 
child, viz., Ida, wife of F. H. Lippincott, of Chelsea, Mass. His second wife was Thank- 
ful Fletcher. Of their two children one died in infancy; the other is Jennie N., wife of 
Thomas Chenoyeth, of Springfield. 

Spaulding, Nathaniel, son of John, was born in Cavendish, Vt., October 7, ISOI, and 
married .Vnna Swift. Their children were Molinda, died young; Julia Ann, widow of 
Samuel H. Nutting, resides in Chester, Vt.; Charles Elliot, lived in Cavendish, Vt. (de- 
ceased) ; Henry, also a resident of Cavendish; Francis P., lives in Springfield, Vt.; Eliz- 
abeth, wife of Rev. Geo. W. Winslow, a Methodist mmister located in llHnois ; Emily J. 
(deceased), married Henry Martin ; Sarah J., wife of A. D. L. Herrick, of Chester, Vt.; 
and James Almon, died at the age of twenty years, Nathaniel became a resident of 
Springfield in 1852, and died January 1, 1879. Anna, his wife, died December 11, 1880. 

Spaulding, Francis P., son of Nathaniel, was born in Cavendi.sh, Vt., June 18, l.'SS/, 
and married H. Florence, daughter of Mar.shal Myrick. He has two children, viz.: 
Fred M. and Morton M. 

Townsend, Frederick Van Alstyne, was born at Reading, Vt., April 9, 1824, and is the 



Town of Norwich. 477 



eldest son of William and Hannah Or. (Bigelow) Townsend. He was engafjed in farm- 
ing previous to becoming a member of the above firm. He married Aurelia Royce, and 
has three children, viz.: Brvin Aistyne, resides at Sioux City, Iowa; Amasa W.. resides 
in Lebanon, N. H.; and Mary A. 

Walker, Captain John, son of Matthew Walker, who came from Connecticut to Clare- 
mont, N. H., in 17S3, was born in Connecticut in 177(1, and died in Springfield, De- 
cembfr 25, 1844. On becoming of age he came to Springfield, and was married to 
Philena Spencer, by whom he liad eleven children, viz.: Thedotia (deceased), married 
George R. Gill ; Nancy M., widow of Aaron P. Lynde, resides in California, aged ninety 
years ; Mary Ann (deceased), married N. G. Spencer ; Philena (deceased), married Leon- 
ard Ellis; Louisa, died at the age of thirteen years; Matilda, widow of William W. 
Whitney, resides in Springfield ; John O.; Ralph, died in Springfield; Kate, wife of Jo- 
seph Wheeler; and James R. 

Walker, .James R., .son of Captiin John, was born in Sprinefield. August 27, 1820, and 
married Maria L. Whipple, of North Charlestown, N. H. Their children are Arthiu'; 
Julia, wife of John A. Walker, of Markesan, Wis.; Ann M.; and Ada, who died at the 
age of twenty-two years. 

White, .Joseph, was born at Springfield, Vt., December 18, 1833. He has been con- 
nected with the snath works since Mai-ch, 18.52, and is the only one now at the works 
who was there when he began. He married Harriet L., daughter of Dr. Calvin Hub- 
bard, and has two children, viz., Katharine and Walter M. 



CHAPTER XXII. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NORWICH. 

NORWICH is ill the e.xtreme northeastern part of the county of 
Windsor, and is bounded north by Thetford, in Orange county; east 
by the Connecticut River and Hanover in New Hampshire; south by 
the town of Hartford ; and west by the town of Sharon. Norwich, being 
one of the Connecticut River towns, is among the best of the agricult- 
ural districts of the county; the lands in general are quite productive 
and susceptible of the highest cultivation. 

Throughout the town mountain formations abound, the general trend 
of the short and broken ranges being about north and south, but there 
is less of extreme height in the hills of Norwich than is the case with 
the towns farther west. Some of the hills are dignified with names, such 
as Meeting- House Hill, in the central part of the town; and in the 
northeastern part is Bloody Mountain, the locality being formerly noted 
for its deposits of copper; in the extreme southern part is Griggs Mount- 
ain, a considerable elevation e.xtending east and west about three miles. 



478 History of Windsor County. 

In the northwestern part are two parallel ridges, or hill elevations, be- 
tween and on either side of which are comparatively good farming and 
grazing lands. 

The principal streams of the town are Bloody Brook and the Ompom- 
panoosuc River, both being tributaries of the Connecticut. The first 
named of these streams has its course entirely within the limits of the 
town ; its headwaters are on botli sides of the northwest mountain, 
and thence it flows southeasterly across the town and discharges into the 
Connecticut River in the southeast corner of the town, where now is 
situated Norwich village. The river that bears the rather awkward 
name of Ompompanoosuc has only a few miles of its course in Nor- 
wich : it enters the town from Thetford on the north, courses across the 
northeast corner of the town, and discharges into the Connecticut near 
the small village of Pompanoosuc. Both of these principal streams of 
the town afford the best of water-power, which has been profitably 
utilized. 

This town was brought into existence by a charter from the provincial 
governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth, and bore the date of 
July 4, 1 76 1, the same day upon which the adjoining town of Hartford 
was chartered, and probably contained the same conditions as the latter 
in respect to the first meeting of the proprietors. The town was char- 
tered under the name of Norwhich, but common consent dropped the 
first " h " in the name. The grantees named in the charter were resi- 
dents of Connecticut, and in that province the proprietors held their first 
meetings and organized the town, not only as proprietors were in the 
habit of organizing, but in the same manner as towns were organized 
by freemen, residents upon the soil of the town. In this respect Nor- 
wich is to be numbered among the exceptional towns of the vicinity 
and State, for at the time of that organization there was not a single 
rightful occupant of the town ; but as this was one of the requirements 
of the charter, the proprietors had no option in the matter. Their first 
meeting was held August 26, 1761, at which time these officers were 
elected : Town and propiietors' clerk, Eleazer Wales ; constable, Andrew 
Crocker ; selectmen, Samuel Wert, Abner Barker and Joseph Storrs. 

Following this preliminary organization the proprietors were fre- 
quently called together to take the necessary steps for making the town 



Town of Norwich. 479 



surveys, apporiioning the lots, making drafts by lots for the division of 
the lands owned by them. All of these proceedings were completed 
and the town ready for settlement during the year 1762, but it was not 
until the succeeding year that the period of pioneership actually began, 
and then but very slowly. The first settlers to make improvements were 
Jacob Fenton, Ebenezer Smith and John Slafter, who came to the town 
early in the spring of 1763, and made clearings, built log cabins, and 
otherwise prepared for permanent occupation. These men were the 
pioneers and first occupants of the town, but they were not entirely 
alone in the region, for there were other pioneers on the east side of the 
river, in Hanover town, and a small settlement in Lebanon, the town 
south of Hanover. The towns north and south of Norwich were not 
occupied until nearly two years later. Concerning the fortunes or mis- 
fortunes experienced by these tiiree pioneers of Norwich, there seems to 
have been a slight conflict of opinion among early authorities, and not 
wishing, at this late day, to attempt furnishing the correct version of the 
matter, the writer feels constrained to reproduce the statements of 
Zadock Thompson : 

" In 1762 the town was partly lotted, and the next year Jacob Fenton, 
Ebenezer Smith and John Slafter came here from Mansfield, Conn., built 
them a camp and began improvements. In July, Smith and Slafter left 
Fenton on Wednesday for the purpose of hoeing corn in Lebanon, and 
returned on Saturday evening, when they found Fenton dead in the 
camp. It appeared afterward that Mr. Freeman, of 'New Hampshire,' 
happened over here, and finding Fenton sick and alone, he tarried with 
him until he died, and then went to Lebanon for help to bury him. 
Freeman returned and Fenton was buried July 15, 1763, aged sixty-five 
years, and a monument erected over him. In the summer of 1764 four 
men moved their families into the town, and from this time the settle- 
ment advanced with considerable rapidity, mostly by emigrants from 
Mansfield and Preston, Conn." 

The three men were the pioneers of the town, and began their lives 
here in the northeast part of the town, near the location of the present 
village of Fompanoosuc. In the year following (1764) four more settlers 
with their families came to the vicinity, among them Samuel Hutchin- 
son, Nathan Messenger and Samuel Partridge, the family of the latter, 



4^0 History of Windsor County. 

however, not coming until the next year (1765). It is said that Nathan 
Messenger was the first pioneer to winter in the town. His right was 
near the site of Norwich village, as was also Samuel Hutchinson's. 

Samuel Partridge made his improvements in the west part of the 
town, south of the hamlet called Beaver Meadows. He returned to Con- 
necticut during the fall of 1764, and remained there that winter, return- 
ing, however, the next spring, and bringing with him his wife and par- 
ents. The father, whose name was Samuel, became an extensive land 
owner in the " Meadows" vicinity, having there 1,000 acres. 

General Peter Olcott was one of the eminent men of Norwich. In 
May, 1777, he was appointed by New York to the position of commis- 
sioner of confiscated estates ; and in 1778 to the same office under Ver- 
mont; was a member of the Windsor convention of June, 1777, also of 
July and December of the same year. In 1777 he commanded a regi- 
ment of Gloucester county militia, and was summoned with it to march 
to the relief of Bennington; was councilor from the first session until 
October, 1779; again in 1781-90; lieutenant-governor, 1790-93; and 
judge of the Supreme Court, 1782-84. He died at Norwich in Septem- 
ber, 1808. 

Thomas Murdoch was a member of the Westminster convention of 
January 15, 1777, and the Windsor convention of June 4, 1777. He was 
councilor and member of the Court of Confiscation in 1778, and until 
October, 1779 ; and judge of the Windsor County Court, 1782-87. He 
represented Norwich in 1780 and 1782. He died at Norwich in 1803. 

Paul Brigham was a native of Connecticut, born January 17, 1745, and 
came to Norwich in May, 1782. In his native State he held the rank of 
captain of militia in the Revolutionary service, and in Norwich was ad- 
vanced to the major- generalship. He served as assistant judge of the 
Windsor County Court 1783-86, and again 1790-95 ; was chief judge in 
1801; judge of probate in the Hartford district in 1800; high sheriff, 
1787-90; representative in 1783, 1786 and 1791 ; member of council, 
1792-96; member of constitutional conventions of 1793, 18 14, and 
1822; was lieutenant-governor from 1796 to 1820, except during the 
years 1813 and 1814. He died July 15, 1824, aged nearly seventy- nine 
years. 

Although Norwich had a sufiicient population to entitle the inhabit- 



Town of Norwich. 481 



ants to hold town meetings earlier than 1768, it was not organized until 
the month of April of that year, the administration of its affairs, previous 
to that time, being in the hands of the proprietors. The first town offi- 
cers elected by the residents of the town were as follows : Moderator, 
Nathan Messenger; town clerk, Thomas Murdock ; selectmen. Lieuten- 
ant Partridge, Captain Johnson and Nathan Messenger ; constables, 
Thomas Murdock and John Slafter ; tithingman, Medad Benton ; fence 

viewers, Elisha Partridge, Thatcher, Thomas Murdock and Jacob 

Burton. The succession of town representatives from 1778 to the pres- 
ent time will be found on later pages of this chapter. 

In the proceedings had by the representatives of the towns in the con- 
ventions at Dorset this town took an active interest, but was not then 
represented ; but it was represented in the first convention held east of 
the mountains, that at Westminster in January, 1777, the records show- 
ing the presence of Major Thomas Murdock and Jacob Burton, the 
former being one of the committee to examine into the number of towns 
of Cumberland and Gloucester counties that had voted in favor of the 
new State. Also, in the somewhat famous convention at Windsor, 
June 4, 1777, the town of Norwich was represented by Colonel Peter 
Olcott, Major Thomas Murdock, and Jacob Burton, each of whom signed 
the "revised declaration." 

It would appear from the foregoing statements that the people of Nor- 
wich were earnestly and heartily in favor of the formation of the new 
State ; and so they were subject to certain conditions that need an ex- 
planation. There was great friendliness of feeling, and many things in 
common between the people in this locality and those on the east side 
of the Connecticut River, and there was, moreover, a strong desire on 
both sides that the towns be united under the same government. 
About this time there was much favorable discussion of the project of 
forming a union with the New Hampshire towns, as soon as the inde- 
pendence of the new State should be declared, and its affairs assume 
some tangible shape. With this union in view, a number of the towns 
west of the Connecticut River went into the conventions, and did every 
possible thing in hastening the declaration of separate independence, be- 
lieving that the union with the eastern towns would speedily follow, and 
become firmly and permanently established. 

61 



482 History of. Windsor CounTV. 

In accordance with their expectations and desires the new State was 
formed, and subsequently, on June 11, 1778, sixteen towns on the east 
side of the river were received into and made a part of Vermont. Rut 
this union was not regarded favorably by the authorities of New Hamp- 
shire, and in addition to that there was much feeling in opposition to it 
in the State generally, and west of the mountains particularly. Finally, 
the matter reached such a situation that the question was submitted to 
the towns to determine whether the union should stand or be dissolved, 
and the latter proposition was carried. The union was therefore at an 
end, much to the dissatisfaction of Norwich and several other towns in 
the vicinity. Tlie final result was that this town, together with a num- 
ber of others, united in a petition to Congress, setting forth the circum- 
stances under which they had favored the new State, and being 
disappointed and misled, were desirous of having Congress understand 
that they were not in favor of the admission of Vermont to the union of 
States. Twice were these petitions sent to Congress, first in August, 
1779, and again in February, 1780. The towns represented were 
Hartford, Norwich, Sharon, Royalton, Fairlee, Newbury and Barnet. 
Peter Olcott, of Norwich, was the agent sent to Congress to present 
the petitions. Subsequently, however, a second union with New Hamp- 
shire towns was formed, and then the people of the disaffected towns of 
Vermont ceased their opposition to Vermont's admission as one of the 
United States ; and when the dissolution of this second union became 
imperative, the town had so grown in population, and public sentiment 
had so changed, that there was no murmuring or discontent on the part 
of her people. 

One of the most notable occasions in the early history of this town 
was that which witnessed the session of the Governor and Council and 
the General Assembly of the State, in June, 1785, and the occasion was 
deeply and fully appreciated by the entire people ; for although it was 
an adjourned session, and not one for the inauguration of the State 
officers, the chief executive of the State was accompanied by an escort 
of cavalry, and at Norwich they were met by a body of militia under the 
command of Colonel Paul Brigham. Thus for the brief space of two or 
three weeks Norwich was the temporary seat of government of Vermont. 
A glance over the pages of the journal of the Governor and Council 



Town of Norwich. 483 



shows that the measures adopted, and others that were proposed and 
discussed, were of the same general character as were incident to the 
similar meetings at other towns during that period. The only important 
feature at this session, except the generally important character of all of 
the early sessions, was the impeachment proceedings against John 
Barrett, a justice of the peace of the county, and a citizen of Springfield. 
Justice Barrett was summoned before the Governor and Council on the 
9th of June upon a charge of malfeasance in office, and duly appeared. 
Stephen Row Bradley conducted the prosecution, while Mr. Barrett 
appeared in his own defense. The result was that the accused be sus- 
pended from office for the term of six months, and pay the costs of the 
prosecution. 

It was customary for the Governor and Council, in their sessions with 
the General Assembly, to meet at various places in the new State, as cir- 
cumstances and convenience might suggest; but this was the only meet- 
ing of these representative bodies in the town of Norwich, and was 
brougiit about, it is believed, through the influence of General Peter 
Olcott and Major Thomas Murdock, both of whom were then council- 
ors, and aided by the additional influence of Lieutenant-Governor Paul 
Spooner, of Hartland. At that time the town of Norwich was repre- 
sented by Jacob Burton. 

Another chapter of this work gives an account of the part taken by 
the county in the war of the Rebellion. During the course of the war 
the town of Norwich is credited with having furnished 166 men, who 
entered the service under and subsequent to the first call for three years' 
volunteers. For the three years' service the town enlisted 106 men ; 
for one year, 4 ; for nine months, 31 ; for naval service, 9 ; miscellane- 
ous credits, men not named, 10; volunteers, re-enlisted, 6. In addition 
there were enrolled men who furnished substitutes, 5 ; furnished under 
draft and paid commutation, 8 ; procured substitutes, 3. A grand total 
of 182. 

At the time of taking the census enumeration of inhabitants in 1771 
by New York, Norwich was found to contain 206 residents, that being 
three more than Windsor, and it was, therefore, the most populous town 
in the county. In 1791 the population had increased to 1,158, it then 
being the fourth town in the county in number of inhabitants. The 



484 History of Windsor County. 

greatest population was attained in the town in 1830, when it was 2,316; 
but since that time there has been a slow and constant decrease, shown 
by the census reports of each decade, until that of 1880, which gave the 
town a population of only 1,471, a little more than half as many as fifty 
years before. 

Representatives in General Assembly. — 1778, Abel Curtis, Joseph 
Hatch; 1779, none; 1780, Thomas Murdock, Elisha Burton; 1781, 
Abel Curtis, Peter Olcott ; 1782, Abel Curtis, Thomas Murdock ; 1783, 
Paul Brigham ; 1784, Elisha Burton, Elijah Gates; 1785, Jacob Burton ; 
1786, Paul Brigham ; 1787, Elisha Burton, to 1789; 1790, Joseph 
Hatch; 1791, Paul Brigham; 1792, Aaron Storrs ; 1793-94, Daniel 
Buck; 1795, John Bush ; 1796, Ebenezer Brown ; 1797-98, Roswell 
Olcott; 1799-1800, Elisha Burton; 1 801, Peter Olcott ; 1802, Pierce 
Burton; 1803-04, Hezekiah Goodrich; 1805, Pierce Burton; 1806, 
Daniel Buck; 1807-08, none; 1809-13, Pierce Burton ; 1814, Israel 
Newton; 1815-19, Don J. Brigham; 1820-23, Aaron Loveland ; 1824- 
28, Thomas Emerson ; 1829, Cyrus Partridge ; 1830, Elias Lyman, 
jr.; 1831-32, Elias Lyman; 1833-34, Alden Partridge; 1835-36, 
Cyrus Partridge ; 1837, Alden Partridge ; 1838, Thomas Hazen ; 1839, 
Alden Partridge; 1840, Aaron Loveland; 1841-43, Ira Davis; 1844, 
Ebenezer Spear, 2d ; 1845-46, Shubael Converse ; 1847, William Love- 
land ; 1848, none; 1749, Ebenezer Spear, 2d; 1850, Ebenezer D. 
Brown ; 185 i, Samuel Goddard ; 1852-53, L. S. Partridge ; 1854-55, 
Franklin L. Olds; 1856-57, William E. Lewis; 1858-59, Joseph T. 
Loveland ; 1860-61, John Loveland ; 1862, Joseph Pratt; 1863, Will- 
iam E. Lewis ; 1864-65, Aaron G. Pease ; 1866-67, Joseph T. Love- 
land ; 1868-69, Ebenezer B. Brown ; 1870-71, none ; 1872-73, Will- 
iam E. Lewis; 1874-75, John Dutton ; 1876-77, Bartlett Sargent; 
1878-79, William E. Lewis; 1880-81, Samuel H. Currier; 1882-83, 
H. V. Partridge ; 1884-85, A. V. Turner ; 1886-87, George Messenger; 
1888-89, Aaron Loveland. 

Ecclesiastical History. — The orthodox Congregationalist has always 
been the leading religious denomination in Norwich. As early as 1770 
the Rev. Peter Powers, the pioneer preacher of Newbury, held services 
in Norwich and formed a church which was the fifth organized in the 
State. On August 31, 1775, Rev. Lyman Potter was ordained minister. 



Town of Norwich. 485 



He was a native of Salisbury, Conn., and was graduated from Yale Col- 
lege in 1772. Though the town now had a settled minister, they had 
no place of worship, services being held in a large barn erected by Gov- 
ernor Olcott. After considerable discussion in reference to a site the 
foundation for the first church was laid July 9, 1778, about a mile and a 
half north by west of the present village of Norwich. It cost six hun- 
dred and ninety-four pounds and was lathed and plastered on the in- 
side, and clapboarded on the outside, but never was painted and had no 
steeple or bell. The town purchased the building in 1785 and the Ver- 
mont Legislature met there in June of that year. The first deacon of 
the church was Joseph Smalley. At the time of the ordination of Mr. 
Potter the church membership was thirty-six. Revivals were held in 
1776, 1780 and 1 78 1, and about forty were added. Mr. Potter asked 
for his dismissal in March, iSoi, which was granted in August of that 
year. He removed to Steubenville, O., where he died in 1826. Rev. 
James W. Woodward became pastor in 1804, and continued until June 
8, 1 82 1. The last service held in the old church was on December 28, 
1817, it having been purchased December 24, 18 17, by Constant Mur- 
dock for one hundred dollars at auction. A new house forty by sixty 
feet was immediately built near the site of the old one, and was dedi- 
cated January i, 18 1 8. Mr. Woodward was followed by Rev. Samuel 
Goddard in 1822, who continued his labors till 1844, when he died. 
The society under his charge was very prosperous, the membership in 
1839 numbering two hundred and forty-seven. The church was with- 
out a settled pastor until May, 1846, when Rev. Edward B. Emerson 
was installed ; he was dismissed in March, 1853. In May, 1854, the first 
church was dissolved, its members connecting themselves with neighbor- 
ing churches, about sixty uniting with the church at Norwich Plains. 
The building was purchased at auction by Charles A. and Granville Slack 
in 1857 fo'' o"^ hundred and fifty dollars, and taken down. Town meet- 
ings were held in these two churches for three-quarters of a century. 

The present Congregational church, located at the village of Norwich, 
was built in 181 7 and dedicated by Rev. James W. Woodward on No- 
vember 20th of that year. The society was organized June 19, 1819, 
with eleven members, and Rev. R. W. Bailey was settled as pastor No- 
vember 24, 1 8 19, and remained four years. From 1823 to 1831 the 



486 History of Windsor County. 

pulpit was supplied by Revs. James W. Woodward, J. R. Wheelock, 
S. W. Boardman and Dr. Shurtleff. On December 28, 1831, Rev. 
Thomas Hall was installed and continued about three years. For the 
ne,xt six years Rev. Dr. Shurtleff supplied the church and during his 
ministry two revivals were held : one in 1835, conducted b)' Rev. Jede- 
diah Burchard, and the second in 1839, by Rev. Sherman Kellogg. 
Over one hundred persons became members of the church. From 1840 
to 1853 the pulpit was supplied by Revs. J. D. Butler, Sherman Kellogg, 
David Kimball and Rev. Professors Haddock, Noyes and Brown, of 
Dartmouth College. In 1852 the church was moved from the common, 
in front of Norwich University, to its present location. Tiie following 
pastors have supplied the pulpit since that date: Rev. A. G. Pease from 
January 2, 1855, to July 24, 1857 ; Rev. S. W. Boardman to Septem- 
ber I, 1859; Rev. Austin Hazen from March, i860, to March, 1864; 
from that date until June i, 1865, the pulpit was supplied by the presi- 
dent and professors of Dartmouth College. On the latter date Rev. 
William Sewall began supplying the pulpit and was installed September 
27, 1866. He resigned July 2, 1876, and was dismissed October i8th, 
of tiiat year. The present pastor, Rev. N. R. Nichols, began his serv- 
ices in the early part of the spring of 1880. 

As early as 1799 the town records show the existence of an organ- 
ized society of Baptists in Norwich. Asahel Lewis was at that time 
clerk of the society, and his certificate is on record showing the follow- 
ing members : Israel Brown, Elias Partridge, Jesse Geer, Jude Allen, 
John Lewis, Baxter Newton, Eli White, William Winslow, Nicholas 
Allen, William Wade, Amos Phillips, Martin Brown and Elisha White. 
There is no evidence that this society ever had a meeting-house or a set- 
tled minister. Through the efforts of Rev. John Hibbard, a pioneer 
Baptist missionary, a church was formed in the northern part of Sharon 
in 1792. The Rev. James Parker was ordained in 1805, and mainly 
through his efforts the organization was kept alive. Its meetings were 
held in school-houses and private dwellings until 1833, when a small 
meeting-house was built at Beaver Meadow. Mr. Parker's death oc- 
curred in 1839 and Rev. J. S. Herrick became the next pastor, remain- 
ing until 1842, and was succeeded by the following: Revs. J. Crowley, 
1842 to 1846; Phillip Chamberlain, 1846 to i860; A. W. Boardman, 



Town of Norwich. 48; 



1862; W. L. Colburn, 1864 to 1865 ; C. D. Fuller, 1868 to 1869. In 
1 87 1, the society having diminished by deatli and removals, meetings 
were discontinued and the following year the church was permanently 
removed to Sharon village. The church building was taken down in 
1875 and the material used in the construction of a parsonage at 
Sharon. 

A small Episcopal society was organized in Norwich in 1835, chiefly 
through the efforts of Dr. Ira Davis. Between 1846 and 1850 services 
were occasionally held under the ministrations of Prof. Hill, of Dart- 
mouth College. During the time that Dr. Edward Bourne was presi- 
dent of Norwich University regular meetings were held in the chapel 
connected with that institution, down to 1863, when a church was erected 
just south of the parade grounds. Since the removal of the university 
services have been held only occasionally in Norwich. 

The Methodists organized a society in town early in the nineteenth 
century and a church was built a mile and a half south of Union village. 
The present church in the village was built about 1830. 

Educational. — The first action towards the division of the town into 
school districts was at a town meeting held November 19, 1782, when a 
committee was appomted to divide the town and to build school houses, 
etc. This committee was subsequently discharged, after reporting 
" that they could effect nothing on the business of their appointment." 
At the annual March meeting in 1785, upon the request of the inhabit- 
ants in the southeastern part of the town, that portion was set apart for 
the purpose of building a school-house and supporting a school ; it was 
named the First School District. At the annual meeting held in 1797, 
on the report of a committee of sixteen, the town was divided into twelve 
districts. The following year District No. 13 was created, located in 
the southwestern part of the town. In 1808 District No. 14 was organ- 
ized, and since then, at various times, other districts have been formed, 
until the number reached twenty- one. At the first return made in 1799 
there were five hundred and fifty-two pupils between the ages of four 
and eighteen years in the town. In 1886 fifteen districts supported 
schools and there were two hundred and twenty scholars in attendance. 

The first school-master in town was Ashur Hatch, and among his 
scholars were John Bush, Roswell Olcott, Thomas Brigham, M. D., 



488 History of Windsor County. 

Stephen Burton, and Mills Olcott. The school was known as the Wind- 
sor County Grammar School, and in October, 1788, an act was passed 
by the Legislature granting a lottery for the purpose of raising money 
to complete the school-house. Mr. Hatch taught the school from 1785 
to 1 79 1. The building stood on the presenf site of the Congregational 
church until about 1830. 

The brick school-house near the site of the old meeting-house was 
built previous to 1809. In 1833 Rev. Amasa Buck, a Methodist clergy- 
man, with others, had a school of academic grade at Norwich village, 
which was known as Franklin Seminary. The Misses Rockwood taught 
a ladies' school, and from 1855 to i860 Miss Mary Bugbee conducted a 
school known as Norwich Female Seminary. In i860 and '61 Miss 
Lucy Morris taught a school for young ladies. By an act of the Legis- 
lature passed November 8, 1867, the "Norwich Classical and English 
Boarding School" was incorporated with the following as incorporators : 
William Sewall, Henry Blood, Henry Hutchinson, John Button, Sylves- 
ter Morris, William E. Lewis, Joseph T. Loveland, James Burnham, 
Samuel Goddard, and Franklin Olds. The school was opened in De- 
cember, 1867, in the building known as the North Barracks, formerly 
belonging to the Norwich University. The building was repaired at an 
expense of about $3,000. Though the school opened with encourag- 
ing prospects, the patronage steadily declined and the project was aban- 
doned in ten years. The following is a list of its principals : 1868, Will- 
iam H. Gilbert; 1869, C. P. Chase; 1S70-73, C. E. Putney; 1874, 
E. P. Sanborn; 1875, W. W. Morrill; 1876, W. H. Ray; 1877, D. S. 
Brigham. 

The American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. — This insti- 
tution was established at Norwich by the late Captain Alden Partridge. 
The original subscription paper bore the date of October 20, 1817, and 
is signed by the following: Thomas Emerson, $1,000; A. Partridge, 
$1,500; John Wright, $1,500; Cyrus Partridge, $100; Joseph Emer- 
son, $600; Aaron Loveland, $100; Samuel Partridge, $100; Isaac 
Partridge, $100 ; Abel Partridge, $100 ; Elihu Emerson, $100. It was 
the parent home of a new system of education, the result of many years 
of study of its founder. The corner-stone of an elegant brick building 
of four stories was laid August 6, 18 19. The academy was opened with 



Town of Norwich. 489 



about one hundred cadets September 24, 1826, and so popular became 
this new system of education that during the time the academy was 
located at Norwich the names of four hundred and eighty cadets appear 
upon its rolls. Students were received from nearly every State in the 
Union, and some from foreign lands. During the early part of 1825, 
Captain Partridge having received overtures from the leading citizens of 
Middletown, Conn., and believing that city ofifered superior advantages 
for the dissemination of his system of education, decided to remove the 
academy to that location. This change was made April 11, 1825, and 
while Captain Partridge retained the presidency, its success was more 
than its most sanguine friends had anticipated. The number of cadets 
in attendance during the first three years was over seven hundred and 
ten. Under Captain Partridge's supervision the cadets made pedestrian 
expeditions, upon which they received practical instruction in surveying. 
Military excursions were also taken, the cadets visiting New York city, 
Washington, and other points of interest, marching in the aggregate 
about two thousand miles, and making from thirty to fifty miles per day. 
After the retirement of Captain Partridge from the presidency the 
school attendance declined and it was finally discontinued. Among those 
that were at different times connected with the academy as professors 
were the following: George P. Marsh, in 1820-21, instructor in 
languages ; Rev. Rufus W. Bailey, chaplain and professor of ethics and 
belles-lettres, 1822-23; Rev. J. W. Woodward, professor of geography 
and history, etc., 1823-25 ;• James Freeman Dana, professor of chem- 
istry, 1820-22; E. B. Williston, professor of Greek and rhetoric; John 
M. Partridge, professor of geometry, topography and sword exercise. 

Norwich University. — While a member of the Legislature in 1834 the 
late Captain Partridge obtained a charter for this institution and the act 
was passed November 6, 1834. The corporation was to consist of 
twenty five persons, besides the president, who was an ex-officio member. 
The board of trustees was empowered to fill their own vacancies, and re- 
quired to provide for a constant course of instruction in military science 
and civil engineering, and prohibited from establishing any regulations 
of a sectarian character either in religion or politics. The present build- 
ing was begun in 1883, and was erected for a boarding-house. The first 
meeting of the trustees was held in January, 1835, and the following 
02 



490 History ok Windsor County. 

faculty was elected: Aldeii Partridge, president and professor of moral 
and intellectual philosophy, history, science of government, political 
economy, military science, and tactics; Truman B. Ransom, vice-presi- 
dent and professor of natural and experimental philosophy, mathematics, 
and civil engineering ; M. Noras, professor of ancient and modern lan- 
guages ; Franklin Marsh and J. W. Horr, assistants in the English de- 
partment. The school went into operation in May, 1835, the price of 
tuition being thirty-two dollars a year. The attendance from the open- 
ing to August, 1841, was two hundred and twenty-six, and the buildings 
owned by Captain Partridge, and formerly used by the A. L. and S. 
Academy, were occupied. The future of the institution bade fair to be 
prosperous, but owing to liissensions the school became unpopular and 
gradually wasted away. In 1844 Captain Partridge resigned the presi- 
dency, and was succeeded by Colonel T B. Ransom, who, in 1847, ^^' 
signed to take part in the war with Mexico. After Colonel Ransom's 
resignation the school was for a short time in charge of Rev. J. D. But- 
ler, but in 1848 Prof Henry S. Wheaton was elected president. He 
filled the office until 1S50, and in the following year Rev. Edward 
Bourns became president, and remained until 1865. On March 13, 
1866, the building known as the South Barracks was destroyed by fire, 
and the following autumn the town of Northfield, Vt., having raised 
$16,500, the academy was removed to that point. It continued to bear 
the same title until 1880, when the name was changed to " Lewis Col- 
lege"; but the school is now known by its old name. 

Among those who were at different times members of the faculty, 
and not previously mentioned, were the following: Simon Preston, 
Alonzo Jackman, Clinton 1). Averill, David Richardson, James V. A. 
Shields, Hiram P. Woodruff, Thomas W. Fredon, Henry V. Morris, 
Thomas R. Crosby, L. S. Coburn, Zerah Colburn, Alvin E. Bovee, W. C- 
Belcher, Charles A. Balch, George H. Bissell, and Josiah Swett. The 
number of students belonging to the university between 1835 and 1866 
was about 1,025, of which 206 became graduates. 

TAe Great Freshet of 1869. — About five o'clock on the morning of 
October 3, 1869, it began to rain, the wind being in the northeast ; the 
storm continued until about noon of the 4th, the wind changing on 
that morning to the southwest. The rain fell in torrents, causing one 



Town of Norwich. 491 



of the greatest freshets ever known in Norwich. All but one bridge on 
Bloody Brook were carried away, and numerous other bridges in town. 
The storm also did great damage to the highways, mills and lands on 
the banks of the stream ; also to the railroad, interrupting travel for 
nearly two weeks ; the damage in the town was from $4,000 to $6,000. 

Norwich Library Association. — This association was organized in De- 
cember, 1880, and was opened to the public in January, 1881. It has 
about fifteen hundred bound volumes. 

Newspapers. — A paper called the Vermont Engineer was published in 
Norwich, from March, 1829, to 1 831, by Davis & Porter. The first 
number of the Citizen Soldier, a weekly edited by Professors Jackman 
and Swett, was issued July 22, 1840. This paper was devoted to 
national defense, military science and interests of the volunteer militia. 
The office of this publication was removed to Windsor early in 1841, 
where its last number was issued in July of that year. 

Railroads. — The Connecticut and Passumpsic River Raihoad passes 
through the town from north to south, along the course of the Connecti- 
cut River most of the way. There are two railroad stations in the town : 
one a half mile from Norwich village, for the accommodation of Norwich 
and Hanover ; the other five miles farther north in the northwest corner 
of the town, at the mouth of the Pompanoosuc River, and bears its 
name. 

Important Events. — The first Council of Censors convened in Norwich 
on the first Wednesday in June, 1785. In the first organization of Cum- 
berland county by New York, in 1766, Norwich was placed in that 
county, but in March, 1772, a change was made which placed Norwich 
in Gloucester county. The first male child born in the town was John, 
son of Daniel Waterman, on July 2, 1768. The first female child born 
in town was Lydia, daughter of John Hutchinson, on June 6, 1877. 
Samuel White died June 2, 1822, aged one hundred years. John, son 
of Jonathan Lord, died June 19, 1882, lacking forty- two days of being 
one hundred years old. Fairbanks, son of Captain Timothy Bush, born 
February 25, 1773, died February 24, 1873, lacking twelve hours of be- 
ing one hundred years old. Elihu Emerson, born in Westfield, Mass., 
July 20, 1771, died at Leicester, Mass., aged one hundred and two 
years, three months, and nineteen days. He passed most of his life in 



492 HiSTOkY OF Windsor County. 

Norwich. The first town meeting held at Union hall was on March 
20, 1855. The freemen's meetings continued to be held at Center 
Meeting-House until 1858. Union hall was destroyed by fire Decem- 
ber 18, 1889. 

Norwich Village. — This- village, sometimes called Norwich Plains, is 
located in the southeast part of the town, about one- half mile from the 
Connecticut River. It is about one hundred and fifty feet above the 
river, and five hundred and twenty-five feet above tide water at Ports- 
mouth, N. H. The situation of the village is pleasant, the main street 
being broad and straight and about half a mile in length, beautifully 
shaded with trees. The place was originally known as Burton's Plains, 
from Jacob Burton, who, with his sons, made the first settlement in 1776. 
Jacob Burton and his son Elisha built the first saw-mill in 1766, on what 
is now Bloody Brook. It stood on the opposite bank from Messenger & 
Ilazen's tannery. This mill was carried away in the freshet of 1869, 
after having been operated for over a century by the Burton family. 
Elisha Burton built a grist-mill on the brook near the present location 
of A. G. Knapp. 

The first house in the village was erected in 1771 by Captain Joseph 
Hatch. It is still standing and but few changes have been made in its 
interior or exterior. As late as 1788 there were only three houses on 
the plains — the one mentioned, Jacob Burton's dwelling, now occupied by 
T. A. Hazen, and Elisha Burton's house, now owned by S. A. Arm- 
strong. Stephen Burton, son of Elisha, opened the first store on the 
plains in 1 790. The hotel building, lately destroyed by fire, was built in 
1797 by Colonel Jasper Murdock. 

The village began to grow about the beginning of the present century, 
and in 1824 there were about thirty dwelling houses. There are at pres- 
ent about seventy dwellings, Congregational and Episcopal churches, a 
hotel, a tannery, a store and several mechanics' shops. The population 
by the census of 1 880 was 276. The post-office was first established in 
Norwich in 1805, and Joseph Burton, son of Elisha, was the first post- 
master. He was a saddler and haness- maker, and the office was kept in 
his shop, which stood on the east side of the main street, about oppo- 
site the present residence of Colonel William E. Lewis. 

Following is a list of the postmasters and their terms of service: 



Olu Families. 493 



Joseph Burton, July i, 1805 ; George Riley, November 9, 18 14; Cyrus 
Partridge, January I, 1818; Jason Allen, April 17, 1820; Cyrus Part- 
ridge, November 22, 1821 ; Roswell Shurtleff, 1834 to 1836; John 
Wright, 1836-39; Baxter B. Newton, 1839-41 ; Harvey Burton, 1841- 
45; Ira Davis, 1845-49; John Wright, 1853-55; Lewis S. Partridge, 
1855-57; Edward M. Lewis, 1857-61; Franklin L. Olds, 1861-85; 
Lewis S. Partridge, 1885 till his death in May, 1886; Josiah T. Morri- 
son, July I, 1886, to May i, 1889; Edward W. Olds, the present incum- 
bent. 

Union Village. — This is a hamlet in the northern part of the town^ 
about half of the village being located in Orange county. The part 
within the town of Norwich contains a Methodist church and about a 
dozen dwellings. A post-office was established here January i, 1831, 
with J.Walker as postmaster. He held the office until 1856, and the 
following persons have been his successors: R. M. Gleason, 1856-61 
and 1864-73; S. M. Gleason, 1862-63; Anson West, 1874-76; J. R. 
Blaisdell, 1877, and now in the office. 

Pompanoosuc. — This is a small hamlet in the northeastern part of the 
town, containing a few dwellings and a chair factory. A post- offic^ was 
established here in 1849, with Benjamin Preston as the first postmaster. 
He held the office until 185 i and has been succeeded by the following: 
W.W.Reynolds, 1851-54; Benjamin Preston, 1854-57; C.B.Rey- 
nolds, 1857-59; Isaac Pierce, 1859-62; H. F. Reynolds, 1862-68; 
J. M. Flint, 1868-76; H. E. Kendall, 1876 to present time. 

Beaver Meadow. — This is situated in the western part of the town 
near the Sharon line. In early times there was some business done here, 
but at present it is simply a cross-road. A post-office has recently been 
established here. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter of this work. 



494 History of Windsor County. 

Bicknell, John, was born in Tunbridge, Vt, November 12, 1802, and was married De- 
cember 4, 1824, to Letita Bean. She was liorn June 21, 1802. They had four children : 
Sarah, married Jerome Slaylon, of Stowe, Vl., September 3, 1843, died January 10, 
1845 ; Harvey, resides in Barnard, Vt; Abel C; and William, a resident of Norwich. 
John clied April 14, Isil'J, and his wife May 9, 1887. Their four children were born in 
West Fairlee, Vt., where they resided until the youngest child was two years old, when 
they removed to Stowe, Vt. In 1845 they came to Norwich, where thev remained the 
rest of their lives. 

Bicknell, Abel, son of John, was born in West Fairlee, Vt., June 2, 1830, and married 
November 24, 1857, Charlotte A. Cummings. They have two children: Henry, born 
September 2(1, 18(13, married Gertrude Slack, and resides in Norwicli ; and Julia E., wife 
of Myron Pierce, of Norwich. Mr. Bicknell has been a resident of Norwich since 1845. 

Burton, Jacob, came from Stonington, Conn., in the summer of 17(14, to Norwich, in- 
tending to locate, but finding no inhabitants in the town he returned to Connecticut. In 
the following year he helped lay out a part of the town into lots, and in 17(j(j, in com- 
pany with his son Asa, and several hands, came to Norwich, and erected a saw-mill on 
the site now occupied by the Messenger & Hazen tannery. Mr. Burton was a member 
of the Committee of Rules and Regulations of the first General Assembly of Vermont, 
and was elected at that session second county judge for the shire of Newbury. He was 

the first town clerk in Norwich. He married Rachel , and had tlie following 

family: Elisha; John, removed to Cazenovia, N. Y., in 1809, where he died; Asa; 
Josiah, died in Norwich; Anna, married Simeon Carpenter; Sarah, married Alden 
Spooner; Eliza, died young. Jacob died July 12, 1798. 

Burton, Elisha, son of Jacob, was horn November 7, 1743, and married April 28, 17fi7, 
Susanna Burton. They had three children : Levi, died in the West : Elisha, died un- 
married ; Stephen, died in the West. His second wife was Sarah Cogswell. Their chil- 
dren were Sarah, married Jesse Stoddard ; Jacob, died in Norwich ; Joseph, born in 
1781,#died in 1814; Susanna, died in childhood; Polly, married Rev. Samuel Baseom ; 
John B. C, died in Norwicli ; Harvey ; Fanny, married Ammi B. Allen. Elisha mar- 
ried for his third wife Mrs. Mercy Loveland, and died May 3, 1819. 

Burton, Asa, son of Jacob, was born August 25, 1752, in Stonington, Conn., and re- 
moved to Preston, Conn., with his parents. At the age of fourteen his father removed 
to Norwich, and from that time until he was twenty he was employed in labor inci- 
dental to the settlement of a new country. With impaired health he was admitted at 
the age of twenty-one to Dartmouth College. After graduating lie studied theology, 
and after preaching occasionally in various towns in Vermont and Connecticut, he was 
settled in January, 1779, over a church in Thetford, Vt., where he pre.-iched for fifty 
years. When he took charge of the church there were only si.xteen members, and when 
he delivered his semi-centennial sermon the member.ship had increased to three hundred 
and twenty. He was the author of a number of publications, and during his life grad- 
uated si.xty students for the ministry. Dr. Burton's first wife was his lialf cousin, Mercy 
Burton, and their two daughters died before maturity. His second wife was Mary 
Childs, of Thetford, and their cliild, Mercy, became the wife of George West, a promi- 
nent lawyer of Manchester, Vt. Dr. Burton died May 1, lS3(i. 

Currier. — The family of this name in Norwich are descended from Richard Currier, a 
native of England, born in 1(517. The records of Salisbury, Mass., dating back to KHO, 
give his children as follows: Richard; Hannah; Tliomas; Sarah, who married Samuel 
Fogg; Hannah, who married Samuel Foote ; and Samuel. The line of descent from 
Ricliard is as follows: Second, Thomas, born 1(14(1 ; third, Benjamin, born 1(188; fourth, 
Gideon, born 1712; fiftli, Simeon, born 1745, who was the facher of Abel, born in Lon- 
donderry, N. IL, in 1782, and became a resident of Norwich in 1825. 

Jolmson, John, a native of Connecticut, was among the early settlers of Norwich. 
He married Priscilla Armstrong. Their children were Sarah (deceased), married Joel 



Olp Families. 495 

Yarnngtoii ; Julm B. C; So|jhi;i, (Jecuased), married Caleb Clough ; Harriet (deceased), 
married Turner R. Wing ; Mary (deceased), married Brazilla Pennock ; Susan (deceased), 
married Daniel Waterman. 

Johnson, .John B. C, son o£ .John, was born in Norwich, where he died in December, 
1883, aged eighty-five years. He married Thriphena Elmore. They had ten children : 
Chestinia, wife of George Woodworth, of St. Charles, Minn.; Charles, born in Norwich, 
June 1, 1823, married Chrislinia Pennock, has no children, and resides in Norwich ; 
George, lives at Hanover, N. H.; Jeanette, wife of Joseph Pennock, of Norwich ; 
Harriet, died young; Sarah (deceased), married Charles Adams; John, resides in Lyme, 
N. H.; Daniel Jackson ; Albert, lives in Newbury, N. H.; Ellen Udora, wife of Tread- 
well Seaver, of St. Charles, Minn. 

Johnson, James, was born in Norwich, Conn., August 21, 1761, and married for his 
first wife, March 3, 1782, Olive Armstrong. She was born October IB, 1703, and died 
June 26, 1803. The children of this marriage were John W., who died young; Olive 
(deceased), married Neil Sawyer; and John W. James married for his second wife, 
September 15, 1803, Rhody Ranstead. She was born April G, 1774. They had six chil- 
dren: James, was in the United States regular army, and died during the Seminole 
War; Wayne; Eanste.ad, a seafaring man, died at New Bedford, Mass.; Roslinda(de- 
ceaseil), married Cyrus Trussell ; Hannah, died at twenty years of age ; Julia (decea.sed), 
married Robert Floyd. James died January 3, 1835. 

Johnson, Wayne, son of James, was born in Norwich, May 25, 180G, and marrieil Sep- 
tember 28, 1827, Olive Armstrong. She was born in Norwich, September 28, 1804. 
They ha<l seven children : Fanny, died young ; Jason 0.; Thaddeus, died young; Rlioda 
Ann, wife of Dexter Hawkins, of WoodsviUe, Vt.; Albina (<leceased), married, first, 
Marshall Little, anil «econd, Mansel Brown ; Anthony Wayne ; Clymena, wife of Ira 
Arlen, at Hudson, N. H. Wayne died July 29, 1855. 

Johnson, Jason 0., son of Wayne, was born in Norwich, August 1, 1829, and married 
March I, 1849, Ruth Tilden. They had four children : Jason Franklin, born June 20, 
l.'^50, marrieil Effia Howard, and has four children: Francis, Atta F., Eliza, ami Jason 
Howard, resides at Norwich ; Milliard Wayne, born June 4, 1852, married Sarah Bick- 
nell, and has four children : Ole Maude, Alice, Nellie, and Ruth, resides at Hanover, 
N. H.; Marcus De Lafa, born December 12, 1854, married Maggie White, and has one 
child, Nina, resides at Lebanon, N. H.; Ruth L., lives at home. 

Johnson, Anthony Wayne, son of Wayne, was born in Norwich, January 18, 1837, 
and married June 3, 1856, Jane L. Tilden. They had four children: Clymena J., wife 
of Clarence A. Root, of Thetford, Vt., born September 23, 1858 ; Hatie E. and Hattie E., 
were bora July 10, 1862: Hattie E. died March 20, 1863, and Hatie B. died June 21, 
1863; Lucian Wayne, born November 15, 1866, married Addie Waterman, Septem- 
ber 24, 1890. 

Lewis, William, the progenitor of the Lewis family in Norwich, came from Windsor, 
Conn., and located in the town in 1731 or 1732. His family consisted of his wife, 
Naorai, five sons and three daughters. Mr. Lewis was a blacksmith, and carried on the 
business for a number of years. He was actively engaged in the management of town 
aftairs; was chosen moderator and selectman ten years, between 1784 and 1796. He 
died December 15, 1800 ; his wife, April 28, 1803. 

Lewis, Dr. Joseph, eldest son of William, was born in old Lyme, Conn., in November. 
1740, and became a resident of Norwich in 17r)7. In early life he showed a fondness 
for medical study, and during the first years of his residence in Norwich maile himself 
proficient in that science. For fifty-five years he was the leading physician in Norwich, 
During the Revolutionary War Dr. Lewis was appointed surgeon's mate, and was 
attached to the expedition against Quebec. During the winter of 1775-76 he was 
engaged in hospital practice with the army in Canada. He subsequently resigned and 
resumed his practice in Norwicli. He was married in 1771 to Experienca Burr, a lady 



496 History of Windsor County. 

eminently ([uaiificil to be a helpmate to a physician. They had eight children : Lyman 
and Enos, who became physicians in Norwich; Joseph also practiced medicine at Wa- 
terbury, Vt.; they were all graduates of Dartmouth College ; Joel, an invalid from child- 
hood ; Naomi, died in infancy ; Lucy, died at four years of age ; Naomi, married Dr. 
David Fiske; Alpa. married Abel Partridge. Dr. Lewis died June IS. IS33; his wife 
died January IS, 1819. 

Lewis, Dr. Enos, the youngest son of Dr. Joseph, was born in Norwich, January 19, 
17S4. He fitted tor college at Moore's Charity School and at sixteen entered Dart- 
mouth College, graduating in l>i04. He studied medicine with his father and Dr. Na- 
than Smith, professor in Dartmouth Medical College, and in 1S08 received his diploma. 
In December, ISOS, he was appointed surgeon's mate in a United States regiment of 
riflemen, stationed at Newport, R. L In September of the next year he was obliged 
to resign on account of ill-health. In I.SIO he formed a copartnership with his father, 
which continued seven years. From that time until his death, September 14. 1S23. ow- 
ing to ill-health, he was not engaged in active practice. Dr. Lewis married June 28, 
1812, Keturah Dennison, of Stonington, Conn. Owing to the early death of her hus- 
band, the education and support of her four children became her life-work. This duty 
she fulfilled, and when her mission was performed she returned to her native town, 
where she died August G. 1855. The four chililren mentioned were William Enos; 
Charles Dennison. born June G, 1817, a physician of Grant county, Ky.; Ann Emerson, 
a resident of Connecticut; Lucy Mary (deceased), married 13. I*'. Holmes. 

Lewis, William Enos, eldest son of Dr. Enos. was born in Norwich. May 25, 1815- 
He was educated at Partridge's Literary, Scientific and Militaiy .\cademy of Noiwich. 
He has. in a general way, engaged in farming during most of his active life, but has 
filled many positions of political trust. He was deputy sheriff and constable for over 
twenty years, and at the annual town meeting, March, 1843, was elected town clerk, 
which ollice he has held ever since. He was a member of the Legislature for 185()-57, 
18G3, 1872, and l.'>78; assistant assessor of internal revenue for Third District of Ver- 
mont from 18(13 to l.'^71. He has been actively engaged in military idVairs; was made 
major of the Twenty-third Regiment of Vermont militia, and was afterwards promoted 
to lieutenant-colonel, and later to colonel. On October 30, 1874, having been elected by 
Legislature, he was conimissioneil by Governor Carlos Coolidge as brigadier-general of 
the Eighth Brigade. Second Division of the State militia. He married Ruby W., (Laugh- 
ter of Hezekiah Hazen, and their chdilren were as follows: Lucy Ann, born February 19. 
1847, wife of Joseph F. Foote, of Norwich, Conn., have one sou, William Lewis Foote ; 
William Hazen, born January 25, IS4y, married Stella L. Hubbard, has one chiM. Mabel 
Hazen, and is a resilient of A.scutneyville, Vt.; Marie Louise, born September 15, 1.S51, 
wife of William W. Morrill, of Troy, N. Y.; Katie Denison, dieil when about one year 
old; Charles Franklin, born ,\ugust 2G, 1S59, marrieil Phebe E. Cook, has one child, 
Marion B.. and resiiles in Norwich. Vt.; Mary Denison, died at three years of age. 

Loveland, Hon. Aaron, was born in Norwich, Vt., August 10, 1780. He was educated 
at Dartmouth College, graduating in 1801. and during a part of his college course was a 
room-male of Daniel Webster. He was acknowledged the best Greek scholar of his 
class, and after leaving college became proficient in the French, Spanish, ami It.dian 
languages. He was maile Professor of Languages at Norwich University, which posi- 
tion he held a number of years. He first opened a law office at Strafford, Vt.. where 
he remained only a, short time, when he removed to Norwich, where he practiceil his pro- 
fession until his death, January 3, 1870. In politics Juilge Loveland w.as a Whig and 
later ;i Republican, ancl was honored with many positions of responsibility. He was As- 
sistant Juilge of the County Court in 1823, and Chief Judge in the following year ; mem- 
ber of the Legislature from 1820 to 1824, and again in 1S40. The Judge was never married. 

Loveland, Joseph, was born in Weathersfield, Conn., April 14, 1747, and married 
Mercy Bigelow, November 12, 1772. She was born November 22, 1753. Joseph be- 
came a resident of Hanover, N. II., March 13, 177G, and removed to Norwich, Novein- 



Old Families. 497 



ber lii,177y, soUling on the farm now owned liy his grandson, Aaron, which has ever 
since been in possession of his descendants, lie liad thirteen children: Jo.seph, ilied 
young; Joseph, born July IS, 1773, emigrated to Ohio, where he died; Prudence (de- 
ceased), married Eljenezer Percival ; Aaron, died young; Aaron, died unmarried; 
David; William; Mary {<leceased), married Cyrus Partriilge; Elijah, born Februarys, 
178S, died in Pennsylvania; Lydia (deceased), married Nathaniel Wheatley ; Susan (ile- 
ceased), married John B. C. Burton; Lucy (deceased), married Waterman Ensworth ; 
John and George, twins, born July 2'J, 179S, the former died in Ohio, ni March, 1890, 
almost ninety-two years of age, and the latter died at nine years of age. Joseph <lied 
September 8, 1813; his wife August 3, 1833. 

Loveland. David, son of Joseph, was born in Norwich, July (5, 1782, and married Eu- 
nice Wheatley, October <i, 1813. She was born in June 2, 1790. Their children were 
George (deceasr-<l) ; Albert, died aged one year; Caroline F. (deceased), married Henry 
Hutchinson; and John Wheatley. David died March 28, 1828; his wife July 10, 18G1. 

Loveland. William, son of Joseph, was born in Norwich, Aprd 28, 1784, and married 
Sally Hutchinson ; she was born in Brookfield, Vt., April 25, 1793. Their children were 
Mercy Bigelow (ileceased), married E. B. Brown; Joseph Talcott, born April 5, 1818 
died unmarried in Norwich; Reuben S., born Octolier 30, 1820, married Maria Hutch- 
inson, resides in Hartford, Vt.; William Jerome, born November 11, 1823, married Susan 
Briggs, has no children, and is a lawyer of Saginaw, Mich.; Aaron ; Charles, born No- 
vember 1, 1828, resides in Norwich; Mary Content (deceased), married Charles L. 
Badger, of Quincy, Mass.; Sarah E., wife of William H. Hutchinson, of Norwich. Will- 
iam died October 8, 18()2, his wife January 17, 1877. 

Loveland, Aaron, son of William, was born in Norwich, April 10, 1820, and married 
March 2, 1854, Laura »S. Goodell, who was born in Westminster, Vt., January 23, 1830. 
Aaron removed to Wisconsin, in 1848, where he was engaged in the nursery business. 
He was a resident of that State until 18()(i, when he returned to Norwich, ami resides 
on the old Loveland homestead. His children are Frank E., born at Wauwatosa, Wis., 
March 13, 1855, married Fanny Strong, and has three children, Laura Abby, Grace 
Ellen, and Lena Clara; resides in his native town; Laura Ellen, resides in Norwich; 
Joseph Henry, born at Wauwatosa, Wis., March 10, 1859, married Emma Healy, is a 
resident of Norwich ; and Fanny Hutchinson. Mr. Loveland was a member of the Leg- 
islature of 1888. 

Lyman, Harry, son of David, was born in Norwich, April 4, 1797, and married April, 
1821, Nancy Wheeler, who died in the 'following September. His second wife was 
Betsey King, and they were married April 29, 1822. They had six children, viz.: 
George H., <hed at Chelsea, Vt.; Orril K., wife of George Willis, of Rutland, Vt.; Eliza A. 
(deceased), married Alonzo Burton ; Augustus C; Emiraett, wife of Joseph B. Cloud, 
of Norwich ; Elizabeth Sophia (deceased), married J. N. Howard, of Rutland, Vt. 
Harry died June 15, 1882. 

Lyman, Augustus C, son of Harry, was born in Washington, Vt., July 22, 1828, and 
married March 11, 1852, Roxanna Gove. Of their five children, one died in infancy. 
The others are Ella F., born May 25, 1820, wife of Charles S. Dutton, of Norwich; 
John C, Ijorn December 7, 1803, resides in Norwich; Harry A., Iwrn August 12, 1800, 
married Mabel Johnson, and has one child, Bessie Mabel, lives in Norwich; and Mary R., 
born November 21, 1809. 

Martin, Homer M., eldest son of Marshall and Abigail (Baton) Martin, was born in 
Rochester, Vt, October 14, 1833. He resided in his native town and Granville until 
1854, anil since that time has lived in Thetford an<l Norwich. He lost his left hand 
in a threshing-machine September 10, 1873. He married, first, Lucia Wilmot, by whom 
he had two children : J. Dell, born August 4, 1801, a teacher in the public schools of 
Chicago, 111.; and Lucia M., born July 18, 1805, wife of Will Ladd, of Strafford, Vt, who 
have tv(ro children, Ruth F. and Helen M. He married, second, Sylenda J, Seaver, and 

G3 



498 History of Windsor County. 

they have three chilih-en : Homer Bey, born in Norwich, January 30, 18(i7, resioes at 
Duluth, Minn.; Linn Seaver, born in Thetford, May 11, 1870, attends school at Lyndon 
Institute, Vt.; and David Lee, born in Norwich, October 26, 1S7(). 

Newton, Baxter B., was born in Norwich, Vt., September 4, 1799, and was the son 
of Baxter and Phebe (Howard) Newton. His father came from Paxton, Mass., to Nor- 
wich. Baxter B. married for his first wife Flor.-i Newton, of Hartford, Vt., and of 
their family three are now living: George B., a resilient at Tarrytown, N. Y.; Lizzie, 
widow of William Reed, resides at Tarrytown ; and Ellen F., wife of .fames C. Hayden. 
of Janesville, Pa. His second wife was Elizabeth Partridge. Their three children all 
died young. His third wife was Olive P. Wright, who still survives him. Mr. Newlon 
was engaged in mercantile business at West Hartford, Vt., and came to Norwich in 
1836, and continued in trade till 1854. when he retired from active businesss. He died 
March 11, 1881. 

(Nichols, Timothy, a descendant of Richard Nichols, of Ipswich, Mass., immigrant an- 
cestor, was born in Reading, Mass., February 16, ]7r)6. His father. Timothy, died at 
the siege of Quebec, in 1759. He removed to Amherst, N. IL. in 1772, and was mar- 
ried October 21, 1779. to Susannah Towne; she was born December 29. 1762. He 
was a soldier in the Revolution, and became a resident of Norwich, Vt., in 1838, and 
hmself and wife passed their last days with their sons Latin Morris and Robert. His 
wife died December 2, 1840; tlie death of Tunothy occurred August 22. 1S46. Their 
children were Susanna (deceased), married .Tohn Smith ; (Jr.ace Gardner (dei'e,a.sed), mar- 
ried William Low ; Sophia (deceased). married Benjamin Damon ; Luther Weston, died 
at Amherst, N. H.; Leonard Towne. died at Amherst. X. H.; Latin Morris, resided and 
died in Norwich. March 17, 1870; John Perkins, resides at Boston, Mass.; Robert, died 
in Norwich ; and Charles, ched at Boston. 

Nichols, Latin Morris, son of Timothy, was born at Merrimack, N. II., October 31, 
1794. He served his apprenticeship as chairmaker at Concord, N II ., with his brother- 
in-law, Bonjamin Damon, and William Low. While thus engaged he accepted an offer 
to go to Montpelier, Vt., but subsequently removed to Norwich. He married .lune 19. 
1824, Clarrissa Safford. Her father. Johnson SalVonl. was born in Preston. Conn., and 
became a resident of Norwich in 1790. He married June 16, 1 785, ClarLssa Ensworth, 
of Canterbury, Conn. Their family were Betsey, who married Jacob Burton ; Ilenr}', 
died young ; Polly, died single ; and Clarrissa, who married Latin Morris Nichols, June 24. 
1824. Johnson Safford was a clothier b}' tra<le, and did a thriving business; he vv.-is a 
man of -sterling integrity and a member of the Congregational Churcliat Norwich Plains. 
Latin Morris vi'as a rugged, thick-set man. below medium height, of benevolent, self- 
sacrilicing character, and courteous manners. He died March 17, 1870; his wife dieil 
January 6, 18()3. Their children were Edvvanl, born April 7, 1825, died September 21, 
1826; Susan Eliza, born March 18, 1827, died July 5. 1832 ; Grace Gardner, born July 3. 
1829, died June 10, 1830 ; Mary Safford, born May 27, 1831. died .\pril 23. 1866 ; Lucy 
Bailey, born January 3, 1833, resides in Norwich; Timothy Morris, born January 8, 
1835, lives in Taunton, Mass.; an infant son died February 8, 1837 ; Charles Low, born 
April 19. 1838, died August 5, 1840; and Henry Burton, born -Vpril 12, 1840, resides at 
Norwich, Vt. 

Nichols, Robert, son of Timothy, was born at Amherst, N. H., December 13, 1802. 
While a lad he went to Boston and learned the caljinet-maker's trade. He settled in 
Norwich and built i brick cottage previous to his marriage, which occurred December 7, 
1826, to Betsey, daughter of Hezekiah and Erepla (Pike) Ensworth. He died Novem- 
ber 11, 1845; his wife in Boston, February 16, 1884, They had seven children: William 
Low, born December 7, 1827, died June 25, 1832; Francis Hezekiah, born December 2, 
1829; Herbert Allen, born December 14, 1831, died July 17, 1851; .Vmos Ensworth, 
born October 9. 1833, died February 13, 1834; Susan Ann, born March 19, 1S37, died 
December 2, 1841; Annette Eliza, born February 16. 1840, died December 12, 1841; 
Horace Hatch, born January 29, 1842. 



Old Families. 499 



Seaver. — This family was the first previous to 1790 that settled in Norwich from any 
other State than Connectiout. Captain Nathaniel Seaver came from Petersham, Mass., 
and his name appears in the town records as holding office as early as 1779. Half 
brothers of Nathaniel also settled in the town, viz.: Luther, Calvin, and Dr. Richard 
Crafts Seaver. The latter practiced medicine a short time in Norwich and Thetford, 
then removed to Chelsea, Vt., and finally to Wayne, Me. 

Seaver, Calvin, mentioned above, married Mary Hovey, and had the following family : 
Calvin ; Luther, a captam on the Mississippi River, died of yellow fever at New Orleans, 
La.; Aaron, died in Michigan; Ot>s, died in Norwich; Olive (deceased), married Lyman 
Baldwin ; Eliza (deceased), married Daniel Yarrington ; and Mary (deceased), married 
Dyer Waterman. 

Seaver, Calvin, son of Calvin, born in Norwich, January G, 1787, married, first, Sylenda 
Waterman, second, Sophia Eastman. Children by second wife, viz.: Livia A., wife of 
Mills A. Lord, of Norwich; Calvin F., lives in Thetforl, Vt.; Luther P., died at two 
and one-half years; Mary S., died at seventeen months; A. Jeanette, died at tlu-ee and 
one-half years; Sylenda J., wife of Homer M. Martin, of Norwich; and C. Tread well, 
died at St. Paul, Mum., April 2, 1889, was a machinist, and injured in a railway acci- 
dent. Calvin died April 10, 1853. 

Stimson, Joel, was born August 10, 1751. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and a 
fiterin Captain Solomon Hill's company. He married at Tolland, Conn., April 15, 1779, 
Susanna Growe. His wife was born June 16, 17G0. Soon after his marriage Joel set- 
tled in Norwich. He had a family of thirteen children, four of whom died in infancy. 
The others were Seba ; Alba, born May 10, 1783, died in Thetford, Vt., and left no 
issue ; Sarepta, married Augustus Hay ward ; Anna, married, first. Pierce Burton, jr., 
and second. Alpha Warren; Clarissa, died single ; Joel, died in the West; Enos, died 
at Montpelier, Vt.; Horace, died in Michigan; Jason, died in Ohio. Joel died April 15, 
1813, in Norwich. 

Stimson, Seba. of the above family, was born in Tolland, Conn., August 8, 1781, and 
married January 3, 1805, Phylabe Allen, a native of Craftsbury, Vt. He removed to 
Greensboro, Vt., in 1802, where his children were born, but he died in Waterbury, Vt., 
Feb-uary 23, 1862. His children were William A., died at Lowell, Ma.'is.; Hamilton, 
died at Greensboro, Vt.; Joel Growe ; Samuel Payson, died at Barton, Vt.; Susan, wife 
of H. Conant, of Oxford, N. H.; Phylabe (deceased), married Arthur Marston ; Emily 
(deceased), married Mr. Emerson, of Reading, Mass. 

Stimson, Joel Growe, son of Seba, was born in Greensboro, Vt, July 23, 1812, and 
married, first, Juliet Walker. Their children were William H., engaged in the dry goods 
business in New York city. His second wife was Cynthia R. Stone, of Cabot, Vt. Their 
children are Edward Payson, a practicing physician at West Randolph, Vt.; Charles W., 
a farmer living in Norwich ; Martin Luther, a Congregational minister, was for eight 
years missionary to China, but owing to ill-health was obliged to return to this country 
in 1889, and now resides in Brooklyn ; Juliet W., a graduate of Holyoke Ladies' Semi- 
nary, resides at home. Joel G., at the age of nineteen, engaged in mercantile business, 
and in 1838 opened a store at Strafford, Vt., where he remained until 1844, when he 
removed to Waterbury, Vt. At the latter place he was in the wholesale and retail trade 
until 1S()8, when, owing to the early settlement made by his grandfather in Norwich, 
he became a resident of that town. While engaged in business in Waterbury he built 
two of the prominent business blocks in that village. During the time of his residence 
in Norwich he has been engaged in farming and carrying on wholesale business in flour 
dnd feed. 

Williston, Rev. David H., studied for the ministry at Dartmouth College, and gradu- 
ated in 1787 from Yale College. He received the degree of A. M. from Dartmoutli in 
1793. He settled in Tunbridge, Vt., June2G, 1793, where he died in 1845, at the age of 
seventy-seven. He married Susanne Bancroft, a cousin of the historian, George Ban- 



500 History of Windsor County. 



croft. Their youngest son. Professor Ebenezer Bancroft Williston, was born in Tun- 
bridge, Vt., in 1801. He was a student at Dartmouth, but graduated from the University 
of Vermont. From 1822 to 1S28 he was a member of the faculty of A. L., S. and M. 
Academ}', being professor of Greek Language and Rlietoric. He was the compiler of 
" Eloquence of the United States," in six volumes, and also edited a Tacitus. Owing to 
ill-health. Professor Williston w:is obliged to relinquish his duties, and he passed the last 
years of his life in the South. While there he was for a short time president of Jeffer- 
son College in Mississippi. He died at Norwich, December 27, 1837. He married Mrs. 
Alraira, widow of Major 0. B. Burton, nee Partridge, and had two children. Ellen Will- 
iston marrieil Rev. Henry Steele Chirke, late pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church 
of Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. Clarke has always resided in Norwich excepting the seven 
years of her married life. She is the authoress of "The Marble Preacher," "Their Chil- 
dren," '' At Bdgeware," etc. Edward Bancroft Williston, Prof. Williston's other chil<l, 
was born at Norwich, July 15, 1836, was agrailuate from Norwich University, and dur- 
ing the late war was captain in the Second U. S. A. Light Artillery, and is now major in 
the Third Light Artillery, U. S. A., and stationed at Fort Riley, Texas. 

Wright, John, youngest son of John and Olive (Partridge) Wright, was born in Nor- 
wich, Vt., June 8, 1792. He graduated from West Point, March 29, 1814, in a class of 
thirty, and on the following day was appointed second lieutenant of a corps of engineers, 
being the only one of his class assigned to that arm of the service. He was assistant 
professor of mathematics at West Point from April 1, 1814, to December 1, 1816, but 
resigned from the army July 23, 181.8. After his resignation Mr. Wright removed to 
Pennsylvania and .studied law with his brother, Ebenezer, and was examined for the bar 
by the late President Buchanan. He returned to his native town and practiced his pro- 
fession until his death September 10, 18(;0. Mr. Wright was a life-long Democrat, and 
though he was honored by his party associates with various nominations, owing to the 
minority of his party he was defeated. He was a member of the Constitutional Conven- 
tions of 1836, 1843 and 1857 ; was for many years president of the Windsor County Mut- 
ual Fire Insurance Company ; postmaster of Norwich from 1836 to 1839 and from 1853 
to 18.55. He married for his first wife Susan, daughter of Dr. Phineas Parkhurst, of 
Lebanon, N. H., by whom he had one child, Susan Ann, who married C. C, Benton, and 
died May 29, 1889. His second wife was Almira Kidder Greene, and of their five chil- 
dren, two died young. The others were Leonard Jarvi.s, who died at Newtown, Conn., 
March 20, 1889 ; Mary Jarvis, died single ; and Thomas Kidder Greene, born February 1, 
1838, and is a civil engineer residing in New York city. 

Wright, John, son of Aaron, was born in Hebron, Conn., in 1744. He was married 
September 27, 1768, to Olive Partridge, in which year he became a resident of Norwich. 
Of liis eleven children, three died in infancy. The others were Anna, married Don J. 
Brigham ; Ruliy, married Norman Cloud; Roswell ; Ebenezer, born January 23, 1783, 
was a student at Dartmouth College, became a distinguished lawyer, practiced his pro- 
fes.sion at Lebanon and Lancaster, Pa., and died at tlie latter place ; Mary, married Daniel 
Durkee, a lawyer, of York, Pa., who was also a judge in tlie courts of that State ; Olive, 
married John F. Hutchinson, who removed to the West ; John ; Betsey, married Elisha 
Hutchin.son. John, sr., was instantly killed in Norwich, September 9, 1799, by a log 
rolling over him. The place is marked by a monument erected by his son, John. 

Wright, Roswell, son of John, was born in Norwich, February 17, 1781, and married, 
February 20, 1803, Jemina C. Rose, of Lisbon, Conn. They had three children who ar- 
rived at maturity ; George, born October 22, 1803, graduated from West Point in 1822; 
was at the battle of Molino del Rey in the Mexican war; Major Wright then connected 
witli the Eighth United States Infantry, and commanded a storming p.arty of 500 
picked men. Tlie a.s.sault was successful, and pronounced by historians as tlie bloodiest 
engagement of the war. During the Mexcan campaign of 1847 General Wright was 
three times breveted for meritorious .services. He w;is a famous Indian fighter, and 
actively participated in the Black Hawk and Florida wars. He was promoted to briga- 



Town of Cavendish. 501 

dier general during the war of the RebeUiou and was in command of the Department of 
the Pacific. In company witli his wife he was drowned in the wreck of the steamer 
Ill-other Jonathan, July 30, 1865. He is buried at Sacramento, Cal. General Wright 
left three children : Thomas Foster, a colonel of the Fifth California Cavalry, and cap- 
fain in the regular army, was killed during the Modoc war, and is buried with his father ; 
John Montgomery, who was on General Buell's stall' during the war, a lawyer by pro- 
fession, and is at present United States Marshal of the Supreme Court, and located at 
Washington, D. C; and Eliza, widow of Captain Philip Owen, died in Norwich, Vt., 
August 19, 1890. Mercy R. resides in Norwich; and Olive P., widow of Baxter B. 
Newton, also resides in Norwich. Eoswell died October 9, 1866. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CAVENDISH. 

THIS town is located in the southern part of Windsor county, in lati- 
tude forty- three degrees, twenty- three minutes, and longitude four 
degrees, and twenty-five minutes. It is bounded on the north by Read- 
ing; east by Weathersfield ; soutlieast by the Hawks Mountains, which 
divide it from Baltimore ; south by Chester ; and west by Ludlow. Its 
original area was about seven miles square, but by the incorporation of 
the town of Baltimore about three thousand acres were taken from its 
territory. 

The surface of the town, while rather uneven, e.xcepting in certain 
localities, does not retard cultivation. Black River, wliich flows across 
the town from west to east, and Twenty-Mile stream, which flows in a 
southerly direction, and joins the Black River about a mile and a half 
north of Cavendish village, are the principal streams of the town, though 
they have many small tributaries. 

The Original Proprietors. — The worthy Benning Wentworth, esq., 
colonial governor of the province of New Hampshire, on behalf of his 
master, George III. of England, did on October 12, 1761, convey, grant 
and deed (subject to the usual restrictions) to Amos Kimball, and his 
associates, the original territory embraced in the town of Cavendish. 
The grant was to be divided into seventy-two shares, and a number of 
proprietors in 1762 visited the town, surveyed it, allotted the shares in 
severalty, and according to their own account " were in great forward- 



502 History of Windsor County. 

ness, when disputes arose," which caused them to abandon the under- 
taking. Another attempt was made in 1765, but it was four years after 
that before any actual settlement was made. Owing to the land diffi- 
culties a charter was obtained by the grantees of the New Hampshire 
charter, from the province of New York, June 16, 1772. Following are 
the names of the grantees : AmosKiniball, Benjamin VVhitcomb, Thomas 
Button, Phineas Steward, David Goodridg, Levi Stiles, Benjamin Stew- 
ard, Samuel Hunt, William Moffitt, William Henderson, John Demary, 
Peter Page, Ephraim Kimball, Josiali Bayley, Simon Butler, Edward 
Scott, Timothy Bancroft, Aaron Taylor, James Descomb, Nehemiah 
Fuller, Abijah Stearns, Nathaniel Hastings, Richard Taylor, Jonathan 
Wetherbee, Nathaniel Hovey, Jonathan Leavitt, Andrew Spear, John 
Jennison, David Stearns, Caleb Williard, James Hovey, John Leavitt, 
Andrew Gardner, John Webster, John Muzzy, Jonathan Williard, 
Ephraim Whitney, Stephen Boynton, Philip Goodridg, Jacob Gould, 
Samuel Reed, jr., Daniel Steward, Joseph Webster, Levi Webster, Me- 
siah Ware, John Perry, Josiah Webster, David Taylor, Caleb Howe, 
Oliver Williard, Theodore Atkinson, Joseph Newmarch, Henry Hilton, 
John Muzzy, jr., Thomas Muzzy, Daniel Fowle, Samuel Evans, John 
Fowie, Jacob Kent, John Noble, Samuel Plummer, Benjamin Heath, 
James Emerson, William Marshall, Moses Kimball, Jacob. Gould, jr. 

Till' First Settlers. — The first actual settlement in Cavendish was made 
in June, 1769, when Captain John Coffin located and built a dwelling in 
the northern part of the town. His hospitable residence during the Rev- 
olution afforded thousands of American soldiers shelter and refreshment 
wliile passing from Charlestown, N. H., to the military posts on Lake 
Champlain. In the northwestern part of the town was another stopping 
place, known as the Twenty-Mile Encampment. Captain Coffin gained 
his title during the Revolutionary war, being connected with the militia. 

The first settlers of Cavendish were mostly from Massachusetts, and in 
1771 Noadiah Russell and Thomas Gilbert joined Captain Coffin, sharing 
with him the hardships and privations attendant on frontier life. The 
grinding of a grist of corn involved a journey of sixty miles in those days. 

The first deed, recorded March 21, 17S1, was from Jesse Reed, of 
Lunenburgh, Mass., one of the original patentees, to John Coffin. 
Ebenezer and John Stone and John Russell settled in the town in 1781. 



Town of Cavendish. 50.3 

The following is a complete list of the freemen residing in the town Sep- 
tember 3, 1782: Captain John Coffin, John Russell, Lieutenant Abiel 
Preston, Ebenezer Hardy, Lieutenant Noadiah Russell, John Gilbert, 
Salmon Button, Lieutenant Reuben Gilbert, Thomas Baldwin, Enos 
Gilbert, Abner Gilbert, Ely Gilbert, Thomas Gilbert, Isaac Baldwin, Cap- 
tain Leonard Proctor, Abel Roby, Gideon Walker, Joseph Rice, Jonathan 
Atherton, David Wetherbee, Captain Joshua Parker, Shadrick Dodge, 
William Spaulding, John Stone, Ephraim Dutton, Jesse Spaulding, Will- 
iam Spaulding, jr., Josiah Fletcher, Samson Hardy, James Hall, Samuel 
Chamberlain, Andrew Archabald, Asa Wheeler, Samuel Wyman. 

Among those that came later and were prominently identified with 
town affau's were Isaac and Ebenezer Parker, Samuel White, who came 
from Massachusetts in 1785 ; Timotliy Fullam, John and David Peck, 
Samuel Adams, from Westford, Mass., in 1787; Timothy Proctor in 
1788; Dr. Asaph Fletcher, from Westford, Mass., in 1787; James Smith, 
from Peterboro, N. H., in 1790. 

As seen by the following the town in early years grew rapidly in pop- 
ulation, but has fallen off in this respect in later years: 1791, 491 ; 
1800,921; 1810,1,295; 1820,1,551; 1830,1,498; 1840,1,427; 1850. 
1,576; i860, 1,509; 1870, 1,823; 1880, 1,276. 

Organization of t lie Tozini. — It is not known when this town was or- 
ganized, as the first book of records, according to tradition, was lost. 
The first recorded warrant for a meeting of which we have any knowl- 
edge was issued February 28, 1782, signed by John Coffin, selectman. 
The book of land records contains also the name of John Russell, as 
town clerk, May 26, 1781. This is further confirmed by the fact that 
John Coffin represented the town in the Legislature in March, 1778. 
At a town meeting held at the house of Noadiah Russell, March 13, 
1782, Salmon Dutton was chosen moderator and the following were 
elected to fill the various offices : Josiah Fletcher, town clerk ; Salmon 
Dutton, Captain Ephraim Foster, Josiah Fletcher, selectmen ; Salmon 
Dutton, treasurer ; Thomas Baldwin, collector ; Noadiah Russell, con- 
stable ; Jesse Spaulding, David Wetherbee, Isaac Baldwin, listers ; Cap- 
tain Ephraim Foster, leather sealer ; Joseph Rice, grand juryman ; 
John Stone, Shadrick Dodge, tithingmen ; Ebenezer Hardy, John 
Stone and Isaac Baldwin, haywards ; James Hall, sealer of weights and 
measures; Reuben Gilbert, pound-keeper; Jesse Spaulding, Ebenezer 



504 History of Windsor Countv. 

Hardy, Captain John Coffin, highway surveyors ; John Stone, deer- 
keeper ; David Wetherbee, Thomas Baldwin, Jesse Spaulding, fence 
viewers. The following is a list of those that have filled the different 
town offices, with the years in which they were elected : 

Members of the Constitutional Convention. — .Asaph Fletcher, 1793 ; 
Uriel C. Hatch, 1814-22; Levi Jackman, 1828-36; Salmon F. Button, 
1843 ; John F. Deane, 1850. 

Senators. — Salmon F. Button, 1842-43; Calvin French, 1848-49; 
George F. Bavis, 1856-57; Clark H. Chapman, 1864-65; John F. 
Beane, 1878; Henry A. Fletcher, 18S6. 

Representatives. — John Coffin, March 12, 1778, 1781, 1785-86; John 
Rus.sell, 1779; Jonathan Atherton, 1784; A.saph Fletcher, 1789-92 
and 1820; James Smith, 1793-94, 1797-1805, and 1808; Leonard 
Proctor, 1795-96; John G^ \yheelock, 1806; Randall Lovell, 1807; 
Uriel C. Hatch, 1809-17, 1819, 1821 ; Sahnon Button, jr., 1818; Jesse 
Adams, 1822-23; Levi Jackman, 1824-25, 1830-32 and 1837; Ed- 
mund Ingals, 1826-27; James Smith, jr., 1828-29; Josiah Gibson, 
1833-34; Samuel Adams, 1835, 1839-40; William Smith, 1836, 1843, 
1850-51 ; Joseph White, 1838 ; Zenas F. Hyde, 1841-42 ; Christopher 
Webber, 1844; Joseph Adams, 1855-46; John F. Deane, 1847-49, 
1852-54, 1857-58, 1863-64; George L. Balcom, 1855-56 ; G. F. Bavid, 
1859-60; Ryland Fletcher, 1861-62; Josiah Gilson, 1865-66; Henry 
A. Fletcher, 1867-68, 1878, 1880-82; Horatio S. Pierce, 1869-70; 
Charles F. Barrett, 1872 ; A. S. Burbank, 1874 ; B. W. Hazelton, 1876 ; 
Nelson G. Piper, 1884-86; William J. Sperry, 1888. 

Selectmen from 1783 to 1889. — Salmon Button, 1783-85; Josiah 
Fletcher, 1783; John Russell, 1783-89; Jesse Spaulding, 1784-85; 
Captain Leonard Proctor, 1784-88; Abel Roby, 1784; Benjamin 
Lynde, 1786; Isaac Baldwin, 1786; Lieutenant Samuel White, 1787, 
1792-95, 1798-1803, and 1805-06; Asa Wheeler, 1787, 1791-93, 
1799, 1800, 1803 ; Abner Jackman, 1788-91 ; Captain John Coffin, 
1788 ; Noadiah Russell, 1789 ; Jeremiah Hildreth, 1790 ; Captain Aaron 
Parker, 1790-91 ; Randall Lovell, 1792-97, 1804; James Smith, 1794- 
1804; Bavid Searles, 1796, 1807; Leonard Proctor, jr., 1797-98; 
William Spaulding, 1801-03 ; Thaddeus Smith, ^1803 ; Salmon But- 
ton, jr., 1804-05; Abel Baldwin, 1805-06; Edmund Ingals, 1806-07, 

' In 1803 there were five selectmen elected. 



Town of Cavendish. 505 



1817; Jesse Adams, 1807-10; Jabez Proctor, 180S-12 ; John Parker, 
1808-09; Uriel C. Hatch, 1810-16; Levi Jackman, i8ii-i2, 1830-35, 
1838-40; Jonathan Atherton, 1813-15; Amos Wheeler, 1813-14; 
James Bates, 18 1 5-16 ; Randall LovelP, 181 5 ; Junia Parker, 1816-22; 
Bliss Russell. 1817-27; Joseph White, 1818-27; Ezra Putnam, 1823- 
27; Samuel Adams, 1828-35, 1838-40; Josiah Gilson, 1828-31, 
1845-52; Dan Grout, 1828-29; Daniel Wheeler, 1832-35, 1838-40; 
John Stearns, 1836-37; William Smith, 1836-37, 1841 ; Abel Burbank, 
1836-37; Zenas F. Hyde, 1841-42; Amasa Proctor, 1841 ; Benjamin 
W. Wheeden, 1842; William Spaulding, 1842-52; Otis Robbins, 1843- 
56; Isaac Heald, 1843-44; Charles F. Barrett, 1853-60, 1870-71 ; 
Salathiel Adams, jr., 1853-55, 1857-58, 1862; L. W. Adams, 1856; 
G. F. Davis, 1857-61, 1865-67 ; W. L. Morrison, 1859, 1860-61, 1875- 
76; A. W. Richardson, 1861-62, 1867-68 ; J. F. Deane, 1862-64; Cal- 
vin French, 1863-64; Joshua Parker, 1863-66; Samuel L. Thompson, 
1865; Ephraim A. Stevens'-, 1866; Norman C. Bigelow, 1867-68; 
Thomas O. Seaver, 1868-69; Asahel Ross, 1869-70; John H. Stearns, 
1869-70, 1881-82; Urial Russell, 1871-74, 1877-80, 1888-89; Abra- 
ham Densmore, 1871-74; Don C. Pollard, 1872-75, 1877-80, 1886- 
89; H. S. Pierce, 1875, 1877-80; C. D. Parker, 1876, 1881-85; Pres- 
cott Adams, 1876, 1885; Albin S. Burbank, 1881-84; William Ken- 
dall, 1883-85; George C. Shedd. 1886-87; E. G. White, 18S6-88; 
B. W. Mansfield, 1887; H. S. Kingsbury, 1889. 

Town clerks from i783toi889. — Josiah Fletcher, 1783 ; Asa Wheeler, 
1784-85; Jabez Upham, 1786; Abner Jackman, 1787-91; Samuel 
White, 1792-95, 1798-1803, 1805-06; James Smith, 1796; Randall 
Lovell, 1797, 1804; Edmund Ingals, 1807, 1817; Jabez Proctor, 1808- 
12; Uriel C. Hatch, 1813-16; Joseph White, 1818-27; Samuel 
Adams, 1828-35; Jefferson Wright, 1838-40; Otis Robbins, 1841-56; 
Gilman Gary, 1857-59; Luke Parkhurst^, 1860-72; Richard H. Dut- 
ton, 1873-80; Elliott G. White, 1881-89. 

Town treasurers from 1783 to 1889 — Salmon Dutton, .1783-93, 
1795-96,1800-01; Asa Wheeler, 1797-99; Junia Parker, 1802-08; 

' Resigned, and Jonathan Atherton elected to fill vacancy in 181 5. 
' Removed from town and Joseph A. White elected in his place. 
' Died in office May, 1872, and Horace Thompson chosen for remainder of the year. 
fi4 



So6 History of Windsor County. 

John Proctor, 1809-18; Daniel Mason, 1819-21 ; John Grannis, 1822; 
Levi Jackman, 1823-29; Silas Putnam, 1830-31; Isaac Spauldin;^, 
1832-33; Luke Parkhurst, 1834-39; Otis Robbins, 1S40; Joseph A. 
White, 1841-52, 1855-71; George F. Davis, 1853-54; George S. Hill. 
1872-89. 

To the town of Cavendish, beyond a doubt, belongs the honor of be- 
ing the birthplace of the first white child born in Windsor county. The 
often-repeated tale of Captive Johnson reads h'ke a romance. The story 
of her birth is this : During the summer of 1754 the Indians made many 
attacks on the frontier settlers of New Hampshire. On the morning of 
August 30, 1754, a party of Indians appeared at No. 4 (now Charles- 
town, N. H.), and made captives of James Johnson, his wife and three 
children, and some other persons. Soon after dayliglit the Indians 
started with their captives for Canada, by way of Crown Point, and on 
the evening of the first day camped in the southwest corner of what is 
now the town of Reading. On the morning of August 3 1st Mrs. John- 
son, who had been carried half a mile from camp to a spot that was in 
the present Htiiits of Cavendish, gave birth to a daughter who, from the 
circumstances attendant on her birth, was named " Captive." The in- 
fant thus born afterwards became the wife of Colonel George Kimball, 
of Cavendish. Two stones mark the spot of the Indian encampment, 
bearing the following inscription : 

" This is near the spot that the Indians encamped the night after they 
took Mr. Johnson and family, Mr. Larabee and Farnsworth, August 30, 
1754, and Mrs. Johnson was delivered of her child half a mile up this 

brook. 

" When troubles near the Lord is kind, 
He hears the captive cry. 
He can subdue the .sjavage mind, 
And learn it sympathy. 

" On the 31st of August, 1754, Capt. James Johnson, had a daughter 
born on this spot of ground, being captivated with his whole family by 
the Indians." 

Important Events. — The first birth in the town, according to the rec- 
ords, was John, son of John and Sarah Gilbert, born July 9, 1781. 
The first death, John, son of John and Lucretia Russell, May 17, 1785. 
The first marriage, Michael Coffin to Sarah .April 14, 1778. 



Town of Cavendish. 507 



The second marriage, John Russell and Lucretia Preston, May lo, 1778, 
in the presence of Captain John Coffin and Thomas Baldwin. 

In 1824 there were in the town a meeting-house, an academy, eleven 
school districts, nine school-houses, eight saw-mills, three grist-mills, 
four fulling-mills, three carding machines, two woolen factories, one nail 
factory, three tanneries, two distilleries, one tinware and stove factory, 
one hat factory, three stores and three taverns. 

Early Religious Efforts. — Beginning as early as 1782 the usual dis- 
tracting efforts to fix the center of the town as a site for a church were 
made, which continued until 1 800-01. Numerous lots were offered, but 
no satisfactoiy committee could be secured, and finally in 1801 it was 
agreed that Jabez Sargeant, of Chester, Squire Stoughton, of Weathers- 
field, and Squire Bigelow, of Reading, should constitute a committee to 
locate the center of the town. This was accomplished October 20, 1801. 
In the latter part of 1792 the town hired Rev. Abel Wood to preach 
six months, he to recive twenty shillings a day. A general assessment 
was levied to pay the salary, and Isaac Parker was appointed collector. 
The following were exempted from the assessment, for the reason that 
they were not members of the religious sect to which Mr. Wood be- 
longed : Salmon Button, Thomas Baldwin, John Coffin, Isaac Baldwin, 
Jonathan Atherton, Eliphalet Kimball, Captain William Chaplin, Abner 
Preston, and Abel Baldwin. The momentous question of the church 
site having been settled, it was voted to build a house 45 x 55 feet and to 
complete it by June 20, 1802. The building committee were Abel Bald- 
win, Jonathan Atherton and Samuel White. 

It was voted to purchase the chosen site of Jedediah Tuttle, the price 
to be thirty dollars an acre. It was also voted that each person or de- 
nomination shall have a right to occupy the house for religious worship 
in proportion as they stand on each grand list. A tax of four cents on 
the dollar was voted to build the church. The following, who were of 
different sentiments from those who voted for the tax, are recorded as 
dissenting from the action of the town : Salmon Button, Amos Pierce, 
Israel Bwinnell, Salmon Button, jr., Clark Aldridge, Samuel Wyman, 
Joshua Tilden, Asaph Fletcher, jr., James Hall, John Swift, Joseph Page, 
and William Swift. 

A society of Congregationalists was organized in the town at an early 
day, and continued until about fifty years ago. 



5o8 History of Windsor County. 

The First Universalist Society of Cavendish. — Among the early set- 
tlers of Cavendish were a number of members of the Universalist cluirch. 
The first to preach this doctrine in the town were Michael, a son of 
Captain John Coffin, and William Farwcll. Salmon Button, Captain 
Leonard Proctor, and James Smith were of this faith. From 1803 to 
1809 Father Ballou, of Barnard, preached in the town. About this time 
a society was formed, and the General Conferences of 1812 and 1828 
met at Cavendish. The society included the towns of Cavendish, Plym- 
outh, Ludlow and Reading, and meetings were held once a month until 
1827. The Rev. William Skinner preached his first sermon in Caven- 
dish on Christmas Day, 1825. At this time he was a resident of Lang- 
don, N. H., but removed to Proctorsville in May, 1828. He resided at 
the latter place till his death, excepting the years 1834-35, when he was 
located at Bennington. The present society was organized March 11, 
1837, Samuel Adams being chosen moderator of the meeting, and 
Thomas Whitcomb, clerk and treasurer. The original members were 
William Spaulding, Samuel Adams, Asa Spaulding, 2d, Luke Parkhurst, 
William Smith, John Stearns, James Bryant, Asa Bond, Thaddeus Smith, 
Jonathan Chapman, Daniel Kendall, jr., Francis A. Foster, G. P. Spauld- 
ing, Abel Hill, and Thomas Proctor. The first minister was Rev. 
Warren Skinner, who continued to preach until March i, 1845, during 
which period he took sixty members into the church. For the next 
two years Rev. G. W. Bailey supplied the church, with William Living- 
stone and J. Hemphill. In 1844 the present stone chapel was erected. 
The Rev. W. L. Barber was settled P"ebruary 13, 1847, ^"'^ the follow- 
ing were his successors : Revs. H. H. Baker, 1852 to 1855 ; J. H. Willis, 
1856 to 1859; Harrison Closson, 1861 to 1866; Miss R. A. Damon, 
1868 to 1869; R. T. Sawyer, 1870 to 1872 ; John G. Gregory, 1872 to 
1874; J. T. Powers, 1874 to 1878; Herbert Whitney, 1878 to 1881 ; 
W. H. Pratt, 1881 to 1882; J. S. Geldhill, 1882 to 1884; A. A. Rice 
and John P. Eastman, 1884 to 1886. Since that date the society has 
been supplied by the resident ministers at Ludlow, services being held 
in the afternoons. 

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. — This church is located at Proc- 
torsville, and was organized in 1869 by Rev. Charles O'Reilly, with one 
hundred members. A church was built in tliat year at a cost of $2,000. 
The society is under the charge of the resident priest at Ludlow. 



Town of Cavendish. 509 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Cavendish. — A large number of 
the early settlers were Methodists, and meetings were held in the old 
church. As early as 1830 the school-house at Proctorsville was used, 
and in 1840 they built a church in that village. Their present church 
was built in 1882-S3, mainly through the perseverance of the pastor, Rev. 
A. B. Enright. The cost of the building was $4,300, for which liberal 
donations were made by Hon. Redfield Proctor, the Crescent IVIill Com- 
pany, and Hon. Ryland Fletcher and son. The following pastors have 
been in charge of the church since 1836: Revs. John Cummings, A. K. 

Howard, Caleb Fales, Perham, Elijah Robinson, C. W. Kellogg, 

Hubbard Eastman, E. A. Rice, Dewitt Clinton Huntingdon, Thomas 
Hardman, J. L. Smith, Alonzo Hitchcock, Kendall Hadley, Theophilus 
Drew, L. C. Dickinson, G. Johnson, R. W. Harlow, J. S. Little, F. T. 
Lovett, C. S. Buswell, C. F. Cushman, P. M. Frost, Leonard L. Beeman, 
Charles H. Kenney, C. H. Walter, jr., George H. Smith, A. B. Enright, 
John M. Pascoe, C. F. Partridge, H. F. Forrest, and W. H. Wight. 

The First Baptist Cliiirch. — The town records state that on December 
20, 1799, the Rev. Aaron Leland, of Chester, certified that the following 
persons were members of the Baptist church : Jesse Spaulding, Asaph 
Fletcher, Robert Davis, Garrabel Gerrald, Obadiah White, Samuel 
White, Noadiah Russell, Benjamin Lynde, John Russell, Eliphalet 
Chapman, Stephen Roberts, Frazier Eaton, Levi Manning, John Peck, 
Reuben Chapman, Perley Fassetts, Joseph Wilkins, Joseph Spaulding 
and John Spaulding. 

A society was organized by Rev. Aaron Leland, in 1803, with forty- 
six members, and they worshipped in the Union church located in the 
center of the town. It was not until 181 1 that there was a settled min- 
ister, the first being Rev. Jonathan Gowing, jr., who remained five years. 
He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Starkweather, and in 182 1 the Rev. 
Ruel Lathrop became the pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Ariel 
Kendrick. Down to this time the society embraced Ludlow and Caven- 
dish, but in 1825 it was divided. The first pastor of the Cavendish so- 
ciety was Rev. Joseph Freeman, who remained until 1837, excepting 
the years 1 831 and 1836, when the society was without a pastor. In 
1834 the society built a brick church where the town hall now stands. 
The following ministers have been over the society : Enoch T. Winter, 



Sio History of Windsor County. 

1837-38 ; Moses Field, 1839; "o pastor in 1840; Obed Sperry, 1841 ; 
Joseph Freeman, 1842; Daniel F. Richardson, 1843-44; Ariel Kend- 
rick, 1845-46; Aaron Angler, 1847-49 ; Joseph Freeman, 1850 ; R. M. 
Ely, 1852-55; no settled minister in 1S56-57; S. VV. Miles, 1858; no 
settled minister in 1859; Mylen Merriam, i860; Seni Pierce from 1861- 
62; S. F. Brown, from October, 1863, to November, 1875; "o settled 
minister in 1876; L. B. Hibbard, January, 1877, to January, 1880; 
Foster Henry, January, 1880, to January, 1885; S. F. Brown, January, 
1885, to June, 1886; George B. Wheeler, acting pastor since August 
I, 1888. 

The society was presented by Benjamin F. White, of Boston, in No- 
vember, 1850, with a church bell. 

The brick church was destroyed by fire in 1875 and in 1878 the pres- 
ent wood building was erected at a cost of $4,500, having a seating ca- 
pacity of 250. By the will of the Hon. Richard Fletcher, of Boston, the 
society in 1870 received a parsonage, a pastor's library of two hundred 
volumes and a fund of $4,000, the interest on $i,000 to be spent an- 
nually in increasing the library, and the interest on $3,000 to be spent 
annually cither in repairs upon the parsonage or for the support of 
preaching. The only conditions attached to these bequests are that the 
society is never to be without a settled minister for two consecutive 
years, if so the property is to revert back to the heirs of the donor. 

Town House. — The early town meetings between 1782 and 1802 were 
held at the dwelling houses of Noadiah Russell, William Spaulding, 
James Hall, Samuel Adams, Timothy Proctor and Samuel White. From 
1802 to 1804 the center school-house was used and in the latter year 
they began to hold meetings in the meeting-house which had been 
erected in the center of the town. Town meetings were held in the 
latter place until November 12, 1844, on which date a meeting was held 
in the basement of the Baptist church at Cavendish village. The old 
meeting-house in the center of the village was sold in 1847 fo'' eighty- 
one dollars to Abel Hill. Meetings were held in the basement of the 
Baptist church until it was burned in 1875, and the following year the 
lot was purchased of that society for five hundred dollars. In the same 
year James Fitton, Otis Robbins and Urial Russell were appointed a 
building committee, and the present town hall was erected. 



Town of Cavendish. 511 

Railroad. — The railroad enters this town from Chester through a 
valley, and takes a northerly course until it reaches the village of Cav- 
endish. From this point it goes directly west, following very nearly the 
course of Black River, until it reaches the Ludlow line. There are two 
railroad stations in the town. Cavendish and Proctorsville. 

Schools. — At a town meeting held in 1787 the sum of twelve pounds 
was appropriated for educational purposes. The following year the town 
was divided into three school districts and the trustees elected. Lieu- 
tenant Benjamin Lynde was chosen to have charge of the east district, 
Lieutenant Samuel White for Black River district, and Captain Aaron 
Parker for the north district. In 1793 a new district, known as the 
Twenty- Mile district, was created, and in the same year the Black River 
district was made into two districts. Asaph Fletcher, James Smith and 
John Wheelock were appointed to re-district the town in 1803. At that 
time six new districts were made. At present there are eleven districts, 
the number of pupils being in 1889 about 275. 

In the War of the Union. — The first action taken by the town in refer- 
ence to the late civil war was at a town meeting held April 30, 1861, 
Governor Ryland Fletcher presiding. It was then voted to raise $2,000 
to liquidate all obligations incurred by Captain Tuttle in raising the 
Cavendish Light Infantry, and to pay the board of the men and furnish 
support to their families. Another loan of $3,000 was authorized in 
August, 1862, to pay bounties for nine months' volunteers, and in No- 
vember of the following year a bounty of $200 was offered for volun- 
teers, which was subsequently increased to $300, and another loan of 
$4,000 negotiated. During the latter part of 1863 the bounty was in- 
creased to $500, to make it possible to fill the town quota, and the 
selectmen were authorized to raise $10,000 to pay the expense of future 
calls for volunteers. In January, 1865, another loan of $7,000 was 
made, and in 1867 $15,000 was borrowed to pay the balance of the war 
debt. From a compilation made by the Hon. Calvin French we give 
the following figures : Cavendish furnished to the armies of the Union 
twenty men in response to the first call for troops for three months' 
service. In the Second, Eleventh, Fourth, Seventh aud Fifth Vermont 
Regiments, forty-two men for three years' service. These volunteers 



5i2 History of Windsor County. 

received no bounties Forty-two men were furnished under the nine 
months call. I'or subsequent calls fifty-three men were furnished for 
three years, and thirty for one year, making a grand total of 187 volun- 
teers furnished by the town, whose terms of service would amount to 
352 J/^ years for one man. Of these 125 volunteers received bounties 
amounting to $43,550, the others being recruited before it was necessary 
to offer a bounty. As early as 1S67 a movement was inaugurated to 
erect a soldiers' monument in Cavendish, but it was not successful. In 
May, 1S83, the present secretary of war, Redficid Proctor, presented his 
native town with a fine white marble monument, suitably inscribed and 
surmounted with an eagle. The town at this time appropriated $1,000 
to grade the lot and pay the expense of the dedication of the monu- 
ment. 

Lawyers of Cavendish. — The first member of the legal profession who 
practiced in Cavendish, as far as we can learn, was Uriel C. Hatch. He 
must have located in the town as early as 1805. He was judge of probate 
of the Windsor district from 1816 to 1822 inclusive. Judge Reuben 
Washburn resided at Cavendish village from 1817 to 1825, when here- 
moved to Ludlow. Horace Fletcher was admitted to the bar in 1 821, 
and practiced his profession fifteen years in Cavendish. He then studied 
theology, and was ordained pastor of the Baptist church in Townshend, 
Vt , in 1844, and so continued until his death. During this period Asa 
Wheeler and Josiah Chandler were residents of the town, and engaged as 
late as 1836 in legal practice. Samuel F. Uutton was in practice from 
the time he was admitted to the bar until his death in 1857. He was 
register of probate for fourteen years, and judge of probate for the Wind- 
sor district from 1849 nntil his death. Calvin French and Luther Adams 
were admitted to the bar in 1837, ''■"^ became partners and opened a law 
office in Proctorsville. They dissolved in 1841, Mr. Adams going West, 
but he finally returned to North Chester, where he continued to practice 
until his death. Mr. French continued to practice at Proctorsville until 
1856, and subsequently was made associate judge. John F. Deane 
opened a law oflice in Cavendish village in 1842, and continued to prac- 
tice until his death. From 1866 to 1876 T. O. Seaver, now judge of 
probate of Hartford district, was associated with him as a partner. Ru- 



Township of Cavendish. 513 

fus S. Andrews, a lawyer of New York city, was engaged in business at 
Proctorsvilie from 1851 to 1853 Clark H. Chapman came from Ludlow 
to Proctorsvilie in 1856, and practiced law until his death in 1883. H. B. 
Atherton followed this profession at Cavendish village from i860 to 1862, 
and is now located at Nashua, N. H. The present lawyers of the town 
are Milo S. Buck, at Cavendish village, and S. E. Emery, at Proctorsvilie. 

For more extended notice of some of the members of the bar the reader 
is referred to the chapter on the Bench and Bar. 

Pliysiciaiis of Cavendish. — The first physician in Cavendish was Asaph 
Fletcher, who became a resident on May 17, 1787. He settled near what 
is now Proctorsvilie, and the house he first occupied is still standing on 
the farm now owned by his grandson, Henry A. Fletcher. The next 
persons to practice medicine in town were Elijah R. Witt and Isaiah 
Parker, the former continuing until 1831, and the latter as late as 1836. 
Alpheus Fletcher, son of Asaph, succeeded to his father's practice about 
1822, and continued till his death, in 1839. William May began prac- 
ticing medicine at Cavendish village about 1830, and was succeeded by 
John D. Brooks, who remained until 1841. The ne.xt physician here was 
Oliver Chamberlain, who built the house which has since been the resi- 
dence of the Cavendish physicians. He sold out to John M. Harlow in 
1846, who disposed of the property in 1857 'o Daniel W. Hazelton. The 
present proprietor, George Spafford, purchased the property of Dr. Ha- 
zelton in 1877. 

At Proctorsvilie, Alexander McEwen practiced as early as 1830, and 
George H. Ingalls began as early as 1838; the former discontinued prac- 
tice in 1840, and the latter about 1847. About this time Edward H. 
Williams opened an office in the village, remaining until 185 i, and was 
succeeded by H. H. Palmer, who removed to Ludlow in 1854. Since that 
time Darwin R. Story has been located at the village. 

Further notice of some of these physicians will be foimd in the chapter 
devoted to the medical fraternity. 

Proctorsvilie. — This is a post village and station on the Vermont Cen- 
tral Railroad, and on the Black River in the western part of the town. 
It was named after Captain Leonard Proctor, one of the early prominent 
inhabitants. It has two churches, two stores, a national bank, a hotel, a 
school building, a woolen mill, and about sixty dwellings. 

65 



514 History of Windsor County. 



The selectmen of Cavendish on April 9, 1883, were petitioned by 
George S. Hill, N. G. Piper, and twenty-six other residents of Proctors- 
ville, to establish boundaries for a fire district under the general laws of 
the State. The selectmen fixed these boundaries so as to include all of 
school district No. 2. The first meeting of the fire district was held May 
3, 1883, and ofiicers were elected. During the years 1883 and 1884 a 
hand engine was bought and an engine house bm'lt at an expense of 
$1,000, and a fire company of forty members called the Proctorsville 
Engine Company was formed. The town remitted the poll tax of the 
members of the fire company until 1887, when, on their refusal to con- 
tinue that arrangement, the company was disbanded. The organization 
of the fire district continues, and is fully equipped for duty. The officers 
are A. S. Burbank, chief engineer ; H. A. Fletcher, first assistant; R. H- 
Farr, second assistant. 

The first postmaster at Proctorsville was John Proctor, and the follow- 
ing have filled the office since 1830: R. F. Fletcher, Horace Fletcher, 
John Robinson, Elijah F. Parker, George S. Hill, Isaac A. Brown, Ken- 
dall Taylor and Miss Martha Taylor. 

The first store kept in the village was situated just below where the 
Methodist Church now stands, and was conducted by Jabez and John 
Proctor. The former sold out to his partner and kept a hotel for a num- 
ber of years. Among other early merchants were Abel Gilson, who built 
the present brick store. The firm in 1844 was Gilson, Smith & Co., and 
the following firms afterwards occupied this place of business: Smith & 
Hill, Keyes, Gary & Hill, Gary, Hill & Wheeler, and in 1854 John Dun- 
bar carried on the business. He sold to Pollard & Sherwin and in 1865 
the firm was D. C. Pollard & Co. In 1870 they sold to M. W. & H. E. 
Chandler, under the firm name of Chandler Bros. The last firm failed 
and were succeeded by H. C. Harris, who sold to H. L. Roberts. Mr. 
Roberts sold out to Frank C. Moore and Fred D. Pollard ; the latter 
afterwards bought his partner's interest. The present firm is Pollard 
Bros. (F. D. & P. H. Pollard.) Others who have been in business at this 
village are E. V. Parker, Churchill & Parker, Abel Burbank, Isaac A. 
Brown, B. Whelden, Rufus Young, Alvah Spafibrd, Joshua Tripp, C. D 
Parker, Kendall Taylor, and many others. The present merchants are 
Pollard Bros., and Moore & Holden, general stores ; fancy goods and 



Township of Cavendish. 515 

millinery, Miss K. J. West; groceries, W. H. Salisbury; meal, feed, flour, 
and produce, D. C. Pollard ; stoves and tin ware, Benjamin Shaw. 

Hayrvard, Taft & Co — On the site now occupied by this firm with a 
woolen mill, in Proctorsville, was in 1820 a saw and grist mill, built by 
Josiah French, jr., and Elisha Swift. In 1836, mainly through the efforts 
of Jabez Proctor, a stock company was formed called the Proctorsville 
Woolen Manufacturing Company. This company built on the site a 
brick mill 75 x 42 feet, and employed thirty-five hands, manufacturing 
about 135 yards of cassimeres daily. In 1842 the company became 
financially embarrassed and the property was sold to William Smith and 
Abel Gilson, who associated with themselves Addison Smith and Sar- 
dine Gilson. This firm at the same time carried on a general store in a 
brick building opposite the mill. In the early part of the year 1844 the 
mill was burned and immediately rebuilt. The firm of Gilson, Smith & 
Co. continued until 1848, when the senior member sold his interest to 
William Smith and Ammi Willard, who operated the mill about six 
months, when Mr. Smith became the sole proprietor. In 1850 George 
L. Balcom became associated with Mr. Smith and the firm became Smith 
& Balcom, and so continued until 1856, when Mr. Balcom purchased a 
mill in Claremont, N. H., and disposed of his interest in the Proctorsville 
mill to his partner. For the next three years the business was carried 
on by Mr. Smith, who then disposed of the property to Alanson Tucker 
& Co., of Boston, who leased it to George L. Balcom; he operated it until 
1864. In the latter year a stock company known as the Proctorsville 
Mills, purchased the plant and carried on business for about three years. 
The property was then again leased to Mr. Balcom, who continued in the 
business until 1876. The mill remained idle then for about a year and 
was purchased in 1877 by the present firm, which consisted then of W. E. 
Hayward and L. H. Taft, of Uxbridge, Mass., and A. S. Burbank, of 
Proctorsville. In 1887 H. T. Murdock obtained an interest in the firm. 

The mill is equipped with six sets of cards and thirty-five broad looms, 
and employment is given to 100 hands, the annual product being 250,- 
000 yards of cassimeres, flannels, and ladies' dress goods. 

This firm purchased a chair factory located about a mile west of Proc- 
torsville, and converted it into a shoddy and flock factory and a box shop. 
The- water privilege and site where the mill is situated were used by Al- 



5i6 History of Windsor County. 



bert Harrington as a saw-mill, and afterwards by H. H. Mason and C. H. 
Watkins, who manufactured chairs, mops, etc. This firm failed in 1867, 
but the business was carried on by Mr. Watkins till 1876. In that year 
the Proctorsville Co-operative Manufacturing Company was formed and 
they purchased the plant. They manufactured chairs and chair stock, 
and finally sold the property to Hayward, Taft & Co. 

The above is the principal manufacturing industry in Proctorsville. 
There have been some other manufacturing enterprises started in the 
village and operated for a few years, among which were the firm of A. B. 
Freeman & Co., who made scythe stones, soap-stone griddles and foot- 
warmers, and Kendall Taylor, who manufactured woisted scarfs and 
leggings. 

William Smith, who was prominent in the woolen mill and in town 
affairs, engaged at an early day in the manufacture of potato starch, and 
at one time had three mills in operation ; one in Cavendish, on the 
twenty-mile stream, one in Weston, and one in Mt. Holly. He made 
more than 300 tons of starch annually, which required 87,000 bushels of 
potatoes. His product was sold to the large cotton mills at Lowell, 
Mass. The introduction of the railroad made a better market for pota- 
toes, and rendered the business unprofitable. 

In 1839 a machine-shop was built adjoining the woolen-mill property, 
which was occupied by the National Hydraulic Company for building 
fire engines and rotary pumps. A few years later a portion of the works 
was burned and the industry abandoned. 

Bank of Black River. — This bank was organized under the State law 
November 26, 1845, with a capital of $50,000. Business was begun in the 
early part of 1846, and in the same year the stone building was erected. 
The first board of directors were Elijah F. Parker, Abram Adams, Asa 
B. Foster, Joseph Kidder, Abner F"ield, D. H. Hilton, and Bolivar Bai- 
ley. Elijah F. Parker was the first president, and held the office until 
his removal from the county. At the annual meeting of January, 1S49, 
Abner Field was elected successor and served until 1854, when Mr. 
Parker was re-elected. In 1857 he was succeeded by John F. Deane, who 
served until the institution was made a national bank in 1865. The first 
cashier was Daniel A. Heald, who was succeeded in 1855 by George F. 
Davis. One year later George S. Hill was given the office and held the 




^jL^rmjii 



Township of Cavendish. 517 

position till the organization of the national bank. A charter numbered 
1383 having been granted for the formation of a national bank at Proc- 
torsville, the Bank of Black River was changed on the i6th of May, 1865, 
to the National Bank of Black River, of Proctorsville, with the same cap- 
ital. The following were elected as a new board of directors : John F. 
Deane, H. H. Spafiford, Prosper Merrill, H. W. Albee, Clark H. Chapman, 
H. M. Dickerman, and George S. Hill. The directors elected Hiram W. 
Albee, president of the bank, and George S Hill, cashier. Mr. Albee 
continued in the office till his death February 25, 1878, and in July of that 
year the present president, George S. Hill, was elected. The latter re- 
signed the position of cashier, and on July 21, 1878, the present cashier, 
Charles W. Wliitcomb was elected. The bank was rechartered May 19, 
1885, and in addition to its capital stock, has a permanent surplus of $25,- 
000, besides undivided earnings of over $6,000 The present board of 
directors is George S. Hill, Martin H. Goddard, Don C. Pollard, Alvin 
S. Burbank, and Charles Amsden. 

About 1848 the Black River Savings Bank was chartered and began 
business in Proctorsville in that year. The bank continued in business 
until 1854, when it failed for $100,000, and seventy per cent, of its lia- 
bilities was paid. 

Tlic Proctorsville Library Association. — The foundation of this associa- 
tion was laid in the month of January, 1858, by several ladies and gentle- 
men, members of a dramatic club. The first funds were raised by an en- 
tertainment, to which a like amount in cash and books was added by ex- 
Governor Redfield Proctoi'. A preliminary meeting was held March 30, 
1858, at which a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and Redfield 
Proctor was elected librarian and clerk. The Hon. Richard Fletcher, of 
Boston, Mass., in 1859, niade a donation of books to the association. In 
that year George S. Hill was elected clerk and treasurer, and upon the 
resignation of the librarian was chosen to fill that position. His successor 
in 1870 was Kendall Taylor, who remained until his death in 1887. 
Since that time there has been no meeting of the stockholders, but the 
duties of the office are performed by Miss Martha S. Taylor. The origi- 
nal stockholders, who were sixty in number, bought one or more shares 
of stock, the value of which was one dollar a share, and paid a yearly 
assessment of fifty cents. A non-payment of this assessment forfeits the 



5iS History of Windsor County. 

stock, and the number of stockholders has been reduced to eighteen. 
Any person paying quarterly dues of twenty-five cents is entitled to take 
books from the library. This library and Fletcher Library are located 
in the same building. It has over 1,400 volumes. Both libraries have 
the same librarian. 

Mt. Sinai Lodge, No. 22, /. 0. O. F. — Was organized July 15, 1886, 
by Grand Master Nathan E. Bowman, with the following charter mem- 
bers: D. C. Sheldon, M. M. Tarbell, M. A. Cook, A. H. Henry. Hugh 
Henry, J. H. Hosmer, E. E. Barney, D. O. Ross, and A. S. Bixby. The 
first officers were D. C. Sheldon, N. G.; M. A. Cook, V. G.; Amasa S. 
Bi.xby, secretary, and Edward E. Barney, treasurer. At the time of the 
organization of the lodge it had jurisdiction over the towns of Chester 
and Ludlow. Since then lodges have been formed in each of these towns. 
Meetings are held every Thursday night at Proctorsville, and tiie mem- 
bership is thirty-two. The officers elected for 1890 are G. W. Rollins, 
N. G.; J. Y. Raistricks, V. G.; Robert P. Foster, secretary, and George S. 
Hill, treasurer. 

Cavendish is a post village and station on the Vermont Central Rail- 
road, and on the Black River, in the southern part of the town. Tt was 
formerly known as "Duttonville," having been named after Salmon 
Dutton, one of the early and most prominent citizens of the town. Cav- 
endish now has two churches, a school building, a town house, woolen 
factory, three stores, and about fifty dwellings. The growth and pros- 
perity of Cavendish have been greatly retarded by several destructive 
fires, among which was the burning of the stone factory in 1873 ; the 
Baptist Church, and Alonzo Haskell's mills on April 27, 1875, Robert 
Fitton's factory, September 6, 1875, and his storehouse February 28, 
1S77 ; his boarding house June 24, 1878 ; he also had five dwellings 
burned October 5, 1 881, and another on November 7, 1881. Carlton H. 
Gowran's tannery burned January 16, 1880, and Thomas Gordon's hotel, 
and Mrs. Caroline Chase's dwelling March 14, 1882. 

The stone factory above mentioned, was built in 1832 by a company 
under the firm name of the Black River Canal and Manufacturing Com- 
pany. The factory went into operation in 1835, and was loox 50 feet, 
five stories high, and employed 175 hands. A fine quality of broadcloth 
was manufactured under management of Henry N. F^ullerton. In time, 



Township of Cavendish. 519 

the property passed into the hands of Nathaniel Fullerton, of Chester, 
and early in the fifties the firm became Fullerton & Derby, and in 1854, 
Fullerton & Co. They manufactured cassimeres, and in 1863 added 
army cloth and continued business until 1869 In that year the property 
passed into the hands of J. L. and F. W. Whipple, of Providence, R. I., 
and was occupied by them at the time of the fire. 

In the eastern part of the village as early as 18 14, Asa Stratton built 
a tannery. It was afterwards purchased by Samuel Adams, and in 1844 
his son, S. L. Adams, who had succeeded him in business, removed it to 
the center of the village near the town hall. This business was purchased 
about 1859, by Alvin Taylor, who sold it in 1868 to Gowran & Field, 
which firm in 1877 became Carlton H. Gowran, who continued until the 
tannery was destroyed by fire in 1880 

About four miles from the village in the eastern part of the town, Has- 
kell & Blanchard as early as 1856, manufactured wooden ware. The 
freshet of 1869 destroyed their works and Alonzo Haskell, who had suc- 
ceeded to the business, removed to the village where he continued until 
1875. Mr. Haskell had a number of partners, among whom were Au- 
gustus Adams and Moses Chaplin. From 1861 to 1867, A. A. and A. J. 
Adams manufactured wooden ware at the village, and the last three years 
the latter carried on the business alone. W. H. Earl & Co. were engaged 
about this time in the manufacture of cane-seat chairs. 

About half a mile south of the village in 1867, James Fitton began the 
manufacture of fancy cassimeres. He was succeeded by Robert Fitton. 
The works were burned in 1875. 

At Whitesville, about a mile north of the village, Blanchard & Howard 
began the manufacture of rakes and other implements. The firm after- 
wards became Howard & Whitney, but the business was discontinued in 
1878. 

The only manufacture carried on at the present time in this village is 
by Gay Brothers. In 1886 a number of citizens of the town subscribed 
$2,500 and purchased the site and building standing on the old storie 
mill property. This was given to the above firm, the town also exempt- 
ing them for five years from taxation. Improvements were begun in the 
fall of 1886 on the property, and the following fall the mill was put in 
operation. It is a three-set mill, employment being given to thirty-five 
hands, and the weekly product is 7,200 yards of satinet. 



520 History ok Windsor County. 



The postmasters of Cavendish since 1830 have been as follows: Addi- 
son Fletcher, Otis Robbins, J. S. Warren, George F. Davis, A. G. Fletcher, 
N. B. Pierce, Horace Thomi)son, josiah G. Parkhurst, K. H. IJutton, and 
E. G. White. 

The first store in the village was the present brick store, which was 
built by Edmuni.1 Ingals and Addison Fletcher, who did business as early 
as 18 1 5 under the name of Ingals & Fletcher. The next occupants of 
this store were Otis Robbins and Joseph White, under the firm name of 
Robbins & White, which was dissolved by the death of Mr. White in 
1879. Mr. Robbins continued the business until 1883. The store was 
last occupied by Alvin T. Pierce, whose father, the late Horatio S. Pierce, 
was since 1868, connected with the mercantile business in the village. 

The stone store was built by George F. Davis, and in 1844 he had asso- 
ciated with himself Daniel H. Wheeler, the firm being Davis & Wheeler. 
Thev dissolved in 1848, and George F. Davis & Co. continued at tiie same 
stand till 1856, when they were succeeded by A. & C. S. Tuttle. Will- 
iam M. Bent has also occupied the store. The present occupant is 
Alonzo Ormsby. In 1857 Nathaniel B. Pierce started a grocery store 
in the dwelling now owned by Ryland Smith. D. M. White afterwards 
joined him, and in 1867 the firm became White, Pierce & Newhall, but 
was dissolved the following year. 

Elliott G. White began business in the village in 1883, and built his 
present store. P"or a short time C. D. White was associated with him. 
There is at present no hotel in the village, the last one having been 
burned in 1882. 

Fletcher Library. — The citizens of CavendLsh are indebted to one of 
her native sons whose prudence and forethought have given to his fellow 
townsmen one of the best libraries to be found in any tovvn of the size of 
Cavendish. At a special town meeting held October 18, 1869, the town 
accepted of the gift of Hon. Richard Fletcher, of Boston, Mass., of 2,6oo 
volumes and the interest accruing on $2,000, for the permanent estab- 
lishment of a library, which was named in honor of the generous donor. 
The question of the location of the library caused a great deal of jeal- 
ousy among the people of the villages of Cavendish and Proctorsville, 
the inhabitants of the latter desiring the establishment of a branch in that 
village, which was at first refused by a vote of 138 against, to 1 19 in favor 



Town of Cavendish. $it 



The library was first established at the house of Luke Parkhurst, then 
town clerk. A constitution and a code of laws were adopted, and Ry- 
land Fletcher, Joseph A. White, and William Smith were made the first 
trustees. By a vote of the town on November i6, 1 870, a branch was 
finally established at Proctorsville, giving thereto five-thirteenths of the 
books, and the same proportion of all additions, a suitable place for it, 
and charge of it free of cost. The expenses of the branch were guaran- 
teed by several citizens of Proctorsville. In 1875 the town assumed all 
expenses, releasing these persons ; this was afterwards rescinded and it 
was agreed that all moneys raised for the library fund should be divided 
into thirteenths, five of which were to go to the branch at Proctorsville, 
and the balance at Cavendish. The town has in nearly every year voted 
either fifty or sixty cents of each poll to the library fund. The libraries 
are open every week day from 8 A. M. to 8 P. M., and there are now 
4,615 volumes 

Hon. Richard P^letcher was born in Cavendish, Vt., January 8, 1788, 
and his boyhood was passed in his native town, toward which he always 
evinced great attachment, although he never resided there after entering 
Dartmouth College at the age of fourteen. He graduated with highest 
honors in i8o6. He then took charge of an academy at Salisbury, 
N. H., and began reading law with Daniel Webster, who then resided 
at that place. He began the practice of law at Salisbury, N. H., but 
removed to Boston in 1819, with a capital of an excellent reputation in 
his profession and a few thousand dollars in money. He soon attained 
a prominent place among the legal advocates of Boston, being an orator 
of great power, fluent and elegant in diction, and sparkling in thought, 
and keen and quick in repartee. His great care was not to be engaged 
in unworthy cases. He was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, 
and in 1837 was elected a representative to Congress, but declined a re- 
election. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Massa- 
chusetts in 1848, but retired from the Bench in 1853. The degree of 
LL. D. was conferred upon him by both Harvard and Dartmouth. 
Judge Fletcher was never married. He died June 21, 1869. 

Lafayette Lodge, No. 52, F. & A. M. — Cavendish being under the 
jurisdiction of St. John's Lodge, No. 41, of Springfield, permission was 
obtained, and the Grand Lodge was petitioned for a charter to form a 

C6 



522 History of Windsor County. 

lodge. A dispensation was granted April 15, 1859, and the lodge 
chartered January li, 1861. The following were the charter members: 
Warren Skinner, Amasa Parker, Orlando Clark, Benoni Buck, Silas 
Warren, Albert D. Hagar, Richard M. Ely, Daniel W. Hazeltine, and 
William Mason. The first officers elected under the dispensation were 
Warren Skinner, W.M.; Silas Warren, S.W.; A. D. Hagar, J.W.; Benoni 
Buck, treasurer ; D. W. Hazeltine, secretary ; Amasa Parker, S. D.; 
William Mason, J. U.; Orlando Clark, tyler. The lodge meets at Caven- 
dish village, and has a membership of seventy-four. The past masters 
of the lodge are Warren Skinner, Alvin S. Burbank, Timothy Paige, 
William J. Sperry, Horatio S. Pierce, Charles W. Whitcomb, Orville H. 
Hammond, William Shaw. The annual election is held April 30th. The 
present officers areas follows : Elliott G. White, W. M.; l""red H. Battey, 
S. W.; Hollis G. Norton, J. W.; Roswell Smith, treasurer ; Charles W. 
Whitcomb, secretary ; Clarence A. Smith, S. D ; Herbert F. Chilson, 
J. D.; William K. Gliddon, S. S.; Josiah F. Moody, J.S.; Russell H. 
Farr, chaplain ; William J. Sperry, marshal ; William F. Grover, tyler. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a gen- 
ealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with this town. 
The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and have 
manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. For 
sketches received to late for insertion in this chapter please refer to a 
later chapter of this work. 

Ailams, Benjamin, was Ijorn October 17, 1752, and came from Ashby, Mass., to Caven- 
(li.sli in 171)1. He man-iecl Mary Stone an<l I1.11I the following family: Betjjaniin, who 
(lieil in (Jhio ; Patty (deceased), married Jonathan Cliapman ; Polly (deceased), mar- 
rieil Jonathan Chapman; Samuel; Betsey (deceased), married Jo.siah French; Daniel, 
dieil in Chester; Joseph. <lied in Cavendish. Benjamin died April 9, 1830. 

Adams, Samuel, son of Benjamin, was born in Ashby, Mass., September 12, 1789, 
and married Calista French. Their family were Samuel L., born June IG, 1820, resides 
in St. Charles, 111.; Charles Philip, died young; Marietta, widow of Friend Weeks, re- 
sides in Cavendish; Marcella, wife of Ira H. Adams, of Chester; Josiah Quincy ; 
Jerusha Jane (deceased), married Rev. Moses Marston, a Universali.st minister : Ellen 
Maria (deceaseil\ married Rev. Moses Marston; Betsey Martlia (deceased), married 
John VV. Foster. Samuel, died September 9, 1875. 

Adams. .Josiah Quincy, son of Samuel, was born in Cavendish, Maj' 2, 18,30. ami 
married Mrs. Ellen Mayo, iiee llemenway, March 12, 1874. They have had three 
children : Ida May ; S.imuel died at eight years of age, and Ellen Jane. 



Old Families. 523 

Adiertoii. — The falnllie^^ of this name in Cavendish and Ludlow are descended from 
James Atherton, who with Humphrey Atherton came to New England as early as 1G3G. 
He was a descendant of an ancient family, of Preston, Lancashire, England. He settled 
at Dorchester, Mass., and was among the prominent citizens of the Bay Colony ; was a 
representative to the General Court, governor' s counsellor, and at the time of his death 
major-general of all the forces of the colony. He had a family of twelve children. 
James became one of the first settlers of Lancaster, Mass., where his son .loshua was born 
May 13, 1G5G. The latter married Mary Gulliver, and a son of theirs, Joshua by name, 
married Hannah Rogers. Joseph, the son of Joshua and Hannah (Rogers) Atherton^ 
was born in Harvard, Mass., about 1728, and married Sarah Hutchins. Their son Jona- 
than, born November 11. 1759, married Nancy Bridge, and they were among the early 
settlers of Cavendish. He was a farmer, but practiced law, his services being in great 
demand. He died March 21, 182G. His family were: Nancy (deceased), married John 
Parker; Fannie (deceased), married Oliver Farwell ; Jonathan; Joseph died at Claren- 
don, Vt., and Stedman (deceased). 

Atherton, Jonathan, son of Jonathan, was born in Cavendish, October 14, 1787, and 
married January 9, 1817, Roxana Ives, only daughter of Blihu and Phebe (Hall) Ives, of 
Ludlow, Vt. Their children are, Ellen R., wife of Edwin Clement, of Cavendish ; Solon 
Ives, Joseph V., Everett H., and Henry B., a lawyer of Nashua, N. H. Jonathan died 
May 17, 1875. 

Atherton, Solon Ives, son of Jonathan, was born in Cavendish, September 3, 1821, and 
married for his first wife, Laura Lamb, of Bridgewater, Vt. Their children are as fol- 
lows : Alvin, a resident of Ludlow ; Isaac Ives, died young ; Harry P., who died in 1 887 
while practicing medicine at Great Barrington, Mass .; Abhie L., wife of James Bagley, 
of Ludlow; Roxana Alice, wife of Alfred T. Robinson, of Cambridgeport, Mass.; Eliza 
W., wife of Louis V . Haskell, of Stramsburgh, Neb. ; Robert A. a resident of Springfield, 
Vt. Mr. Atherton married for his second wife Mrs. Rosana Pushee, nee Colburn, and 
they have one child, Eva Vaughn. 

Atherton, Evecett H., son of Jonathan, was born in Cavendish, September 25, 1828, 
and married Laura A. Blood. They have four children ; Charles E., employed by the U. 
P. R. R. ; Walter B., Marion L., a resident of Nebraska, and Hugh H. Mr. Atherton has 
been engaged in the lumber business since 18G0, and in that year built a saw and grist- 
mill at Whitesville. 

Barrett, Charles F., was born in Mount Holly, Vt., June 27, 1814, and is the second 
son of Edward and Abbie (Bassett) Barrett. Atter attending the local schools he became 
a student in the Black River Academy at Ludlow and the Chester Academy at Chester. 
His father removed from his native town, Ashby, Mass, to Mount Holly in 1809, but 
returned seven years later and remained until 1823, when he came to Ludlow, Vt. 
His father being a farmer, he also engaged in that occupation untd he was twenty years 
of age. He then began as a clerk in Sargeant & Robinson's at Chester, and afterwards 
obtained an interest in the firm. He remained in Chester until 1844, when he removed to 
Bartonville, Vt., where he resided till 1848, when he came to Proctorsville, where he 
now lives. He was constable nineteen years, deputy sheriff two years; was the first 
station agent on the Rutland and Burlington Railroad at Proctorsville ; deputy U. S. 
revenue collector .seven years, and has been register of probate for the Windsor district 
since May, 1873 ; he has also served his town in the capacity of selectman, town agent 
to prosecute and defend suits, representative in the Legislature, justice of the peace, and 
overseer of the poor. His first wife was Sarah Henry, and they had one child, Frances 
S., wife of Albin L. Thompson, of Rutland, Vt. His second wife was Lydia E, Ober, 
now living. 

Deane, John F., of Cavendish, was born in Weathersfield, June 29, 1814, and was the 
eldest son of Barnabas and Isabella (Frink) Deane. He attended Chester Academy, but 
was fitted for college at the Kimball Union Acadofny, at Meriden, N. H. He then en- 



524 History of Windsor County. 

tered the University at Vermont, graduating m 18J6. Mr. Deane read law with Judge 
Ailten of Windsor, and Judge Button, of Cavendisli. He became a member of the 
Windsor County Bar in 1S41, and began practic ng law in Cavendish, which he contin- 
ued until his death .Vpril 20, 1SS4. Mr. Deane was a member of both houses of the Leg- 
islature, and was State's attorney from 1805 to ISllT. His widow, who was Miss Mira 
P. Barlow, survives him. Tliey had no children. 

Eaton, Joseph, was born in Ashby, Mass., December 4, 17S0, and came to Ludlow, 
Vt., in 1818, and died at Chester, Vt., March 31, 18(;i. He married Bet.sey Willington, 
and had eight children: Catharine, widow of Arza Smith, re.sides at Ludlow, Vt.; Lucy 
(deceased), married Uyland C. Haven; Betsey, widow of Robert Myers, resides in Lud- 
low, Vt.; Maria (deceased), married Jo.^eph Reed ; Joseph P., Nancy, wife of L B. Puffer, 
of Putney, Vt. ; Charles W., lives in Springfield, Vt. ; Caroline, wife of Abner Feltt, of 
.Vndover, Vt. 

Eaton, Joseph P., son of Joseph, was born at New Ipswich, N. II., August 1 1, 1814, 
and married Lydia White and they had three children, viz. : Josepli, who died in Caven- 
dish, and married Anna Spaulding and left two children. Fred ,1., Alice; Albert S., and 
Nancy F. Mr. Eaton has resided in Cavendish since 1839. 

Ely, Rev. Richard M., was born in Windsor, Vt., February 10, 1795. His father was 
a farmer and he received only the benefits of a common school education. He was or- 
dained pastor of the North Springfield Baptist Church. While in charge of the church 
the Masonic troubles occurred. Mr. Ely had been a Mason since 1818 and rather than 
renounce the order he resigned his pastorate. He afterwards had cliaige of the Baptist 
Cluirches in Saxton River, Townshend, Chester, Mount Holly, Vt., and Barnstable. Mass. 
His last charge was at Cavendish, where he died .Tune 10, 18<il. He married Loia 
Skinner, and they had six children : James W. C, a physician of Providencs, Rhode, 
Island; Ryland F., resides at Windsor; Francis W., Mary E., wife of Charles L. Blood, 
president of the National Bank at Three Rivers, Mich.; Edward P., and Lora S., 
both died single. 

Ely, Francis W., son of Richard M , born at Springfield, Vt., March 27, 1828 ; married 
Sarah E. Hill, and have three .sons: Frank D., whe married Flora M. Cady, and they 
have two children : Florence, and Helen, and reside at Windsor, Vt.; Harry H., and 
Richard S., both reside at Cavendish. 

Fletcher, Henry Addison, was born in Cavendish, December 11, 1839, and enlisted as 
a private in the Sixteenth Vermont Regiment, and promoted to a lieutenancy at tiie 
battle of Gettysburg. He has been a member of both houses of the State Legislature, 
and was aid-de-canip with the rank of colonel, on the stall' of the governor. He resides 
on the farm .settled by his grandfather, and is engaged in farming.' 

Fullam, Benoni Buck, son of Sewall, jr., was born in Ludlow, March 22, 1833. He 
was one of ten men who enlisted at the first call for troops for the late war and became 
a member of company E, First Vermont Regiment and was mustered out August 15, 
1861. He re-enlisted in the Sixth Vermont Regiment and w.as appointed sergeant-major 
and promoted to first lieutenant of Company G ; after serving three years he again en- 
listed in the First Regiment of Frontier Cavalry, and was discharged June 27, 18G5. 
He married Elizabeth H. Metcalf, and has one child, Hattie E. 

Green, Isaac, a native of Massachusetts, emigrated to New Hampshire, and .snbse- 
(juently came to Cavendish. He was for seven years a soldier in the Revolutionary War 
and died in July, 1822, in his seventy-second year. He married Miss Cliamberlain, and 
had the following family : Isaac, Thomas, died at Reading, Vt.; Ephraim, died at Ply- 
mouth, N. II.; John, died in Pennsylvania; James died at Barre, Vt.; Abigail (de- 
ceased), married Timothy Proctor ; Martha, died aged about 75 years, but never married ; 
Esther (deceased), married Nehemiah French ; and another Esther died young. 

Green, Isaac, son of Isaac, was born December, 1781, and married Polly Parker and 
had nine children, viz.: Mary (deceased), married Lewis Archer ; Eliza (deceased), mar- 



Old Families. 525 



ried Colonel Jabez Porter; John, married Permelia Cady, died in Plainfield, M, II.; 
Janies!, married Nancy Johnson, died in Plymouth, Vt.; Joshua Parker, Levi J., mar- 
ried Philinda Hall, is a resident of Plymouth. Vt.; Henry, married Augusta Cady, died 
in Granville, Vt.; Hannah, wife of Thomas A. Cheney, of Plymouth, Vt.; Abner Franklin, 
married Melissa Hill, lives at Westminster, Mass. Isaac became a resident of Plymouth 
in 1817, where he died May, 185:-!. 

Green, Joshua Parker, son of Isaac, was born in Plymouth, Vt., August 30, 1822, and 
married Mrs. Nancy Green, nee Johnson. Of their five children, three died in infancy. 
The others are James, born in Cavendish, November 8, 1857, married Emma S. Lawrence, 
no children ; his second wife was Mary J. Lawrence, by whom he has one child, Ralph 
Waldo; and Walton, a resident of Cavendish. Joshua P. has resided in Cavendish since 
1856. His present wife, Mrs. Phoebe Ru.ssell, nee Gould Walton, was born September 
21, 1868, in Cavendish. 

Grout, Henry, son of Dan, was born in Cavendish, September 12, 1834, and was twice 
married. His first wife was Lorinda Parker, to whom he was married in 1857 and by 
whom he had six children, viz : Betsey M., Herbert L , Marshall D., Ervin P., Amasa, 
and Alice M. She died in 1875, and in 1876 he married Hattie E. Proctor, by whom he 
had one son, Stillnian P. Betsey died in her fourteenth year. Herbert married Hattie 
I. Forbush, and had two children, Ethel and a little son, both of whom died in mfancy. 
Marshall married Emma I. Cooper, and has one son. Ervin married Mary B. Covell, and 
has one child, Carrie. The three above mentioned sons are in the employ of the Bstey 
Organ Company at Brattleboro. Amasa has been employed in a furniture store in the 
same town. Alice died at the age of a little more than two years. Stillman resides 
at home. 

Hill, George S., was born in Walpole, N. H., May 31, 1823 and is the youngest son of 
Abel and Nancy (Fisher) Hill. His father moved to Cavendish in 1837. Mr. Hill has 
been a resident of Proctorsville since 1847, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits till 
1850, when he became connected with the Black River Savnigs Bank, of which he was 
cashier from January 27, 185G to 1878, since which time he has been its president. 

Kendall, William, was born in West Windsor, Vt,, October 12, 1829. He is the second 
son of Horace Kendall, and has lieen a resident of Cavendish since 1854. He married 
Sophia Todd, and has no children. 

Proctor, Timothy, was born in Liltleton, Mass., July 29, 1762, and came to Cavendish 
in 1788, where he died July 21, 1834. He married Sally White, of Acton, Mass. They 
had seven children : Timothy, died at Stowe, Vt; Sally (deceased), married Bliss Rus.sell ; 
Daniel W., died at Massena, N. Y.; Susannah (deceased), married Martm Crowley ; Am- 
asa, died in Cavendish, and left no issue ; Miriam, died young, and Stillman. 

Proctor, Stillman, son of Timothy, was born in Cavendish, September 26, 1801, and 
married Harriet Seaver. They had two children : Freedom S., and Hattie E.. wife of 
Henry Grout, of Cavendish. He resides in Cavendish. 

Proctor, Freedom S., son of Stillman, was born in Cavendish, February 24, 1830, and 
married for his first wife Maria E. Spaulding. Their children are : Fred H.. born May 1 0, 
1 854, and is a resident of Weathersfield ; Alice M., wife of Oscar Grout, of Weathersfield ; 
Frank W., and Mary L., wife of Frank Wiggins, of West Windsor. The second wife of 
Freedom S. was Belle Sanders. 

Proctor, Frank W., son of Freedom S., was born in Cavendish, January 20, 1863, and 
married Mary E. Field. They have one child Elsie M., and reside in Weathersfield. 

Pollard, Don C, was born in Plymouth, Vt., April 2.5, 1840, and was the eldest son o 
R. P. and Mary A. (Shedd) Pollard. He was engaged in the mercantile business at Ply- 
mouth Notch, and came to Proctorsville in the spring of 1863. wheredie opened a general 
store. He has also carried on the produce business, nnd was for three years partner with 
his brother D. M. Pollard, in the wholesale grocery business at Keene, N. H. He has 



526 History ok Windsor County. 

been first selectman of Cavendish fifteen years, also delegate to the Domociatic National 
Convention at Cincinnati in 1880, on Democratic State Committee several years, and 
candidate for State Treasurer in 1890. He married Sarah J. Moore, and has four chil- 
dren : Fred D., Mary V., Parker H. and Dallas F. 

Piper, Leonard, son of Amos, who was a son of Noah, one of the early settlers of Balti- 
more Vt., was born in that town Auf^ust 7, 1806, and married Alvira Warren, and had 
tlie follovvin.i^ children : .\.nn. wife of Charles D. Parker, of Cavendish ; Leonard C, a res- 
ident of Brattleboro, Vt.; Nelson G.; two named Mary, both of whom died young; Mar- 
vin L , who lives at North Sprmgfield, Vt; Oscar, who died young. Leonard resides at 
North Springfield, Vt. 

Piper, Nelson G., son of Leonard, was born at Ludlow, April 22, 1840, and married 
Almira Blood. Their children were Oscar, who died young ; Lillie A. and Ralph R. 
Mr. Piper has lieen engaged in lumbering business since 1861, at which time he became 
a resident of Cavendish. 

Russell, Noadiah, was born at Middletown, Conn., in 174.1, and married Miss Weston. 
They had the following children: Isaac, died in Towa ; Nathan died on the route across 
the plains to California in 1850; Stephen, died in Iowa; Nathaniel; Polly (deceased), 
married Stephen Weston ; Lydia (deceased), married Lyman Bates; and Lois. Noadiah 
w.as the second settler in town, and died May 14, 1833. 

Russell, Nathaniel, sou of Noadiah, was born in Cavendi.sh, in 178G, and married Patty 
Hardy. Of their eight children the two eldest died young ; the others were Urial, Milly, 
wife of Ilenrv .Sparks, of Cavendish ; Eleanor (deceased), married Bin-ke Rice; Richard, 
married Mary Whitney, and resides on the farm settled by Noadiah in 1770; Oliver, and 
Nathan, both died young. Nathaniel died in March, 1872. 

Russel, Urial, son of Nathaniel, was born in Cavendish, July 5, 1823, and married An- 
geline A. Wilson. They have had three children, ;Vlice R. (deceased), Addie L., and 
Mattie B., wife of Eben C. Ford, of Ludlow, Vt. 

I Spaukling, William, was born at Chelmsford, Mass., Septenilier 1 1 , 1737, and came from 
V VV'eslford, .\Iass., to (javendi.sh in 1783. He married Esther Dutton and had the follow- 
ing family : .John, William, Mary, Esther, Asa, Joseph, Zedekiah, Betsey, and Zacheus 

Spaulding, Zedekiah, son of William, was born at Westford, Mass., in 1775, and died 
March 25, 1S47. He married Grace Wood, and their children were Aaron Wheeler, died 
in Cavendish; Salmon, died in Bloomfield, N. Y.; Sally, married Charles Ive.-;, died in 
Ludlow; and Alien, died in Cavendish, August 14, 1885. 

.Spaulding, .Vllen, son of Zedekiah, was born in Cavendi.sh, Sejitember 3, 1805, and died 
August 14, 1885. He married Cynthia Goddard, and had two children: Laura (de- 
ceased), married Frank M. Robinson; and Marcus A., born in Cavendish, February 17, 
1835, married Victoria E. Fullain, and they have one son, Arthur G., born ."November 30, 
1809. Mr. Spauldingis a resident of Ludlow. 

Spaulding, Phinea.s W., was born at Chelmsford. Mass. He marrieii Rachel Hadley, 
and had eight children, viz. : Phineas W., who died in Cavendish; Rachel, .\rmenia (de- 
ceased), married Williatn Spaulding; Rylaiid R., died in Weston. Vt.; Melvina, wife of 
A. H. Moore, of Charlestown, N. H.; Fidelia (docea-^ed), married R. D. Kellogg; Rufus, 
Lydia M., wife of Hiram Stanley, of Weatherslield, Vt.; Elbridge E., resides at Athol, 
Mass. Phineas W., died in Ludlow, October 30, 1865. 

Spaulding, Itufus, son of Phineas W., was born at Ludlow, November 13, 1S2S, and 
married Ellen Lawrence. They have four children : Edwin R., resides at Springfield, 
Mass.; Wdlis L., married Relle Bigelow, March 15, 1890, and lives in Cavendish; Wal- 
ter L., and Florence B. Rufus has resided in Cavendish since January, 1869. 

Wheeler, Daniel, was born in JafiVey, N. H., January 12. 1788, and was the son of 
John and Susanna (Spaulding) Wheeler. His father was born December 27, 1756; was 
a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died April 10, 1791. Daniel first came to live 



Old Families. 527 



in Cavendish in 1804, remaining until 1809, when he returned to liis native tovi^n, but 
became a resident oE Cavendish again in 1819. He married Mary Powers, of .Taffrey, 
N. H., and had three children, Mary L., Daniel Hosmer, and Peter Powers. He died 
April IG, 1870. 

Wheeler, Daniel Hosmer, son of Daniel and Mary (Powers) Wheeler, was born in 
JafFrey, N. H., November 9, 18] G, and married Susan Davis. They had two children, 
Daniel Davis and Frank Herschel. He died February 17, 1891. 

Wheeler, Daniel Davis, son of Daniel H. and Susan (Davis) Wheeler, was born in 
Cavendish, .July 12, 1841. He entered the war of the Rebellion September 21, 1S()I, 
as a second lieutenant in Company 0, Cavendish Company, Fourth "Vermont Volunteers, 
and ro e to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Assistant Adjutant-General, and Brevet 
Colonel of Volunteers. He is an officer of the regular army with ihe rank of Captain 
and Assistant Quartermaster, and i-* stationed at the General Depot of the Quarteimas- 
ter's Department, at New York City. He married Sophie S. Deming, of Terra Haute, 
Ind., and has two children, Deming and Sophie. 

Wheeler, Frank Herschel. son of Daniel H. and Susan (Davis) Wheeler, was born in 
Cavendish, February 27, ISol. He married Kate Dole, of Ilaitford, Vt., and has two 
children, Merrill Dole and Frank E. He resides on the farm that has been in possession 
of the family since 1830. 

Whitcomb, Charles Warren, was born in Rutland, Vt., October 15, 1854, and is the 
eldest son of Asa Wentworth and Elizabeth W. (Hill) Whitcomb, who have been resi- 
dents of Cavendish most of the time for the past fifty years. Charles W. received only 
a common school education, excepting two terms, at the Green Mountain Institute, at 
South Woodstock, and one at the Kutland High School. In 1871 he was employed by 
the National Black River Bank,",where he remained one year. He then worked at Cav- 
endish station for the Central Vermont Railroad and in the American E.xpress Office, at 
Burlington, Vt., until 1874. Since that time he has been employed continuously by the 
above bank, and has been its cashier for the last twelve year,s. He is at present Grand 
Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Vermont, F. and A. M., the Grand Chapter of Vermont, 
Royal Arch Masons, and the Vermont Council of Deliberation, A. A. Scottish Rite. 
Also Secretary Lafayette Lodge No. 53, F. and A. M., Cavendish, and High Priest 
Skitchewaug Chapter, No. 25, R. A. M., Ludlow. 

White, Samuel, the son of Mark, was liorn in Acton, Mass., February 5, 1744, O. S., 
and married for his first wife, Dorothy Billings. There was no issue that lived to maturity. 
His second wife was Hepsibah Barrett, and their children were Dorothy, who married 
Edmund Ingalls; Hepsibah, who married Miss Dorriu and removed to Michigan ; Samuel 
and John twins, the former died at Westford, Vt., Anna, died at the age of seven 
years; Joseph, died at Cavendish; George Washington, died young; Benjamin Frank- 
lin, died at Boston, Mass.; Anna, married Sewall Kinney. He married for his third wife, 
Mrs. Rachel Adams. Samuel died in Cavendish March 24, 1823, where he had resided 
since 1786. 

White, John, son of Samuel, was born at Westford, Mass., August 18, 1851, and mar- 
ried Lydia Wheeler. Their children were Mary, died single ; George Washington, and 
Lydia (deceased), married Joseph P. Eaton. John died August 29, 1859. 

White, George Washington, sou of John, was born in Cavendish May 19, 1S20, and 
married for his first wife Ruth Bailey. His second wife was Clara M. Swift, by whom 
he had one child, Elliott G. 

White, Elliott G., son of George W., was born in Cavendish June 8, 1856, and married 
Nella C. Wheeler. They have one child, Marion C. Elliott G. is engaged in mercantile 
business at Cavendish, and is tlie present town clerk and postmaster. 



528 History ok Windsor CounTV. 

CHAPTER XXIV.' 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF IJIDI.OW. 

THE town of Ludlow, as it was originally granted to Jared Lee and 
his sixty-five associates, September 16, 1760, by Governor Benning 
Wentworth, of New Hampshire, contained in area about 24,000 acres. 
The western part of this territory was known by the name of Jackson's 
Gore, and was divided from the other portion of the grant by a high 
elevation now known as Ludlow Mountain. 

At a town meeting held at the house of Stephen Read, October 8, 
1792, by a vote of thirteen in the affirmative to seven in the negative, it 
was voted to set off this tract, which contained about i 1,739 acres, to the 
town of Mount Holly, which was organized in that year. The tovyn 
thus became irregular in form, the greatest length being from north to 
south, and the average width about three and a h.ilf miles. It is bounded 
on the north by Plymoutli ; east by Cavendish and Chester ; south by 
Andover and Weston ; and west by Mount Holly in Rutland count)'. 

The town, lying as it does at the foot of the Green Mountains, con- 
tains within its limits the eastern declivity of a lofty summit known as 
the Ludlow Mountains, making the western part very mountainous. In 
the northwest corner there is the only pass in that range of mountains 
through which a railroad could be built witii easy grades north of the 
Boston and Albany Railroad. In the eastern part of the town there is 
a lofty range of serpentine mountains, and it is believed by some per- 
sons that at one time it formed the eastern barrier of a considerable body 
of water which covered the central part of the town. The Black River 
enters the town from Plymouth, and flows south till it reaches the village 
of Ludlow, when it takes an eastern course and crosses the town line 
into Cavendish at about the center of the town. On the west side of 
the town the West Branch enters from Mount Holly, and after flowing 
for about three miles, empties into the Black River. There are a num- 
ber of other small water-courses in the town, the Williams River just 
crossing the southeast corner. Along the valley of the Black River the 



' By Nelson W. Cook. 



itte' W^^\ 




Hon. Reuben Washburn. 



Town of Ludlow. 529 



land is level and arable and produces good- crops, and though farming 
is not conducted on any large scale, there are a number of good farms 
in the town. 

Nearly all the rocks and minerals common to the State are found in 
different parts of Ludlow ; there is granite, mica, slate, and a variety of 
marble known as verd-antique. In the western part of the town quar- 
ries of carbonate mingled with the sulphate of lime are found. There 
is also an excellent quality of soapstone. In the serpentine range are 
found asbestos, talc, and hornblende. Iron ore of the purest kind has 
been found in the southwest corner of the town, and mingled with the 
common ore are a native magnet and specimens of the oxides and sul- 
phates of iron. 

Early Settlement and Organization. — There is no evidence that any 
of the original proprietors of the town of Ludlow ever became an actual 
settler. Over a score of years passed away from the time the original 
grant was given before any white man attempted to make a permanent 
settlement. In the year 1784 James Whitney moved into the town and 
became the first settler, locating his land on the North Hill, about one 
mile from the river. The following year Simeon Read and Jesse and 
Josiah Fletcher moved with their families from Massachusetts, and set- 
tled on the flats north of the river. The fifth settler in the town was 
Captain Elihu Ives ; he was from Connecticut, and located on the farm 
now in possession of his grandson, Solon Ives Atherton, in 1785. His 
younger brother, Levi, became a resident of the town the following year. 
The same year Ephraim Dutton, a native of Westford, Mass., settled in 
the town ; he was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and built the first 
house and first church in the town. From this time till 1790 a number 
of families settled in different parts of the town. Jonas Holden, a Rev- 
olutionary soldier, settled a short distance east of the village on the north 
side of the river. 

Samuel Cook, a native of Preston, Conn., came in 1789 and settled in 
the western part of the town. Captain Joseph Green, of Leicester, 
Mass., in 1788, bought of Samuel White ninety-eight and a half acres 
of land, which included the twenty-eight miles encampment, so called, 
emigrated to the town and by subsequent purchases became a large 
landholder. 
67 



S30 History of Windsor Countv. 

Captain Green's brother-in-law, David Beat, came from Templeton, 
Mass., in 1788 and returned for iiis family, making the entire journey 
on horseback. 

Thomas Bixby, also from Westford, Mass., located in town about this 
time, and settled on the farm now owned by Calvin Bixby. 

During the year 1788 Jonas and John Hadley, who were brothers, 
came from Groton, Mass , and located on land on the west side of the 
mountain. Jonas made a visit to his native town and died there. One 
of the most distinguished citizens among the early settlers was Peter 
Read, who was a large landholder, and who lived north of the present 
village. His brother, Stephen, also took an active part in town affairs 
and lived on what is now the " shunpike " road. Richard Lawrence 
came from Mason, N. H., to Ludlow, in 1790. The Pingrej's, Na- 
thaniel and Jonathan, came from Rowley, Mass., about 1790, and set- 
tled in the western part of the town. 

The population of the town in 1791 was only 179. The first granil 
list of the town taken in 1792 aggregated ^540, and in 1796 this had 
increased to ;r^i,07i, 15s., there being a reduction of forty-four polls for 
military duty, which was probably two-thirds of the male population. 
In 1789, seven years earlier, and only four years after the first settle- 
ment of the town, there were sixty-six poll taxes paid. There were 
under cultivation 290 acres of land. There were forty- two horses and 
seventeen colts ; twenty- nine pairs of oxen ; a hundred and forty-two 
cows over three years of age, and forty-nine young cattle. The early 
settlers had five silver watches. There was only one house that was as- 
sessed for any amount, Josiah Fletcher paying a tax on a five hundred 
dollar residence. We append the population of the town at each cen- 
sus taken: 1800, 410; 1810, 877; 1820, 1,144; 1830, 1,227; 1840, 
1.363; 1850,1,619; 1860,1,568; 1870,1,827; 1880,2,005. 

The first town meeting was held at the house of Stephen Read, March 
31, 1792, and the town was fully organized, the following being chosen 
to fill the different offices : Jesse Fletcher, Jonas Hadley and Elihu 
Ives were elected selectmen ; Jesse Fletcher, town clerk ; Josiah Fletcher, 
town treasurer ; Simeon Read, constable ; Isaac Powers, David Lewis, 
and Jonas Holden, listers; Joseph Green, leather sealer ; Thomas Bixby, 
pound-keeper; John Hadley, grand jur)'man ; William Caldwell, tith- 



Town OF Ludlow. 531 



ingman ; Orlando Whitney and Levi Bixby, hay wards; David Bixby, 
fence viewer ; WilHam Caldwell, Silas Proctor, Levi Bixby, Nathaniel 
Plngrey, and Simeon Read, surveyors of highways. 

Members of the Constitutional Conventions. — Asahel Smith, 1814-22, 
1828-36; Sewall Fullam, 1843 ; Alexander Barton, 1850. 

Senators. — Benjamin Billings, 1844-45 ; Daniel A. Heald, 1854 ; F". C. 
Robbins, 1860-61 ; William H. Walker, 1867-68; Ervin J. Whitcomb, 
1876; Elwin A. Howe, 1884. 

Representatives from Ludloiv. — Peter Read, 1795; Josiah Fletcher, 
1796-97, 1800-01 ; Jesse Fletcher, 1798-99 ; David Lewis, 1802-03; 
Austin Fenn, 1804-05; Asahel Smith, 1806-12,1817-23,1825-27- 
Airock Smith, 1813-14, 1832; Elihu Ives, 1815-16; Jesse Bailey, 
1818-19; Zachariah Spaulding, 1820-21; Moses Haven, 1824; Jonas 
Dunn, 1828-^9; Asa Fletcher, 1830-31; Reuben Washburn, 1833; 
Sewall Fullam, jr., 1834-41 ; Benjamin Billings, 1842-43 ; Surry Ross, 
1844-45; William K. Manning, 1847; Darius L. Green, 1848-49; Dan- 
iel A. Heald, 1850; Asa A. Barton, 1853-54; Nathaniel Cudworth, 
1855-56; Roswell Smith, 1857; Moses Pollard, 1859-60; Rev. Will- 
iam S. Balch, 1861-62; Hiram W. Albee, 1863-64; William H. Wal- 
ker, 1865-66, 1884; Joseph Pelton, 1867; Rufus N. Hemenway, 1868- 
69; Ervin J. Whitcomb, 1870-72; Elon G. Pettigrew, 1874; William 
A. Patrick, 1876; Elwin A. Howe, 1878-80; Marcus A. Spaulding, 
1882; Lowell G. Hammond, 1886; Albert H. Lockwood, 1888. 

List of Selectmen of Ludlow. — Jesse Fletcher, 1 792- 1 80 1 , 1 803-08 ; 
Jonas Hadley, 1792; Elihu Ives, 1792-95, 1799-1801, 1816; Peter 
Read, 1793, 1795, 1799; Benjamin Patch, 1793 ; EHsha Denison, 1794, 
1796; Abraham Preston, 1796; David Lewis, 1797-98; Abel Haile, 
1797-98, 1806-07, 1810-13 ; Austin Fenn, 1800-01, 1804-07, 1809- 
13; John Sergeant, 1802-03-; Nathaniel Dyer, 1802; Thomas Bixby, 
1802-03; Airock Smith, 1804-05, 1834; James Bates, 1804; John 
Warren, 1805; Asahel Smith, 1806-19, 1821-24, 1832-36; Jared 
Goodell, 1808 ; Zachariah Spaulding, 1808, 1814-15, 1821-22; Thomas 
Evans, 1809; Jesse Bailey, 1814-15, 1820; Moses Haven, 1816-17, 
1829-30; Thomas Keyes, 1817-19, 1827; Zebulon Spaulding, 1818- 
19, 1821-22; Jonas Dunn, 1820,1826-27; Levi Adams, 1820; Henry 
Adams, 1823-24; Artemas Spafford, 1823-26, 1841-32, 1834-40, 



532 History of Windsor County. 

1842-44; Janna Wilcox, 1825-26; Simeon Burbank, 1825; Stephen 
Cummings, 1827-28; Joshua Warner, 1828-29; Isaac Ives, 1828-29; 
Asa Fletcher, 1830-33, 1835-36; Joseph Davidson, 1830-31 ; Charles 
Ives, 1833, 1837-40 ; Samuel Ross, 1S37, 1856-57; Asa A. Barton, 
1838-41, 1848; Merrick Spafford, 1841-47, 1850-56; Benjamin Bill- 
ings, 1841-43; Asa Fenn, 1844-55; Martin Perry, 1845-50; Freder- 
ick Dunbar, 1846-47, 1851-53 ; I. B. How, 1846; Jazer Smith, 1847- 
49; S. L. Armington, 1848-49, 1857; Alexander Barton, 1848; L. 
Parker, jr., 1849; Asahel Miller, 1850; Joel Warner, 1851-52, 1S55 ; 
Cyrus Baker, 1851-52; Elijah Scott, 1853-55, 1865-66; B. P. Spauld- 
ing, 1853-56; Enos Mayo, 1854; Alvin Lamb, 1857-60; Calvin Riggs, 
1858-59, 1861-63; Stephen E. Wood, 1858; Moses Pollard, 1859-60, 
1863-64; Asa S. Barton, 1860-63; Artemas Spaulding, 1861-62; 
Gardner L. Howe, 1862; Hiram W. Albee, 1864; Leonard Wilcox, 
1864-65, 1871 ; Stedman Spaulding, 1865 ; Benjamin P. Spaulding, 
1866-67, 1874-76; Joseph M. Pratt, 1866; Rufus N. Hemingway. 
1867-70; Lowell G. Hammond, 1867-70; Solon I. Atherton, 1868- 
73 ; Willard Johnson, 1874-82 ; George E. Walker, 1872-73 ; Anson 
J.Sawyer, 1872-73; Thomas French, 1874-76; Elisha W. Johnson, 
1877-83, 1885-87; George W. Billings, 1878-80; Marcus A. Spauld- 
ing, 1881-82, 1887; Milton H. Edson, 1883; Darwin R. Sargent, 
1883-89; Leighton G. FuUam, 1884-86; William P. Spafford, 1884; 
Wesley Barton, 1888; Elias H. Pinney, 1888; Charles H. Ray, 1889; 
Hiram L. Warner, 1889. 

Toivn Treasurers. — At the organization of the town Joshua Fletcher 
was elected its treasurer. He filled the position two years, when he was 
succeeded in 1 794 by Peter Read. In the following year Joshua Fletcher 
was elected and continued in the office till 1799, when Seth Lee was 
chosen ; he remained in office four years. The next treasurer was Air- 
ock Smith, who served until 1833, excepting the years 1804 and 1805, 
when Elihu Ives was in the office, and 1820, when Asa T'letcher filled 
the position. The next treasurer was Pliny Parker, elected in 1833, 
which office he held until 1844, when he was succeeded for one year by 
Martin Perry. In 1845 Artemas Spafford was chosen and held the 
office until 1848, when Jazer Smith succeeded, holding the office for two 
years. Daniel Perry was treasurer in 1850, Jazer Smith in 1851, and 




/^^UMiM/ <iJcM-e^^ 



Town of Ludlow. 533 



Elijah Scott in 1852. Jazer Smith was again elected in 1853, and served 
until 1858, when Ebenezer Clement was chosen and held the office two 
years. The ne.xt treasurer was Hiram W. Albee, elected in i860, and 
served until his death in 1877, when he was succeeded by Albert H. 
Lockwood the following year, who held the office until 1884, when the 
present incumbent, J. A. Dennett, was elected. 

Toivn Clerks. — The first town clerk was Jesse Fletcher, who was elected 
in 1792. In the following year Nathan Denison was elected and held 
the office until 1795, when Jesse Fletcher was again elected and filled the 
office until 1809. In that year Asahel Smith succeeded to the office and 
held it until 1820, when Jesse Bailey was elected for one year. In 1821 
Asahel Smitli was elected and served until 1825. The next town clerk 
was Artemas Spafford, who filled the position till 1827, when he was 
succeeded by Stephen Cummings, he holding the office till 1829. Moses 
Haven was then chosen and served two years. In 1831 Artemas Spaf- 
ford was again elected and held the office continuously until i860, when 
he was succeeded by his son, William P. Spaffiord, who served until 1884, 
when he resigned. Miss Sarah W. SpaffiDrd was then elected. In the 
following year Henry M. Taylor was chosen, but died in the office, and 
Miss Sarah W. Spafford was appointed to fill the position ad interim. In 
1866 William P. Spafford was again placed in the office and continued 
to the present time. 

Roads. — The first road in Ludlow was laid out and surveyed Septem- 
ber 6, 1784, by Solomon Button and built from Cavendish to Ludlow. 
Bridle-paths were cut from this road to the north and south hills and 
later in other directions. This was the only road till the organization of 
the town, when it was continued through Shrewsbury and further west; 
it subsequently became known as the Green Mountain Turnpike and the 
original owners were the Fletcher brothers, of Ludlow, Salmon Button, 
Christopher Webber, of Cavendish, the latter being the business mana- 
ger. This turnpike had three toll-gates between Buttonsville and Cut- 
tingsville, and in later years was a source of great profit. The Ludlow 
gate was located well up to the eastern entrance of the valley and for 
many years Stephen Wright was gate-keeper. The paying of toll be- 
came unpopular, and " shunpikes " having been built, Br. Alexander 
Campbell, who had purchased the property, surrendered the turnpike 
to the towns through which it passed, without consideration. 



534 History of Windsor County. 

After the organization of the town a commendable spirit of energy 
manifested itself in building roads, and most all of the present highways 
were a few years later projected and surveyed. 

Railroad. — Ludlow is traversed by the Rutland and Burlington Rail- 
road, which enters the town on its eastern boundary line from Cav- 
endish and follows up the valley of the Black River until it reaches the 
village, which is the only station in the town. .A.fter leaving the village 
the railroad takes a northerly course until it reaches the pass in the Green 
Mountains two hundred feet above the bed of the west branch of Black 
River, the maximum grade of which is one and a half per cent., or sev- 
enty-six feet to the mile. The route of the railroad near the village of 
Ludlow lies on the top of an elevation of land called the " Hogback," 
which is about seventy- five feet in height, forty rods in length from east 
to west, and originally had only thickness enough north and south to ad- 
mit of a narrow pathway. It is surrounded by alluvial flats. The con- 
struction of the railroad destroyed the ancient form of this singular ele- 
vation, the formation of which is traced to no reliable source. 

Hotels. — The first tavern-keeper in Ludlow was Captain Joseph Green, 
who came to the town in 1788 and erected a log house in the western 
part, which is now a part of Mount Holly. Upon a rough board with 
red chalk he made the following sign : " Cake and beer for sale here, 
Joseph Green." He became a popular landlord and in a few j'ears built 
a large frame house and barns, with stable room for over one hundred 
horses. 

The present hotel, the Ludlow House, has been kept as a public house 
for over fifty years, the property at the present time being owned by 
FI. L. Warner. 

Ludlozv in the War of the Unioii. — At the first call for troops made 
by President Lincoln to maintain the Union, the patriotic sons of Lud- 
low responded, and at a town meeting held June 30, 1861, two thousand 
dollars were appropriatetl to purchase outfits for the volunteers and 
furnish each one with ten dollars cash ; also to provide for their families 
during their absence. A bounty of one hundred dollars was offered in 
the fall of 1862 for nine months' men, and when the call for three hundred 
thousand was made in 1863, at a town meeting held December 19, of 
that vear, the selectmen were authorized to ofter a bounty of five hundred 



Town of Ludlow. S35 



dollars to fill the quota allotted to the town. The sentiments of the 
good citizens of Ludlow seemed soon after this to undergo a change, for 
at a town meeting held January 30, 1864, the following resolutions were 
passed : 

"Resolved, That in our opinion it is the duty of a loyal people cheer- 
fully and promptly to respond to any and every call of the President, by 
furnishing men and means in equal proportion as allotted to each State 
and town, to put down rebellion and maintain the integrity of the nation. 

"Resolved, So far as we have the means of knowing, this town has filled 
her quota as called for b}' the general government, and that in the pres- 
ent aspect of public affairs there is no necessity for sending forward vol- 
unteers not called for. 

"Resolved, That we are unwilling to vote men money to sustain the 
pride or promote the interest of ambitious men who appeal to personal 
or local patriotism to sustain their selfish schemes." 

But it was only a few months after this, in May, that at a town meet- 
ing the selectmen were authorized to fill the quota of the town so as to 
avoid a draft, giving them full power to pay any bounty for volunteers 
that they should see fit. 

We append a record of those patriots who responded to the different 
calls for troops made by the President, and who, by their heroic valor on 
the field of battle, aided in securing the liberty and peace the country 
now enjoys. 

Three Months' Volunteers. — First Regiment, Company B, Hiram P. 
Bixby, Henry C. Cleveland, George Levey, John B. Pollard. Company 
E, Benoni B. FuUam, Joseph Barber, William H. H. Buckley, Enos M. 
Gould, Henry E. Lawrence, Orvis Pier, Frank D. Sargent. 

Nine Months' Volunteers. — Sixteenth Regiment, Company C, Fred- 
erick G. Barnard, Marquis J. Bixby, Martin B. V. Clark, Hazen Fletcher, 
Charles Horwill, James M. Hastings, jr., Daniel Johnson, Zenas C. Lamb, 
Orlando S. Osborn, Benjamin F. Pettigrew, Surry M. Ross, Darwin R. 
Sargent, Milo Smith, John Snell, Michael Sullivan, Lysander Whitney, 
John E. Willey. 

One Year Volunteers. — Fifteenth Regiment, Company A, Leonard R. 
Warren. Second Battery, Hazen F. Fletcher, James Frazier, James M. 
Hastings, jr., John Hayes, Charles H. Horwill, Patrick C. Kennedy, 



53^ History of Windsor County. 



Francis A. Moore, Asahel J. Root, Byron Smith, Milo Smith, John 
Snell. Seventh Regiment, Company C, Albertus J. Archer. Ninth 
Regiment, I->ederick G. Barnard, Samuel Bell, John Whittington. 
Third Battery, Frederick H. Barlow. Cavalry, Edgar May, I'eter Mc- 
Marton, Tiiomas Riley. 

Volunteers wlio enlisted for one year in 1865. — Albert N. Archer, 
Timothy Dailey, jr., lulward H. Green, Jonathan II. Read, Lyman R. 
Sawtell, Alexander Snow, Moses Snow, Samuel R. Taylor, John P. 
Woodis. 

Men who were drafted that entered service. — Albert Chapman, Alvin 
Chapman, James H. Porter, Martin Wyman. 

Three Years' Volunteers. — Daniel O. Adams, re- enlisted ; John W. 
Adams, Wayland Adams, Edward E. Balch, James F. Baldwin, John 
Barrett, transferred to Invalid Corps; William J. Barrett, Darnian Bar- 
ton, re-enlisted, killed at Cold Harbor ; Rufus F. Barton, died of wounds 
received in action ; Leonard P. Bingham, first lieutenant, killed in action 
at Petersburg, Va.; Charles W. Bishop, re-enlisted ; Hiram P. Bixby, 
John M. Buckley, second lieutenant, wounded and resigned ; George B. 
Burbank, William A. Chapin, jr., Jasper N. Clark, discharged ; Henry 
C. Cleveland, re-enlisted; William A. Clement, Henry M. Colby, dis- 
charged ; Daniel F.Cooledge, discharged; John T. Cooledge, discharged; 
Thomas R. Cummings, died in the service; Leander D. Davis, died in 
the service ; Lorenzo A. Dodge, re-enlisted ; Charles W. Dow, trans- 
ferred to Invalid Corps ; Ervin M. Dunbar, Jesse B. Dunbar, Henry F. 
Dutton, discharged as lieutenant-colonel for wounds received in action 
at Winchester, Va.; Addison F. Eaton, wounded ; Scwall I'. I-Illison, 
discharged ; Patrick Finnegan, Benoni B. Fullam, first lieutenant, re- 
signed ; Volney .S. Fullam, lieutenant-colonel, resigned ; Freeman H. 
P"uller, re-enlisted ; Albert Gassetts, died in the service ; Oscar Gassetts, 
wounded ; Michael Gilligan, re-enlisted ; James T. Gorham, captain ; 
Elbert M. Gould, discharged; Enos M. Gould, re- enlisted ; Hiram 
Greeley, re-enlisted ; Josiah M. Green, died in the service ; Martin E. 
Grover, died in the service ; Artemus W. Hall, deserted ; Joseph L. 
Hastings, killed at Fredericksburg, Va.; Lowell W. Haven, re-enlisted ; 
Prescott R. Haven, discharged; Daniel D. Hemenway, Henry G. Ilem- 
enway, discharged ; Abner C. Hesselton, discharged ; Moses P. Hessel- 





% ^1 



Town of Ludlow. 537 

ton, Oramel G. Howe, second lieutenant ; Daniel Keating, Francis 
Kelly, deserted ; Patrick C. Kennedy, discharged ; Henry E. Lawrence, 
discharged ; Arthur Little, chaplain ; Henry H. Manidigo, died in the 
service ; Albert A. May, second lieutenant, re-enlisted ; Alonzo E. 
Moore, killed at Fredericksburg, Va.; Armin E. Moore, discharged ; 
Charles W. Moore, died in the service ; Sylvester H. Parker, Simeon L. 
Parkhurst, re-enlisted; Salmon E. Perham, Orris Pier, re-enlisted; 
Henry M. Pollard, major; John B. Pollard, Augustus H. Pratt, trans- 
ferred to Invalid Corps ; Charles A. Read, first lieutenant, resigned ; 
Joseph U. Reed, discharged ; Sullivan E. Reed, transferred to Invalid 
Corps ; Henry A. Riggs, Augustus L. Roberts, transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corps ; Levi Rock, discharged ; Duane O. Ross, transferred to 
Invalid Corps ; Olvic T. Ross, PVancis B. Sargent, transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corps; Henry H. Sargent, Alphonzo Sawyer, George M. Saw- 
yer, discharged; Erastus M. Simonds, died in the service; Hiland Snell, 
transferred to Invalid Corps ; Fred B. Stickney, died in the service ; 
Sylvester C. Strong, discharged ; Isaac N. Wadleigh, second lieutenant, 
resigned ; Freeman Wakefield, missing in action ; Asahel S. Whitcomb, 
Elmore R. Whitney, killed in action ; Charles H. Wyman, wounded ; 
Marlow Bingham, William H. H. Chapman, Lucius Ingalls, died of 
wounds ; Samuel Langdon, wounded ; Horatio S. Lockwood, James 
Pollard, wounded ; Charles Snow, George T. Spaffbrd, died in the 
service; Edwin H. Wheeler, Norman Archer, re-enlisted. 

Those volunteers in this list with no remarks following their names 
were mustered out of the service at the expiration of their terms of en- 
listment. 

Post-Officc. — There is but one post-office in the town of Ludlow, 
which is located at the village. The first postmaster of whom we have 
any record was in the office in 1 830, when Benjamin Billings held the 
position. About 1832 John Howe was made postmaster, and he was 
succeeded in 1835 by Richard F. Fletcher, who, after holding the office 
a few years, was succeeded by John Dunbar. The next postmaster, 
John R Smith, was appointed in 1844, and, owing to change of the ad- 
ministration, was succeeded in 1846 by Charles S. Mason, who remained 
until 185 1, when Reuben H. Washburn was appointed. In 1853 
Charles S. Mason was re -appointed, and on the election of President Lin- 
es 



53^ History of Windsor County. 

coin he was removed in 1862 and John R. Spafford secured the posi- 
tion, which he continued to hold till April 15, 1884. The next post- 
master was Albert H. Lockwood, who resigned in 1886, and the present 
incumbent, Ira Goddard, was appointed. 

Grahamville. — This name is given to a small collection of dwellings 
located on the west bank of the Black River, about two miles north of 
Ludlow village. In 1849 Asahel Miller and William Graham formed a 
copartnership under the style of Miller & Graham, and built a one-set 
woolen-mill at this point. They continued business until 1855, when 
they were obliged to stop on account of financial difficulties. The niii! 
was subsequently run by Josliua Ward, and also by John Bentlcy, and 
during the occupancy of the latter it was destroyed by fire. On the site 
of the mill there is at present a saw-mill run by Edwin W. Royce. 

William Graham, from whom this hamlet was named, was born in 
Rutland, Worcester county, Mass., August 30, 1800, and was the eldest 
son of William and Sally (Davis) Graham. At the age of si.xteen he ap- 
prenticed himself to the clothing business. After learning this trade he 
worked in Tenipleton and Royalston, Mass., and afterwards learned the 
trade of spinning. In 1823 he came to Windsor county, locating at 
Springfield, Vt., in tlie employ of James Lovell. From this time till 
1827 he worked at liis trade in Leominster, N. H., Templeton and Roy- 
alston, Mass. In 1827 he became a partner of Samuel Dadmon, at 
Templeton, to whom he had been first apprenticed, and during the year 
1836 they, with other parties, built a six-set mill, three stories high 
and one hundred and twenty-five feet in length. They continued busi- 
ness until 1842, when, owing to financial difficulties, the firm was dis- 
solved and Mr. Graham came to Ludlow to work for George Coffin. He 
was also employed at Cavendish, Vt., Harrisville, and Antrim, N. H., 
till 1849, when he became a member of the firm mentioned above. 
Upon the dissolution of the firm of Miller & Graham the latter built on 
Jewell Brook a wool-carding factory, which was destroyed by fire De- 
cember 31, 1880, and was rebuilt in the following spring, the business 
being now conducted by hittiself and his son Harlan. 

Mr. Graham married for his first wife Mary Church, and their three 
cliildren were William, who died in Ludlow, a bachelor, at thirty- four 
years of age ; Lydia Ann, widow of Harvey Evans, resides in Acworth, 



Town of Ludlow. 539 



N. H.; Mary Frances, widow of Stillman Segar, lives at Peabody, Mass. 
His second wife was Nancy Miller, and their children are George M., 
who married Nettie Tallmadge, and has one child, Nellie Edna; he is a 
resident of Ludlow ; Walter Scott, who resides at Palmer, Mass.; and 
Harlan, a resident of Ludlow. 

Ltidlow Village is located in the central part of the town, on Black 
River, and has about 1,500 inhabitants. It has five churches, one acad- 
emy, one graded and two district schools, and the usual complement of 
mercantile houses, mechanic, millinery, and blacksmith shops. 

Three-quarters of the freeholder inhabitants in the center of the town 
of Ludlow petitioned the selectmen to establish boundaries for the 
formation of a fire society, under an act of the Legislature entitled, "An 
Act authorizing and directing the mode of forming fire companies in 
this State." In accordance with this action a meeting of the freeholders 
was held December 21, 1832, and adjournment taken to January 4, 1833. 
At the latter meeting Asa Fletcher was chosen moderator, and Edward 
Manning, clerk. The following were elected fire wardens : Sewall Ful- 
1am, jr., Abram Adams, John Howe, James Withington, Asa Fletcher, 
Augustus Haven, and Asa Fenn. The organization was completed at 
a meeting held February 18, 1833, by the adoption of a code of by-laws, 
under the title of the " Ludlow Village Corporation Fire Society." By 
these by-laws a board of seven fire wardens was constituted, and fifteen 
able-bodied men were to be enlisted to form a fire company. Each 
freeholder was obliged to supply himself with two fire buckets. 

At this time the only fire machine in the town was one of the old 
fashion, which was built at Proctorsville, and was called the " Quill- 
driver." 

At a meeting held in 1834 the society voted to build an engine-house, 
which was located about where the present one now stands ; it was to be 
ten by twelve feet, and seven feet high, and Benjamin Sargent, jr., agreed 
to build the same for thirty-one dollars. Besides he was to have allow- 
ance of ten dollars for the lumber. During the year 1837 the first hook 
and ladder company was organized with eight privates, and the first 
officers were Jacob Patrick, captain; Eben Spear, lieutenant; Elijah 
Gove, ensign. After considering the advisability of purchasing a new 
engine for about two years, the society bought, in 1846, the engine 



540 History of Windsor County. 

known as Alert, No. i. The original engine-house was used till 1854, 
when a lot was purchased of Reuben Washburn for fifty dollars, and a 
new house completed at an expense of $163. The society appropri- 
ated $250 in 1856, $150 of which was to be used in repairing the en- 
gines and purchasing hose, the balance in building reservoirs; also, the 
town of Ludlow purchased lOO feet of hose for the fire society in 1862. 
The number of fire wardens was reduced to three in 1859. The engine- 
house was removed to the lot east of the Hammond block in 1861, and 
in 1864 was placed on the back side of the same lot. The last meeting 
of the fire society was held January 30, 1866, and the following were 
the last persons to hold the position of fire wardens, viz.: L. N. Wad- 
leigh, J. R. Spafford and H. Woodward. 

Under the act of the General Assembly, passed November 17, 1866, 
the present village of Ludlow was incorporated, and all the properties 
of the fire society were turned over to the proper village authorities. 

The present engine-house was built in 1875, at an expense of $2,ooo- 
By action taken in 1880 forty men were enlisted by the village to form 
a fire company, they to receive two dollars a year compensation. This 
was increased in 1882 to three dollars. Previous to this the services had 
been voluntary, though for some years the members of the company 
had been exempted from poll tax. 

It having been decided at a public meeting that it was for the best 
interests of all that a steam fire-engine should be purchased, John P. 
Warner, William W. Stickney and Benoni B. FuUam were appointed a 
committee to negotiate for one. They purchased, in December, 1882, 
the Rescue, No. I, which is a five-inch rotary machine, from the Silsby 
Manufacturing Company of Seneca Falls, N. Y. A new fire company 
was organized January 29, 1883, for two years. 

Besides the fire-engines mentioned above, the village has two hose 
carriages, one of which is operated by the Benjamin Whelden Hose 
Company, fifteen hundred feet of hose, a company of thirty-five men 
who receive five dollars a year compensation. The officers of the fire 
company are: Captain, Oscar Gassett ; first lieutenant, Lester C. Howe; 
second lieutenant. Freeman H. Fuller ; engineer, Nathan Boynton. 

The village officers for 1890 were: clerk, Frank A. Walker; trustees, 
Oscar Gassett, William D. Ball, John Lombard; treasurer, Charles H. 




./ i^i-TT-^^^^ 




Town of Ludlow. 541 



Howard ; collector, Lester E. Howe ; fire wardens, B. B. Fullam, F. H. 
Fish, D. A. Rock ; auditor, L. G. Hammond. 

The Early Maiiiifactinrs. — The proprietors of Ludlow having offered 
a grant of fifty acres of land to anybody erecting a saw-mill in the 
limits of the town, Ebenezer Gilbert, about 1790, built a mill between 
the two mountains on the west branch of the Black River. This at this 
time was the center of the population of Ludlow, and was on the 
"Crown Point" road. The first man to dam the water of the Black 
River was Hezekiah Haven, who built a saw- mill just north of the pres- 
ent woolen-mills, but this was abandoned on account of there not being 
sufficient fall of water. On the north side of the river near the woolen- 
mill was built the first carding and fulling-mill by Captain Joseph Pat- 
terson, and among its last owners were Parker & Billings. Connected 
with this was also a saw-mill, which was run by a man named Stimson, 
and later by Loton Gassett. 

On Jewell Brook there was originally a fulling-mill which was altered 
by Emery Burpee to a grist-mill ; he afterwards sold it to James Os- 
borne, whose successors were Spaulding & Patch. On account of the 
death of the latter the property was sold at auction in 1869, Whitcomb 
& Atherton being the purchasers. This firm carried on business over 
twenty- five years, and sold to the present proprietor, William Russell. 

Besides the saw-mill above mentioned, there have been two others 
built on the west branch of the Black River : one in 1838, by Jonathan 
Carpenter, now operated by William S. Lawrence, and the other built 
by Calvin Bixby. 

77^1? Ludlow Wooleyi -Mills {J. S. Gill ^Co.). — On the site now occu- 
pied by this mill previous to 1835 was located a grist-mill, which was 
built by Emery Burpee. In that year Stephen Cummings, who was 
engaged in mercantile trade in the village, with several others formed a 
stock company, and in the following year began to build a woolen-mill of 
brick, five stories high, and employment was given to fifty or sixty 
hands. During the panic of 1837 the company failed, and for several 
years the mill was idle, till it was purchased by Abraham and Sheppard 
Adams, who afterwards sold it to George S. Coffin. The next proprie- 
tors were Ward & Bufifum, who, in 1864, disposed of it to George W. 
Harding, Joseph Pelton and George S Redfield, who carried on business 



542 History of Windsor Countv. 



under the firm name of George W. Harding & Co. until 1878. In that 
year J. S. Gill, who had been interested in the business since 1869, pur- 
chased the entire plant and the firm name became J. S. Gill & Co., 
which is its present title. In 1885 Samuel Gill, G. H. Levy and F. O. 
Kni;j;hts obtained an interest in the mills. In January, 1865, the works 
were almost entirely destroyed by fiie, but the present buildings were 
erected the same year. Employment is now given to between 140 and 
150 hands, and both water and steam-power is used. The mills arc 
fitted with thirty-eight broad looms, seven sets of cards, and over 3,000 
spindles. About i 50,000 yards of broad wool beavers are manufactured 
annually. 

The Luciloiu Toy Manufacturing Company. — The manufacture of toy 
carts and doll carriages was begun in Ludlow by H. N. Parker, A. V>. 
Riggs and W. N. Graves, under the name of the Green Mountain Toy 
Company, in the latter part of 1872, they being located on Main street. 
The business was conducted in a small way, employment being given to 
eight or ten hands. The above concern was purchased in the early part 
of 1873 by a stock company organized under the general laws of the 
State with the title that heads this sketch. The organization was fully 
completed May 23, 1873, by the election of the following directors: 
S. W. Stimson, E. A. Howe, Cyrus Buswell, William H. Walker, and 
L. E. Sherman. The latter was selected as president, and E. A. Howe, 
clerk. 

The capital stock of the new corporation was $10,000, which was 
afterwards increased to $15,000. The new company began business 
June 10, 1873, on Main street, but on December ist of the same year 
removed to their new buildings situated in the eastern part of the village, 
a dam having been buiit by them on the Black River. The buildings 
are of wood, the principal one being two stories high, and thirt)'-five by 
eighty feet. Including machinery the total cost was $16,000. Em- 
ployment was given to about forty hands, and the value of the annual 
product was about $30,000. The corporation sold its real estate and 
merchandise November 19, 1887, to S. W. Stimson, E. A. Howe, and 
William H. Walker, who have since conducted the business under the 
style of the Ludlow Manuficturing Company. The manufacture of 
to\s was discontinued in the spring of 1889, they confining themselves 
to the production of lumber and chair-stock. 



Town of Ludlow. 54J 



The Early Mcrcliaiits. — The first store-keeper in Ludlow was Eliakim 
Hall, who came from Wallingford, Conn , and offered merchandise for 
sale in a store located east of a brook opposite the common in Ludlow 
village. The firm soon afterward became Hall & Goodridge. The next 
merchants were Abram and Warren Adams, whose place of business, 
which was known for many years as the old " Red Store," stood where 
the old stone house is now situated, corner of Main street and the road 
to North Hill. The Adamses were succeeded by Simeon Burbank. 
About the year 18 16 Asahel Smith and Moses Haven formed a partner- 
ship, and opened a store on Main street, just west of the new iron bridge. 
Mr. Haven purchased his partner's interest, and was succeeded by his 
two sons, Augustus and Aaron. The onl)' store ever kept outside of the 
village was at South Hill by Andrew Pettigrew. His son, Andrew, in 
1830, built and kept a store on Main street, which he continued several 
years, the firm in 1844 being Pettigrew & Smith. At this time there 
were in trade in Ludlow, besides this firm, Adams & Armington, Mason 
& Whitcomb, and W. A. Spaulding. Lowell A. Hammond, who is at 
present engaged in business in the village, commenced here in 1848 as a 
member of the firm of Mason & Hammond. A. F. Sherman, the drug- 
gist, began in 1S58. E. J. Whitcomb and Solon I. Atherton, in 1864, 
formed a partnership in the fiour and grain business, which continued for 
a number of years ; they carried on a very large business. There are at 
present in the village one exclusive dry goods, two clothing, one saddlery 
and harness, two drug and stationery stores, three markets, two general 
stores, three groceries, one hotel, two livery stables, one hardware, and 
one stove and tinware, besides other smaller establishments. 

Neivspapers. — The first record of the publication of a newspaper in 
Ludlow dates back to 1840. The paper was called the Genius of Lib- 
erty, and was started by Rev. Aaron Angier, who, after issuing it for two 
years, sold it to Rufus and Asa Barton. The next proprietor was G. A. 
Tuttle, who changed the name to the Vermont Star, and in 1850 removed 
it to Rutland. 

The ne.xt knights of the pen to make their bow to the public were 
R. S. Warner and W. A. Bacon, who issued a weekly called The Blotter, 
the first number of which appeared November 18, 1854. In November, 
1856, the name of J. A. Pooler appeared as associate editor. In Novem- 



544 History of Windsor County. 

ber following the concern was sold out by the sheriff, and was bought by 
Mr. Warner, who, after issuintj one number, suspended the publication. 

The ne.xt attempt in journalism was made by R. S. Warner, in Janu- 
ary, 1863, when he issued The Voice Among tlie Mountains. Tlic next 
year the name of William H. Walker appeared as editor, and on April 18, 
1862, Moses Burbank became associate editor, and in the following Sep- 
tember Mr. Walker withdrew. With the beginning of volume four the 
paper was made a monthly, and before the year was closed its earthly 
career was done. The Transcript was founded by D. E. Johnson, 
April 17, 1866, but owing to iiis death in October, of the same year, the 
property was purchased by Mr. Millikin, of the Brattteboro Record, who, 
after a vain attempt to continue it, stopped the publication. The Black 
River Gazette was established December 19, 1866, by R. S. Warner and 
Moses Burbank, the latter being the editor, but owing to his death in the 
following March he was succeeded by Henry D. F"oster. On March 20, 
1869, the names of Stillman B. Rider, late editor of the Brandon Union, 
and Martin H. Goddard appear as editors, and in the following May 
the latter became sole editor, but gave way September 17th to F. S. 
Briggs, who continued a few months. On F"ebruary 10, 1871, S. B. 
Rider's name again appears as editor, and the following June the firm 
became Warner & Rider. The next to assume the editorial manage- 
ment was William A. Bacon, July 1 1, 1873, which he continued until Jan- 
uary, 1874. Soon after this the paper was purchased by D. C. Hackctt, 
who continued to publish it for a short time, but finally removed it to 
Brandon, changing its title to the Otter Creek Neivs, where it died in 1882. 

The present paper issued in the town, called the Vermont Tribune, 
was established by Mott Brothers, November 24, 1876, and in the follow- 
ing February was purchased by F. W. Bacon. In September of the 
same year he sold it to W. A. McArthur. In March, 1878, Rev. L. B. 
Hibbard assumed control of the agricultural department and in July, 
1879, succeeded to the control of the paper. In April, 1881, the pres- 
ent proprietor, E. G. Allis, purchased the establishment from Mr. Hib- 
bard. Mr. Allis at once enlarged the paper and again increased its size 
in October, 1882. Under his management it has enjoyed unusual pros- 
perity, his circulation being at the time of his purchase about 850 copies, 
which he has increased to 2,550. 




:^^ ;2^^, A^j^^yt 



Town of Ludlow. 545 



Laivjicrs. — The first lawyer in Ludlow was N. P. Fletcher, who opened 
an office as early as 18 14. He continued in business till 1825, when 
Judge Reuben Washburn succeeded him. During the year 1828 Sew- 
all FuHam, jr., became a student in Judge Washburn's office and later 
practiced for himself. These two men attended to all the legal business 
of the town until January i, 1839, when P. T. Washburn, a son of the 
judge, opened an office and carried on business until 1844, when he re- 
moved to Woodstock, Vt. During the year 1844 Frederick C. Robbins 
and Daniel A. Heald began practicing law in the place, the former con- 
tinuing until his death, and the latter till 1857, when he removed to New 
York city and is now president of the Home Insurance Company of that 
city. In 1849 two other attorneys opened offices in Ludlow — Clark H. 
Chapman and Reuben H Washburn, another son of Judge Washburn. 
The latter continued to practice until 1854. Volney Fullam, a son of 
Sewall Fullam, began the practice of his profession in Ludlow in 1852, 
which he followed until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted 
and served with distinction, being mustered out of the service as a colonel. 
In 1856 Clark H. Chapman removed his office to Proctorsville, Vt. The 
death of Judge Washburn in i860 left only three lawyers in Ludlow. 

In 1862 William H. Walker removed to Ludlow and began the prac- 
tice of law, which he followed until 1884, when he was made judge of 
the Supreme Court. During the year 1869 Martin H. Goddard became 
a member of the Windsor County Bar and began practice in Ludlow, 
which he still continues. S. H. Griffin practiced law from 1876 to 1880 
in Ludlow. W. W. Stickney, who is at present engaged in the law busi- 
ness, has been connected with the County Bar since 1878. 

For more extended notice of some of these attorneys see the chapter 
devoted to the Bench and Bar of the county. 

Physicians of Ludlow. — As early as 1821 Joshua Warner began to 
practice medicine in the town and continued until about 1835. Dr. 
Warner was of the allopathic school. The following physicians of this 
school have practiced medicine in Ludlow: Ardain G. Taylor, from 1827 
to 1846; Daniel Jones, from 1838 to 1854; William B. Weatherbee, 
from 1839 to 1861 ; Samuel P. Danforth, from 1851 to 1853; H. H. 
Palmer, from 1854101875; W. H. Chapman, from 1855 to 1869; J. H. 
Putnam began practice in 1868 and afterwards (1876) formed a partner- 

C9 



S4^ History of Windsor CoUNtv. 

ship with S. H. Morgan, which continued only two years, the latter car- 
rying on the business for a number of years afterwards. The present 
physicians of this school are D. F. Cooledge, who has practiced here 
since 1 868 ; George E. Lane, since 1878 ; and W. N. Bryant, since 1887. 

The Thompsonian school has been represented in Ludlow by Putnam 
Burton, who began practice in 1842 and continued over forty years. 
Also A. Ross, from 1844 to 1855, and L. Chase from 1856 to 1861. 

H. S. Boardman and A. F. Moore, the latter being at present located in 
the town, have practiced medicine in accordance with the homttopathic 
system. The following have practiced medicine at difi'crent times in the 
town, their stay being short : W. C. Chandler, Pliny B. Parker, Martin J. 
Love, S. H. Buteau, J. G. Murphy and George Rusledt. 

The First Congregational Society. — The first religious meetings held 
within the limits of Ludlow were those of the Congregationalists. The 
services were held at the house of Stephen Read and were usually con- 
ducted by his brother, Peter Read. The place of meeting was a pict- 
uresque spot, situated at the bottom of the valley between the mountains 
near the " Old Crown Point Road." On both sides were the almost per- 
pendicular walls of the mountains, and among the primitive forest trees 
the early settlers gathered every Sabbath mornirwg for religious worship. 
On pleasant summer days when the congregations were large the meet- 
ings were held in the open air in the shade of the trees. These meet- 
ings were held as early as 1790 and in the summer of 1806 a plain wood 
structure devoid of steeple or ornaments of any kind was erected. This 
was the first meeting-house built in Ludlow, and was located on the site 
of the present church edifice. The church was organized September 25, 
1806, the following being the original members: Peter Read, Lydia 
Read, Ezra Ritter, Polly Ritter, John Warner, Lydia Warner, John Sar- 
gent, Betsey Sargent, David Lewis, Polly Lewis, Leonard Ross, Lydia 
Abbott, Ephraim Warren, Mary Davidson, Benjamin Sargent, Susanna 
Sargent, Joanna Lee, Persis Patch, Ketura Denison, Joseph Taylor and 
Margaret Fletcher. The first communion service was held about two 
months after organization of the cliurch, and it was administered by Rev. 
Prince Jennc of Plymouth. 

During the year 1806 Peter Read was chosen deacon and in 1808, by 
the request of the society, he received from the Rutland Association a 



Town of Ludlow. 547 



license to preach the gospel. He was ordained as the first settled minis- 
ter of the society October 10, 1810, and filled the position till October 25, 
1826, relinquishing his duties on account of his age, though he still con- 
tinued to reside among his people till October 6, 1839, when he was 
called to his rest at the venerable age of eighty-eight years. Rev. Fred- 
erick E. Cannon was installed pastor by the same council that released 
Elder Read and held pastoral office until 1831, when he was succeeded 
April 26, 1832, by Rev. Peter John Nichols, who was dismissed Septem- 
ber I, 1834. The fourth pastor of the society, Rev. Silas H. Hodge, was 
ordained October 7, 1835, and continued his duties till August 3 i, 1836. 
The next to fill the position of pastor was the Rev. William Claggett, 
who was installed November 22, 1838, and dismissed November 11, 
1840. The present church edifice was built in 1839; it is a wooden 
structure capable of seating three hundred persons. From the time of 
the dismissal of the Rev. Mr. Claggett the society was without a pastor 
till April 20, 1848, when the Rev. Henry H. Sanderson was ordained and 
installed, and filled the pulpit till April 26, 1853. The next installed pas- 
tor was the Rev. Amos Foster, who began his duties November 8, 1853, 
and continued the same until December 30, 1855. From this time until 
Rev. A.sa F. Clark was installed. May 1 1, 1859, the society was supplied, 
being without a regular pastor. The Rev. Mr. Clark remained till May, 
1862, and the two following years the society obtained the services of 
their former pastor. Rev. Henry H. Sanderson. He was succeeded by 
the Rev. R. Bayard Snowden, who supplied the church as acting pastor 
for one year and six months, and was followed by the Rev. Henry C. 
Hazen. Mr. Hazen entered the foreign missionary field and on Octo- 
ber 20, 1S67, Rev. James P. Stone began in the church as acting pastor, 
continuing until October, 1869, when he was succeeded by Rev. Henry 
Duboc. The Rev. Philander Bates began as acting pastor on January i, 
1 87 1, and continued until his death, April 9, 1873. He was succeeded 
by the Rev. S. P. Cook in September, 1873, who continued till Febru- 
ary, 1877. From this time until March, 1878, the pulpit was supplied 
by Rev. J. B. Clark, a resident minister. The Rev. George H. French 
assumed the pastorate in March, 1878, remaining two years, after which 
Rev. Mr. Clark was engaged one year. Rev. R. B. Grover was ordained 
in September, 1881, and resigned on account of ill-health in February, 



548 History of Windsor County. 

1884. The next incumbent, Rev. Herman P. Fisher, was ordained Feb- 
ruary 4, 1884, and remained until May, 1889, when he was succeeded, 
in October, by Rev. Evan Thomas. 

The following have filled the ofrice of deacon in this church : Peter 
Read, Leonard Ross, Thomas Wetherbee, Jesse Miller, John Davidson, 
Benjamin P. Spaulding, H. W. Parker, N. M. Pierce, E. A. Howe, D. F. 
Cooledge. 

The first clerk of the society was Asahel Smith. The office of secre- 
tary was filled for three months by Stephen Cummings, who was suc- 
ceeded by Rufus Read. Benjamin P. Spaulding was elected in 1838, 
Daniel Jones in 1843, Perley S. Coffin in 1846, John Davidson, jr., in 
1847, Reuben Washburn in 1848. Since that time M. R. Emerson, D. H. 
Freeman, S. W. Brown, J. Davidson, S. B. Spaulding, A. H. Lockwood 
and Charles Raymond have filled the office. 

Those persons who have filled the position of church clerk, besides Mr. 
Smith, are F. E. Cannon, P. J. Nichols, Peter Read, Silas H. Hodges, 
John Davidson, William Claggett, Edwin Martin, Reuben Washburn, 
Asa F. Clark, H. H. Sanderson, H. P. Stone, R M. Pierce and Maria I. 
Pierce. 

The Baptist Clmrch. — As early as 1 806 there were thirteen Baptists in 
this town, and in 18 19 a union meeting-house was built and occupied 
by the Baptists nearly one-half of the time, they being members of the 
churches in adjoining towns. The First Baptist church was organized 
April 18, 1825, and consisted of forty members, and the following year 
Rev. Joseph Freeman was ordained as pastor. His successors were Elias 
Hurlburt, J. M. Graves and A. Allen. Dissatisfaction over the temper- 
ance question led seventy-eight members of the society to form the Sec- 
ond Baptist church. In their covenant was this pledge : " We engage 
to use no ardent spirits, except for medicinal purposes." Most of the 
remaining members of the First church subsequently united with the 
Second, and the former ceased to be recognized by the Woodstock As- 
sociation. The following persons served as deacons of the First church: 
Moses Mayo, Andrew Pettigrew, Luther Howard, Janna Wilcox, John 
Pierce, and Martin Howard. The Rev. J. M. Graves was among those 
who formed the Second church and has been succeeded by the follow- 
ing pastors: Darwin H. Ranney, in 1836; William Upham, in 1837; 



Town of Ludlow. 549 



J. M. Graves, in 1S38; Baxter Burrows, in 1841 ; Nathaniel Cudworth, 
in 1849; Ira Pearson, in 1853 ; John P. Farrar, in 1872 ; J. A. Johnson, in 
1877; Lewis B. Hubbard, in 1881 ; J. B. Child, in September, 1882; he 
was succeeded by the present incumbent. Rev. R. L. Olds, in May, 1884. 

The present house of worship was erected in 1840, and was repaired 
in 1868. It seats 400 persons. The vestry, containing four rooms, was 
built in 1878. The following persons have filled the office of deacon in 
this church: Janna Wilcox, Moses Dodge, Asa Fletcher, Roswell Smith, 
Samuel L Arlington, Abel A. Bachelder, Ora J. Taylor, James Petti- 
grew, John Hall, Alva F. Sherman, John H. Dennett, Samuel U. King. 

The First Universalist Society. — The preliminary meeting of this soci- 
ety was held October 8, 1835, Asahel Smith being chosen moderator 
and Pliny Parker, clerk. The permanent organization was completed by 
the adoption of a constitution and articles of faith. The sum of twelve 
hundred dollars was subscribed under date of November 14, 1835, for the 
erection of a church edifice, by the following persons : Pliny Parker, Ja- 
cob Patrick, Asahel Smith, Eben Spear, Artemas Arnold, Roswell Smith, 
Andrew Johnson, Jerry Gilbert, Ira Wiley, Thomas Whitcomb, Merrick 
Spafford, Sewall Fullam, jr., Abel Haile, Pratt & Bowers, Cyrus Baker, 
Phineas W. Spaulding, Abram Adams, John Stimson, Horace Keyes, 
Frederick Wyman, H. H. Corey, Enos Estabrooks, and Zebulon Spauld- 
ing. The edifice was finished in 1837, Abram Adams, Phineas Spauld- 
ing, and Asahel Smith being the building committee. The first settled 
minister was the Rev. Joseph Hemphill, who began his duties in 1840. 
Previous to this the pulpit was supplied by various ministers, the Rev. 
Warren Skinner, of Cavendish, being often called upon. Mr. Hemphill 
finished his work in 1844, and was succeeded by Rev. N. C. Hodgdon, 
who remained until 1846. The next pastor was Rev. John A. Henry, 
who died December 15, 1847. From this time to the spring of 1848 
the society depended upon supplies, but in that year Rev. J. O. Skinner 
was called and remained until 185 i, when he was succeeded (1852) by 
Rev. H. H. Baker. The Rev. E. S. Foster was chosen pastor in 1856, 
and remained two years. In the month of April, 1858, the Rev. Will- 
iam S. Balch preached his first sermon, and continued with the society 
five years. For a number of years after this there was no settled minis- 
ter. In 1870 Rev. J. T. Powers was called and regular meetings were 



550 History of Windsor County. 

again held. He resigned May i, 1874. In December, 1875, Rev. Her- 
bert E. Whitney was installed and continued to the fall of 1880; he was 
succeeded by Rev. W. A. Pratt, who remained till February 26, 1882. 
The next pastor, the Rev. J. S. Gledhill, was installed April 2, 1882, and 
was succeeded June 22, 1884, by Rev. J. P. Eastman, who remained until 
January 31, 1886. From this date until May, 1886, the pulpit was occu- 
pied by supplies. Rev. A. J. Aubrey was then called and remained until 
December 25, 1887. In July, 1888, Rev. J. R. Roblin took the pulpit, 
but at the end of one year was forced to resign by reason of ill-health. 
The present incumbent. Rev. J. B. Reardon, was installed as pastor in 
October, 1889. The society was incorporated under the State laws 
May 8, 1888, and now has a membership of fifty. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church. — Though there was no regular or- 
ganization of the members of this denomination among the early settlers 
of the town, there were still disciples of this faith settled in Ludlow at 
an early date. Over forty years ago a class was formed by Rev. Mr. 
Leonard, and for several years Rev. Mr. Pier, who was stj'led "Father" 
Pier, held religious services in tiie Methodist faith. A new organization 
was effected in 1872, and Rev. N. F. Perry was assigned to the pulpit. 
The present church edifice was built in 1875, at an expense of $7,200, 
including the grounds. It has a seating capacity of 300, and was dedi- 
cated December 22, 1875. The pastors who have had charge of the so- 
ciety, with the year when they began, are as follows : Rev. L. E. Rock- 
well, 1875; F. H. Roberts, 1878; A.J. Hough, i88o; E. Snow, 1882; 
W. D. Malcolm, 18S5; and E. E. Reynolds, 1887. The membership is 
seventy-seven, and there are sixty-seven pupils in the Sunday-school. 

The Church of the Aiuuinciation. — This society was organized July 
23, 1876, and the church was dedicated on that day, there being then 
about 290 members. Previous to this Rev. Edmund Gendreau, of Bel- 
lows Falls, came to Ludlow and performed the services of the Roman 
Catholic church. The first settled minister of the place was Rev. J. C. 
McLaughlin, who remained till 1881, when he was succeeded by Rev 
Henry Lane, who continued till 1885. In that year the present incum- 
bent. Rev. Patrick J. Houlihan, took charge of the parish, which in- 
cludes Mount Holly, Springfield, and Ludlow. The seating capacity of 
the church is between 400 and 500, and the value of the church prop- 
erty is over $7,000. 



Town of LUdloW. 551 



Schools. — The opportunities of securing an education in Ludlow in the 
early days were very limited. For many years school was only held two 
months in each summer, and as many more in the winter. If any of the 
early families wished to give their children a more extended education 
they sent them to Burlington or Middlebury. For many years the dis- 
trict that included the present village extended to the Cavendish line, 
the school-house being located on the site of the present school at 
Smithville. Here taught Miss Alintha Griswold, afterwards Mrs. 
Hewlet ; Miss Sally Searles, afterwards Mrs. Hoyt ; Miss Chloe Wilder, 
afterwards married to James Beard, himself a teacher ; Miss Lois Deni- 
son, afterwards Mrs. Jeptha Spaulding ; and Miss Roxanna Ives, after- 
wards Mrs. Jonathan Atherton, who taught the school in 1 8 16. A little 
square one-story brick school- house was afterwards built opposite the 
^Baptist church, where a succession of teachers labored, among whom 
were Stephen Cummings, Edward Manning, John Crowley, Ardain G. 
Taylor, Sewall Fullam, jr., William Rodney Manning, and James Beard. 
The town was originally divided in 1794 into three school districts. 
There are at present nine districts, each being supplied with a good school 
building. 

Black River Academy. — This institution owes its origin to active mem- 
bers of the Baptist denomination in the counties of Windsor and Wind- 
ham, who, as early as 1834, made a movement to establish a school 
under the influence of that religious denomination in the southern part 
of the State. The inhabitants of Ludlow offering to erect a suitable 
building, this town was finally fixed upon for the location by those that 
lived in Windsor county. The first preliminary meeting in reference to 
the subject was held May 20, 1834, and Horace Fletcher, R. Washburn, 
Jabez Proctor, and J. Lawrence were appointed a committee to obtain 
an act of incorporation under the above title. A charter was obtained 
at the session of the Legislature in October, 1834, the following being 
named as trustees : Daniel Packer, Joseph M. Graves, Jabez Proctor, 
Moses Pollard, Reuben Washburn, C. W. Hodges, Jacob S. McCollum, 
John F. Cotton, Horace Fletcher, Jonathan Lawrence, Stephen Cum- 
mings, Ardain G. Taylor, Nathaniel ToUes, and Joseph Freeman. Of 
these gentlemen all but the latter had passed away at the time of hold- 
ing the semi-centennial anniversary of the academy on August 25 and 26, 



552 History of Windsor County. 

1885. The organization of the academy was fully completed December 
31, 1834, by the choice of Rev. Daniel Packer, president; Hon Jabez 
Proctor, first vice-president; Stephen Cummings, second vice-president; 
Rev. J. M. Graves, secretary ; and Augustus Haven, treasurer. 

The school building was completed in 1835, ^"'^ was of brick, three 
stories high, and was on the site of the present school. The north side 
fronted the highway, while the south overlooked the river. The build- 
ing was surmounted by a belfry. In the erection of the building th.e in- 
habitants of Ludlow evinced public spirit and enterprise. Money was 
not plenty, and the means of the people were limited, but they gave 
willingly money, labor and material. The good cause was not confined 
to members of any religious denomination, but all took part in the work, 
and the same liberal spirit has continued to prevail in supporting the 
school. 

The spring term of 1835 was taught by Zebulon Jones, assistant, 
and Norman N. Wood, A. B., first taught the school in the following sum - 
mer. The attendance the first year was ninety-five boys and eighty-five 
girls. Rev. Darwin H. Ranney succeeded Mr. Wood as principal, and in 
1837-38 Rev. W. D. Upham filled the position, remaining until 1839. 
He was succeeded by Franklin Everett, who remained until December, 
1840, when R. W. Clark, A. B., filled the station till 1845. On the night 
before the beginning of the fall term of 1844 the academy building was 
destroyed by fire, and after that time, until it was torn down to give place 
to the present building, the brick meeting-house erected in 18 19 was 
used. W. B. Bunnell, A. M., was principal in 1845 and 1846; Claudius 
B. Smith, A. M., 1847 to 1852 ; George \V. Gardner, D. D., 1853 ; Rev. 
Mark A. Cummings, who remained until the fall terni of 1854. The next 
principal was Moses Burbank, A. M., who continued at the head of the 
school until i860, and was succeeded by Rev. Arthur Little, D. D., who 
taught the terms of 1861. Milton C. Hyde, A. M., filled the position 
seven years, finishing in 1870, when he was succeeded by S. A. Griffin, 
A. B., who remained till 1874. In 1875 Herbert Tilden, A. I\L, became 
the principal and C. G. Farwell, A. B., in 1876, remaining until 1883, 
when John Pickard, A. B., became his successor. He remained until 
1885, when Henry H. Kendall, A. M., became principal and remained 
until 1887. At that time the present incumbent, George Siierman, 
accepted the position. 



Town of Ludlow. 553 



Since 1868, by an act of the Legislature, district number one has the 
privilege of using the property of the corporation for the higher depart- 
ment of a first- class graded school. The present building was erected 
in 1888, the cost being $16,500, of which sum district number one ap- 
propriated $5, 600, the balance being subscribed by dififerent members 
of the alumni. 

The present officers of the academy are William H. Walker, presi- 
dent ; Surry W. Stimson, first vice-president ; Lowell G. Hammond, 
second vice-president; Elwin A. Howe, secretary; Alvah F. Sherman, 
treasurer. 

Black River Lodge, No. 85, F. A. M. — Masonry dates back in Ludlow 
{o the organization of the Ludlow Lodge, afterwards called the Green 
Mountain Lodge, in 18 12. This lodge became defunct during the anti- 
Masonic troubles in the State. The secretary of the present lodge, who 
has in his possession the old record book, refuses its use in the prepara- 
tion of a historical sketch of the old lodge. The present lodge was or- 
ganized September 29, 1868, and their hall having been destroyed by 
fire December 25, 1883, the records were lost. Their membership is 
ninety- two, and they meet on Tuesdays in the weeks of the full moon. 
The officers for 1890 were as follows : John Bell, W. M.; F. O. Knight, 
S W.; L. C. Howe, J. W.; W. D. Ball, treasurer; C. H. Howard, sec- 
retary; N. G, Hammond, S. D.; M. R. Chase, J. D.; R. M. Wilder, 
S. S.; N. H. Woodward, J. S.; William Hoskinson, marshal ; John 
Hoskinson, chaplain ; M. G. Day, tyler. 

Skitchewmig Chapter, No. 25, R. A. M.,\vas chartered June 3, 1873, 
its charter members being Edward N. Dean, George W. Foggett, 
Charles H Warren, George W. Graham, Charles H. Perry, George C. 
Shedd, Benjamin F. Dana, William H. Cobb, Hiram D. Spafford. Meet- 
ings were first held at North Springfield and afterwards at Springfield. 
In 1887, by the action of a higher body of the order, it was removed to 
Ludlow for four years, and at the end of that period it was returned to 
Springfield for the same length of time. The present membership is 
seventy- one. I'he past high priests are Edward N. Dean, S. H. Col- 
burn, George W. Graham, C. H. Warren, Augustus Lane, Justus Dartt. 

Officers for 1890-91 : Charles W. Whitcomb, M. E. H. P.; Abner C. 
Hesselton, E. K.; Arthur W. Gibson, E. S.; Albert H. Lockwood, 



554 History of Windsor County. 

treasurer; Frank A.Walker, secretary; John Bell, C. of H.; Kllioti G. 
White, P. S.; Fred H. Battey, R. A. C; William Shaw, M. 3d V.; 
John Y. Raistrick, M. 2d V.; Herbert F. Chilson, M. 1st V.; Fred 
James Dorand, chaplain ; Russell S. Warner, tyler. 

Allimont Lodge, No. 30, /. 0. O. F., was organized by Deputy Grand 
Master Henry W. Hall, December 17, 1887, with the following charter 
members: A. Bixby, C. L. Johnson, M. M. Tarbell, Freeman H. Fuller, 
E. A. Merchant, A. J. Aubrey, William Parker, D.W. Clement, and E. O. 
Pratt. The first officers of the lodge were E. O. Pratt, noble grand ; 
M. M. Tarbell, vice- grand ; A. Bi.xby, secretary ; C. L. Johnson, treas- 
urer. The lodge meets on Friday nights in G. A. R. hall, and has 
thirty-five members. The officers for 1890 were R. M. Wilder, noble 
grand; Harlan Graham, vice-grand ; Lowell B. Hammond, treasurer; 
W. N. Graves, secretary. 

0. 0. Howard Post, No. 33, G. A. R. — This post was organized July 

4, 1868, and was named after the distinguished major-general. The 
original number of the post was six, the following being the charter 
members : H. O. Peabody, Linus E. Sherman, R. E. Hathorn, J. H. 
Putnam, L. Shaffiier, J. V. Farnham, John Barrett, Fred A. Fish, Al- 
phonzo Sawyer, George Snowden Redfield. Meetings were held regu- 
larly until 1880, when, though the charter was never surrendered, no 
hall was hired until the post was re-organized May 10, 1883. The first 
officers of the re-organized post were R. E. Hathorn, P. C; James 
Pollard, S.V. C; H. A. Fletcher, J. V. C; W. D. Ball, adjutant ; A. T. 
Moore, Q. M. ; George Spafford, surgeon ; Elihu Snow, chaplain ; 
Oscar Gassett, O. D.; F. H. Fuller, O. G.; D. C Sheldon, sergeant- 
major ; H. G. Hemenway, Q. M. -sergeant. 

The present membership of the post is seventy-eight, and the follow- 
ing is a roster of its officers : J. Y. Raistrick, P. C; Walter W. Fish, 

5. V. C; John Lombard, J. V. C; L. O. Weeks, adjutant ; R. E. 
Hathorn, Q. M.; Amos S. Bixby, surgeon ; Charles Ray, chaplain ; 
M. M. Tarbell, O. D.; Daniel Johnson, O. G.; A. K. Gould, sergeant- 
major ; John McGowan, Q. M. -sergeant. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 



Old Families. 555 



town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter of this work. 

Bachelder. — Among those that settled in the town in the year 1796 was David Bach- 
elder. He was born in Reading, Mass., May 21, 1772. His father, Natlianiel, was born 
in the same town September 23, 1738. David married Sarah Adam.s, and liad the follow- 
ing family : Abel, died young; Sally, widow of Daniel Sawyer, resides at Cliarlestown, 
Mass.; Hannah (decea.sed), married Arad Ross ; David, resides at Ludlow; Abel; Nabby, 
wife of Otis Ross, of Michigan ; and Lovinia (deceased), married Curtis Giddings. David 
died in Andover, December 18, 1840. 

Bachelder, Abel, son of David, was born in Andover, October 16. 1811, and married 
Lois Chandler, of Chester. He died August 22, 1874. Of their family of seven children, 
four died in childhood ; the others were : Lois Abigad (decea.sed), married Marshall B. 
Taylor; Marcia Sarah, wife of Orland W. Bishop, of Chester; and Delos Abel. From 
1348 until the time of his death Mr. Bachelder resided at Ludlow. 

Bachelder, Delos Abel, son of Abel, was born in Ludlow, May 6, 1855, and married 
Julia B. Whitcomb. They have the following children : Floyd W., Stella May, Millard 
G-., and Ernest L. 

Ball, William D., was born in Dorchester, Mass., August 28, 1843, and is the eldest son 
of Henry W. and Mary (Dunham) Ball. His father was a tanner and currier by trade 
and removed to Vermont in 1848, locating at Bellows Falls, and subsequently carried on 
his business in Londonderry and Jamaica, Vt. He now resides at Amsden, Vt. Mr. 
Ball, bfsiiles attending the local schools, was a student at the Weston Academy, and 
followed his father's trade till October 23, 1862, when he became a member of Company 
C, Sixteenth Vermont Regiment, having enlisted from the town of Weston, Vt., and was 
made a corporal. He was mustered out of the service August 10, 1863, and re-enlisted 
from the town of Londonderry, March 7, 1865, for three years, but was discharged May 
12, 1865, under the proclamation issued by President Lincoln at the close of the war. 
Mr. Ball then attended Langsley's Commercial College at Rutland, Vt., and after com- 
pleting his course of studies, entered the employ of Robbins & Marsh, at Chester, Vt., 
remaining with them five years. He then engaged in business for himself in Bellows 
Falls, but came to Ludlow in 1871, and since that time has carried on the hardware 
busine.ss. He is one of the most enterprising merchants of the village. He is one of the 
present justices of the peace of the town. Mr. Ball married for his first wife Agnes J. 
White ; his second wife was Eva E. Dorval, and of their three children they have lost 
two. The other is Allen D. 

Bixby, Thomas, born in Westford, Mass., in 1762, came to Ludlow in 1784, locating 
on the eastern slope of the mountain, on the lands still in possession of his descendants. 
As early as 1789 he was taxed for fifteen acres under cultivation, and in 1792 built for 
him.'-elf a large frame house, and later than that kept a tavern. He married Lydia 
Searle-;, of Nottingham, Mass., and had twelve children, viz : Jonathan, died young ; 
Thankful, died at thirty years of age ; Thomas and Thomas, second, both died in infancy ; 
William, left no male issue ; Lydia, died twenty-eight years of age ; Rhoda (deceased), 
married, first, Martin Bryant, and second, George Reed ; Polly (deceased), married Cor- 
nelius Sawyer ; Calvin, Elnathan, Betsey, Elihu, the last three died young. Thomas died 
September 13, 1839. He married three times, but his children were all by his first wife. 

Bixby, Calvin, son of Thomas, was born in Ludlow, October 16, 1810, and married Bet- 
sey, daughter of Lieutenant Silas Proctor. Their children are Charles Calvin ; Henry 
Clay, a resident of Norwalk, Ohio; Martha Elizabeth and Mary Ehza, twins, the former 



5s6 Htstouy of Windsor County. 



the wife of Harvey Dudley, of Healdville, the latter is not living, but was the wife of 
Freeman Wallace, of Acworth, N. H.; Hiram Proctor; Sarah Jane, wife of Levi A. Pet- 
tigrew; John Reed. The three sons, Charles, Hiram and John, were residents of Lud- 
low and, e.xcepting John, were single ; he has two children, Mary and James. Calvin 
is now the oldest man living in Ludlow who is a native of the town. 

Cook, Samuel, third son of Thaddeus and Zerviah (Hinckley) Cook, and the fifth in 
descent from his Puritan ancestors, Gregory Cook, of Cambridge, Mass., Cthrough Stephen 
who had a son John, who was the father of Thaddeus,) w.as born at Preston, Conn., >Liv 
18, 17G5. On becoming of age his father gave him $1,000 with which hi; purchased land 
in Ludlow on which he always resided. He built a large two-story house, ivhich he beau- 
tified with shade tree.s, and also a large ftuit orchard. He early became interested in 
town affairs and was elected to various positions, among which were Selectmen, Grand 
Juryman, Lister, etc. He early joined the Quakers and was among their most respected 
and influential members. Previous to this he was lieutenant in the militia, which office 
he resigned on joining the above named denomination. He also refused to pay the war 
tax levied in 1812, and part of his farm was sold, but the matter was finally compromised. 
He married Sally Chamberlain, of Weathersfield, and had the following family : Hinck- 
ley, born October 27, 1792 ; Wyatt, born February 3, 1794 ; Thaddeu.s, born May .'Jl, 1795; 
Sabrina, born May 28, 1797 ; Chauncev, born April 27, 1800 ; Lnmas, born February 21, 
1802; Mary, born March U, 1804; Uriah, born September 12, 180G; Anson, born Feb- 
ruary 25, 1809; Julia Elma, born August 1, 1812. 

Goddard, Martin H., of- Ludlow, was born in Londonderry, Vt., February 20, 1844, and 
is the eldest son of Henry W. and Lucina (Babbitt) Goddard. His early life was spent 
on his father's farm, and he entered Black River Academy in 1863. graduating in i8t)7. 
While attending school at the academy he studied law with Judge William H. Walker, 
and was admitted to the Windsor County Bar at the May term of 18G9. The same year 
he formed a partnership with Judge Walker, which continued till 1884. Since that time 
he has practiced his profession alone. Mr. Goddard was Democratic candidate in 1884 in 
the second Congressional district, and was a member of the Democratic National Conven- 
tion of 1888. His first wife was Ennna Wilder, by whom he had one child , Henry M., a 
member of the class of 1890, of Middlebury College. His second wife was Miss Agnes 
A. Henderson, of Salisbury, Vt., and their children are Emma A., Agne< B. and Silas C. 

Lane, George B., M. D., of Ludlow, was born in Westminster, Vt, February 13, 1834. 
and was the only son of Erastus and Fanny (Dickinson) Lane. After attending the local 
schools he entered Black River Academy in 1852, where he graduated in the summer of 
1855. He then became a student of Middlebury College, graduating therVfrom in 1859. 
From graduation to 1862 he was principal of.the Lelaiul and Gray Academy of Townshend, 
Vt. Dr. Lane began the study of medicine with Dr. William A. Chapin, at Ludlow, and 
took a course of lectures at the Medical Department of Dartmouth College, and another 
course at the University at Vermont, at which institution he received his diploma in 1864. 
In the same year he began to practice his profession at Williarastown, Vt., where he re- 
mained until December, 1877, when he removed to Ludlow, where he has since practiced. 
Dr. Lane is a member of the Vermont Medical Society. He married Fanny Angelia 
Howard, at Townshend, Vt., and has two children, viz.: Richard II., engaged in the 
National Black River Bank, of Proctorsville, Vt., ami Winfred II. 

Pettigrew Family. — The first settler of this family in Ludlow was Andrew Pettigrew, 
who was Ijorn in Sterling, Mass., February 1, 1709, and came to Ludlow in 1800. He 
married Ruth Ross, and of their children seven reached maturity, as follows : Parker, 
Jame.s, Andrew, Sophia (deceased), married Josiah Walker; Pha-be, wife of Warner 
Bates, of Sherburne, Vt.; Phidelia, widow of Joel Sheldon, lives in Nehawka, Neb.; Ruth 
(deceased), married Dr. Ardain G. T.iylor. Deacon Andrew Pettigrew was an active 
member of the Baptist Church of Ludlow, and was the first male baptized in the town. 
He died September 24, 1854. 



Old Families. 557 



Pettigrew, Parker, son of Andrew, was born in Sterling, Mass., December 13, 1793. 
He married Mary B. Dickerson and had eight children: Horace M., a resident of Wor- 
cester, Ma.ss.; Josiah W.; Neheniiah; Rosetta, wife of Otis M. Heald, of Cavendish; Re- 
becca (deceased), married Ebenezer Robbins ; Elon G., Marcus De LaFayette, both 
residents of Flandrau, South Dakota; and Benjamin Franklin, of Ludlow, Vt. Parker 
died in September, 1877. 

Pettigrew, Josiah W., son of Parker, was born in Ludlow, May 3, 1823, and married 
for his first wife Susan Ann Ativood, by whom he had three children : .Julian P., died 
at the age of sixteen years ; George A., resides in Flandrau, South Dakota, and is a 
physician ; Stella A., died al the age of two years. His i-econd wife is Anjelia T. New- 
comb. There are no children by this marriage. Mr. Pettigrew has been engaged in 
mercantile business in Ludlow since 18i6. 

Pettigrew, George A., son of Josiah W., was born in Ludlow, April G, 18.58. In 
1SS7, October 19, he married Dora L. Stearns, of Felchville, Vt., and went to Flandrau, 
South Dakota. They have one chdd, a daughter, born September 17, 1890. 

Pettigrew, James, son of Andrew, was born in Ludlow, April 29, ISUO, and married 
Almira Adams and has eight children, two of whom died young. The others were Lewis, 
died at the age of thirty-nme years; Mary Ann, wife of Lyman Horsley, of Union, 
Wis.; Lorinda, widow of Moses Baldwin, lives in Ludlow, Vt.; Levi E.; Rhoda, wife of 
Alfred Moore, of Plymouth, Vt.; James, died at nineteen years of age. Jame.s, sr., was 
engaged in farming, and was the oldest man living in Ludlow at the time of his death, 
August 9, 1889, who was a native of the town. 

Pettigrew, Levi A., son of James, was born in Plymouth, Vt., October 21, 1835, and 
married Sarah Jane, daughter of Calvin Bixby. They have one child, Effie J,, wife of 
Rev. F. M. Preble, a Baptist clergyman, now located at Camden, Me. 

Pettigrew, Andrew, son of Andrew, was engaged in mercantile business in Ludlow 
from 1830 to 18,54, when he went to Bvansville, Wis., where he died. His .son, R. F. 
Pettigrew, of Sioux Falls City, a native of Ludlow, was elected United States Senator 
from South Dakota on its adnussion as a State, in 1889. 

Spafford. Artemas (0), son of John (.5), Samuel (4), Jonathan (3), John (2), John (1), 
was born in Sterling, Mass., April 12, 1782, and married for his first wife Sally Warren, 
by whom he had one child, John F. His .second wife was Mary Brinihall, and their chil- 
dren were Alvah M.; William P., born in Ludlow, March 2(i, 1823; Sarah W., resides in 
Ludlow; Charles O., who died single in Ludlow. His third wife was Mrs. Betsey 
Cleveland. Artemas came to Ludlow in 1801 ai]d though a carpenter by trade, was en- 
gaged m farming. He died Feljruary 20, 1862. 

White, Asa. was born in Washington, N. H., July 10, 1782, and came to Mount Holly 
Vt., wilh his father, Thoma.s, when he was six years of age. Soon after reaching man- 
hood he came to Ludlow, locatmg in the southern part of the town. He afterwards built 
and lived in the first hou.se erected on what is now Main street in Ludlow village. It 
stood directly in frunt of the woolen-mill. He married Lydia Dutton and had ten chil- 
dren : Lucy, widow of Amasa Adams, resides in Ludlow ; Maria, died single ; Lydia, 
widow of Asa Webster, lives in Ludlow; Alvin, died in the West; William H. H., died 
young; Asa, died young; Louisa (deceased), married Judson Chellis; Salina, widow of 
Rodney L. Piper, lives in Ludlow; Olive L., widow of Willi.am Earl, resides in Filch- 
burg, Mass.; Harriet E., wife of Joseph Sanders of Ludlow. Asa died March 28, 1853. 



558 History of Windsor Countv. 

CHAPTER XXV. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BETHEL.' 

BETHEL is in the northwestern part of tlie county, and is bounded on 
the north by Randolph in Orange county ; on the east by Royal- 
ton ; on the south by Stockbridge ; and westerly by Rocliester. It also 
corners with Braintree, Tunbridge and Barnard, and incloses a tract of 
territory si.t miles square. Bethel was made up from a part of Royalton 
(three tiers of lots) and a portion of what was called Middlesex, as will be 
seen from the following "Articles of Agreement," made at a meeting 
held at Hanover, N. H., December 29, 1777 : " We, the subscribers, de- 
sirous to form settlements on White River and its branches in the north- 
westerly part of Royalton, and that part of Middlesex which abuts on 
the northwesterly line of said Royalton, being convened this 29th day of 
December, 1777, to prepare the way for carrying the same into execu- 
tion, do enter into the following articles of stipulation and agreement with 
each other." 

Here follows four articles of stipulation which were signed by John 
Payne, John Ordway, Comfort Seaver, and fifteen others. Meetings were 
held on the succeeding 30th and 31st days of December, during which 
time it was voted to present a petition to the honorable Council of Safety 
for tlie State of Vermont, for a charter for the foregoing described section 
for a town to be called " Bethel " ; and said petition was drawn and signed 
by the same parties that signed the "Articles of Agreement," dated Jan- 
uary 1, 1778. At a subsequent meeting it was voted to admit proprie- 
tors to the number of fifty. At the same meeting, February, 1778, it was 
voted to appoint an agent " to enquire into the rights and claims of the 
land contained within the supposed limits of said Town, and to apply to 
Gentlemen in the State of New York for information therein " ; also to 
make arrangements for some lots " Supposed to belong to persons friendly 
to the Country." Abel Curtis was chosen agent as above, and his bill 
for the same appears on the proprietors' books charged at thirty pounds. 

At a meeting held March 25, 1778, John Payne, who had been ap- 

' By William K. Adams, esq. 



Town of Bethel. 559 

pointed aa agent to attend the General Assembly of the State of Ver- 
mont at Windsor, to transact affairs for the proprietary, presented the re- 
solve of said assembly, which was favorable for the charter which was to 
be granted when certain stipulations had been complied with, some of 
which were that there should be at least forty -six proprietors ; that cer- 
tain reservations of land for public institutions should be made, antl that 
$2,000 should be advanced to the loan office. New proprietors were 
admitted from time to time. A committee was appointed to lay out lots. 
Among other charges in their bill for services is the following : " To cash 
paid for liquor fifteen pounds." 

A lot containing four hundred and fifty acres, called "The Great Mill 
Lot," was voted to Colonel Joel Marsh, December 13, 1779, upon con- 
dition that he "do build a good saw-mill by the first day of September 
ne.\t, and a good grist-mill by the first day of November following, upon 
the forfeiture of five thousand pounds, extraordinary Providences 
excepted." 

December 23, 1779, the charter was granted, of which the following 
is a copy : 

" Charter of Bkthel. 

"State of Vermont ( The Grovernor. Council, and General Assembly of the Repre- 
L. s. j sentatives of the Freemen of Vermont. 

" To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting : 

" Know Ye, that, Whereas it has been represented to us by our friends John Payne 
and John House, and their assoeiatesi, that there is a tract or parcel of vacant land lying 
within this State, which has not been heretofore granted, which they pray may be granted 
to them. 

"We have therefore, thought (it for tlie due encouragement of settling a new Planta- 
tion within this State, and other valuable considerations us hereunto Moving, and do by 
the.se presents, in the name and by the Autliority of the freemen of the State of Ver- 
mont, give and grant unto the said John Payne, John House, and the several persons 
hereafter named their associates, (viz.) Dudley Chase, Benjamin Smith, Simeon Chase, 
John Hibbard, Matthias Stone, Benjamin Chase, Asa Edgerton, Samuel Peake, Will- 
iam Chaplin, Samuel Chase, Paul McKemptry, Ralph Wheelock, John Ordaway, Solo- 
mon Chase, James Treadway, Solomon Cleveland, Rice Wheeler, Seth Chase, Samuel 
Stone, William Lyon, Daniel Copeland, Laban Gates, Benijah Strong, Thomas Putnam, 
Samuel Webster, Israel Smith, John Throop, Timothy Bru.sh, John Payne, jr., John 



560 MistorV of Windsor CouNtV. 

Cook, Zebuloii Lyon, Joel Marsh, Ebanezer Putnam, John Torrey, John Morse, John 
Cooper. Thoin:is Biiij^haiii, Asa Parker, Stephen Cliiki, Benjamni Crane, Joseph Tililen, 
Jeremiah Trescolt, Daniel Kenney, Solomon Strong, and Wilham Chaplin, jr. Together 
wiih live equal Shares, to be appropriated to Public uses as follows, (viz.) first, one share 
for the use of a Seminary or College within the Slate. One Share for the first Settled 
Minister, or Minislers,.of the Gospel, to be disposed of for ihat purpose as the Town 
shall direct. One Share for the perpetual Use and support of the Ministry of said Town. 
One Share for the County Grammar School, throughout this State, and one Share for 
the u.se and support of a School or Schools within said Town. 

"The following tract or parcel of land situate lying and being within this State 
described and bounded as follows, viz.; Beginning at a point Six Miles and one-half, on 
a straight line North Gl Degrees west from the Northwesterly corner of Sharon — thence 
soulli tliirty-three degrees; West Six Miles, Sixty rods; thence North sixty-one De- 
grees; West Six Miles; thence North thirty-three Degrees ; East, Six Miles and Sixty 
rods; thence Soutli Sixty-one Degrees; east Six Miles to the point of marking the first 
bound, containing by admeasurement, twenty-three Thousand and Sixty acres. To be 
divided into fifty-two equal Shares, and that the same be, and is hereby incorporated 
into a Township by the name of Bethel, and the Inhabitants that do, or shall hereafter 
inhaliit the said Township are declared to be enfranchised and entitled to all and everv, 
the privileges and immunities that other Towns witliin tliis State do by Law exercise 
and enjoy. 

" To Have and to Hold the said described tract of land as above expressed, together 
with all privileges and appurtenances to them and their respective heirs and assigns for- 
ever upon the following conditions and reservations, (viz.) 

"Imprimis. — That each Proprietor of the Township of Bethel aforesaid, cultivate five 
Acres on his share in said Town, within the term of three years from the date of this 
Grant, and build a house at least eighteen feet Square, and be in actual possession of the 
premises within five years from the date aforesaid, and continue to improve said Lands 
And for non-performance thereof, the said land to revert back to the Freemen of this 
State. 

"Secundo. — That all Pine Trees suitable for ^[asts and Spears for Shipping, be reserved 
to the use and benefit of the Freemen of this State. 

" In Testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of this State to be affixed, At Ar- 
lington, in the County of Bennington, this 3d day of December, A. D., 1779, and in the 
third year of the Independence of this State. 

" TnOS. CuiTTENDEN. 

''JosEi'U Fat, Secty." 

The first town meeting was held May 17, 1782. The officers chosen 
were: Clerk, Barnabas Strong; constable, Michael Flynn ; selectmen, 
Joel Marsh, John Benjamin and George Smith. Michael Flynn was also 
the first chosen justice of the peace. The early town meetings, also 
other public gatherings, were called and held at the house of Colonel 
Joel Marsh. 



Town of Bethel. 561 

Early Settlements. — The settlement of the town was commenced in 
the autumn of 1779, by Benjamin Smith. He was joined the next sea- 
son by Joel Marsh, Samuel Peak, Seth Chase, Willard Smith and David 
Stone. Stone was afterwards taken prisoner by the Indians. 

One of the first things the settlers attended to was the building of a 
log fort protection against Indian attacks, as the country was in an un- 
settled condition, and an Indian attack was imminent at any time. The 
fort was located where the railroad now runs, and near the freight depot. 
When the railroad was being built some of the old logs and other objects 
were excavated, showing this to be the exact spot of its location. The 
wisdom shown by these first settlers in causing the construction of this 
fort was fully demonstrated, for early in August, 1780, a party, of 
twenty-one Indians made a raid on Barnard, taking three men from 
that town as prisoners, also the Daniel Stone (before referred to) from 
this town. 

There was a small detachment of soldiers at Royalton at this time, 
commanded by a Captain Safiford, who, with his command, were removed 
to the Bethel fort. This move was undoubtedly the salvation of the 
Bethel settlers, but proved directly the opposite for Royalton, for about 
two months later a large party of Indians fell upon that place and de- 
stroyed the settlement. Bethel probably would have shared the same 
fate but for this fort and the garrison stationed there, as the Indians came 
up the river in sight of the fort, but passed along to the northward up 
the east branch. 

Some of the settlers and their families, after the burning of Royalton, 
went down the river to Hartford. All of the people in the vicinity 
came to the fort at the time of the Indian raid. One man by name of 
Peak, who lived about a mile from the fort, started to go to his place to 
see about his stock, but soon came back saying the Indians were there 
and were killing his hog, as he heard him squeal. But the squealing 
proved to be from hunger rather than the presence of Indians. 

First Events. — The first deed recorded bears date April 17, 1780, all 
conveyances previous to this being by the proprietors. The first child 
born in town was Asa Smith, born September 6, 1 780, and the farm 
where he was born is still known as the Smith farm. A daughter of Asa 
Smith is still living. The first marriage recorded bears date October, 

71 



$62 History of Windsor CountV. 

'795 1 the parties being Rernice Snow and Rachel Hardy. September 
2 1, 1786, Martin Kellogg was born. Mr. Kellogg at this writing is still 
living in Norwalk, O., in the one hundred and fourth year of his life. 
Jonathan Marsh, a son of Colonel Joel Marsh, was chosen town clerk in 
1798, and held the office for many years. He, with his son, A. G. 
Marsh, and a grandson, William R. Adams, the present clerk, have held 
the office for over half the time since the town was organized. 

Among what would appear to the present generation as curious cus- 
toms of the earlier times, which are recorded, was the making public of 
the religious belief of the voters, so as to pay their contributions for sup- 
port of preaching as they wished to. Here is a specimen : 

"Bethel, September 2d, 1794. 

" This may Certify that William Curtis, appears and says that he be- 
lieves in his judgment that the Baptist Persuasion is right and desires to 
pay them. Samuel Peak, Deacon. 

" Entered September 2, 1794, MiCHAEL Flynn, Town Clerk." 

And another of a different nature, warning new comers out of town, 
to prevent them gaining a residence, in case they should become town 
charges : 

" State of Vermont, > 
Windsor County, ^ 

" To either Constable of Bethel in said County of Windsor. 

" By the Authority of the State of Vermont, you are hereby required 
to Summons or make known unto Calvin Dyke, Simeon Bacon, now re- 
siding in said Bethel, to depart this town forthwith, under the pains and 
penalties of the Law in such cases made and provided. 

" Hereof fail not, but of this transcript and your doings herein, your 
return make according to law. 

" Given under our hands at Bethel this 19th day of March A/ino Dom- 
ini, 1804." 

Signed, Nathaniel Nobles, Chester Chapman, David Stone, selectmen. 

On September 20, 1790, there was a town meeting to see about the 
" First Settled Minister," when it was voted to give the " Rev. Mr. 
Thomas Russell a call to Gospel Ministry in this town " ; also voted to 
give him as a settlement in the ministry one hundred pounds, to be paid 
in wheat at five shillings a bushel, thirty pounds to be paid the first 



Town of Bethel. 563 



year, thirty the second and forty the third year. Also voted a salary of 
fifty pounds the first year and rise five pounds every year until the salary 
arises to seventy, and that be the stated salary. Also, at a subsequent 
meeting, voted "to him the full Share of land reserved for the first set- 
tled Minister." Also made arrangements for moving his family from 
Connecticut. 

In 1794 a difficulty between pastor and people commenced, after 
which the minister's salary was not kept up. The result was an action 
commenced against the town, and judgment rendered against them, but 
the Legislature, petitioned to by the town, finally directed a settlement, 
which was agreed upon in December, 1796. 

During the time the inhabitants were looking after their spiritual wel- 
fare their bodily safety was not forgotten, as the following vote at June 
meeting, 1794, will show: 

" Voted to raise the sum of nine pounds on the list of the Inhabitants 
of this Town for the purpose of procuring Ammunition for the Militia 
as the law directs." 

In March, 1804, there was an article in the warning for town meeting, 
"To See if the Town would vote to build a Meeting-House." They 
voted not to build one. 

The first church organized in town was the Episcopal, formed July 
27, 1794, with ten members. Rev. John C. Ogden being the first rector. 
The first church building was erected about four miles northerly from 
the depot, at Bethel village, and is still standing, although not often 
used. At a later day another edifice was erected in the village, where 
the society now worships. The society also owns a parsonage. 

The East Bethel Baptist Church was organized in 1812. Rev. Benja- 
min Putnam was the first pastor. The society still holds services there. 

There is a Union house in East Bethel, where occasional services are 
lield by the Universalists and others. 

The Congregational Church, located at Bethel village, was organized 
in 1 817, with thirteen members. The first pastor was Rev. Benjamin 
Abbott. The church building is of brick and has been remodeled to 
keep step with the advancing spirit of the times. 

There are two Methodist churches in the town. One is situated in 
the northern and the other in the western part. These are properly 



564 History of Windsor County. 



called the Methodist Episcopal churches. They do not have regular 
preaching all of the time, but still enough to keep alive their organiza- 
tions. 

The Adventists have a camp-ground near Findley's Bridge where 
they hold annual gatherings. 

The Universalist CJuirch, located in Bethel village, was organized 
December 29, 1817, with thirty six members. The society had stated 
preaching for a long time before the organization was perfected, the early 
meetings dating back to the first settlement, many of the pioneers being 
of that belief. Rev. Hosea Ballou preached to them, also others of the 
older ministers in the denomination. Meetings were held at Colonel 
Marsh's house and other dwellings. The church edifice was erected in 
1 8 16, as a Union church. It was of brick, and was a fine building for 
the times. It came into the sole control of the Universalists in time, and 
has since been remodeled several times, and is now in keeping with the 
age. Rev. Kittredge Havens was the first settled pastor, his pastorate 
extending from 1821 to 1828. The Universalist State Convention was 
first organized here over fifty years ago. 

Scliools. — In March, 1811, nine school districts were formed. Since 
that time five others have been added, but later alterations have reduced 
the number to twelve. 

The town of Bethel, geographically, is nearly the center of the State. 
The surface is very uneven, especially back from the streams, and the 
soil is generally productive. There are many good farms, both on the 
streams and back on the hills. There is plenty of timber of all kinds 
usually found in this State. The town is well watered : White River 
flows across the southeast corner. The third branch of White River, 
which rises in Roxbur)', courses through Braintree and a corner of Ran- 
dolph into Bethel, flows about four miles within this town, and then 
discharges into White River. The second branch flows across the eastern 
corner of the town, through the village of East Bethel, and joins White 
River at North Royalton. Locust Creek flows from Barnard, and is also 
the outlet of Silver Lake in Barnard, and joins White River. Camp 
Brook flows from Rochester and joins the third branch about two miles 
above Bethel village. The Gilead Brook flows across the northwesterly 
part of the town, and joins the third branch about two miles above Camp 



Town of Bethbl. 565 



Brook. There is also a stream in the westerly part of the town that 
joins White River just before the latter enters Bethel. There are many 
other minor streams in different sections of the town. 

The Central Verniont Railroad runs through the town, having about 
six miles of main line, aftbrding ample accommodations for travel and 
freight. There are daily stages to Stockbridge, Rochester and points up 
White River, also one to Woodstock by way of Barnard. 

There is a fine and extensive deposit of granite located about three 
miles from the railroad, which only needs capital and proper manage- 
ment to be of very great advantage to the town. Considerable gold has 
been found, but in so small quantities as to hardly pay for the work in 
procuring it. There are also specimens of iron ore, vitriol and slate to 
be found in the town. 

Bethel Village is located in the southeastern part of the town, at the 
junction of White River and its third branch, and is the central point for 
trade and travel from Barnard, a portion of Royalton, Stockbridge, 
Rochester, Hancock, a portion of Sherburne and Pittsfield. Bethel is 
one of the most important stations on the Central Vermont Railroad 
between Essex Junction and White River Junction. There is a great 
amount of travel and freighting at this station. Large quantities of 
lumber, in the rough and manufactured, are loaded here. There are 
three churches, Universalist, Congregational and Episcopal, which hold 
regular services ; a fine graded school of four departments, with an 
average attendance of about one hundred and forty pupils; a bank, two 
hotels, a printing office, a large flour and feed -mill doing wholesale and 
retail business, a saw- mill, an extensive tannery, carriage shop, two 
harness shops, marble and granite works, two livery stables, photograph 
gallery, two tin shops, three attorneys' offices, insurance agents, meat 
market, milliner and dress-maker's rooms, furniture store, and about a 
dozen stores of various kinds which keep large stocks and a great variety. 
The village has about six hundred inhabitants, and is, in all respects, 
a thriving and growing country village. There has been, during the 
past year or two and at the present time, some very fine residences 
erected. 

The village, with the territory immediately surrounding it, was origi- 
nally divided into two school districts, the third and fifth, but about 



566 History of Windsor County. 

1850 they were united and called District No. 3. In 1885 it was formed 
into a graded school district, and in 1886 was chartered by the Legisla- 
ture as the Bethel Graded School. 

Many years ago there was a woolen factory, with carding works, full- 
ing mill, and works for pressing oil from flaxseed. There is a building 
on the old site now which is commonly called " The Old Factory." 
There also used to be in the long ago what were called " Potashes," 
places where postash was made from luirdwood ashes. The writer re- 
members being in and about them when he was a lad. In July, 1S30, 
occurred what was known as the " great freshet," which swept away tile 
bridge over the branch, stores, mills, factories, etc. 

December 10, 1877, the " great fire" occurred, burning out two busi- 
ness blocks, livery barn, furniture store, tenement house, private dwell- 
ings, etc. The place has now a line of pipe connected with a strong pump 
in the Bethel mills, and a good quantity of hose, so that such a fire as 
the above would not be likely to occur again. 

East Bethel is a small village in the eastern part of the town, situated 
on the second branch of White River. It has two churches, a hotel, tin 
shop, store, mills, etc.; also daily stage connections. Its nearest railroad 
point is Royalton. There was a woolen factory at this point for a num- 
ber of years, but it burned and was not rebuilt. There has been a cream- 
ery started there within the year past, which is doing a fair business. 

Old Families. 

It wdiild be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter of this work. 

Abbott, Lewis IL, born in Kingiield, Me., September 25, 1842, was tbe only son of 
Lewis IL and Arabella (Stevon.s) Al)bot.t. He came to Ivoxbnry, Vt., in the s[)riiig of 
18G3, and .siib.sequently removed to Randolph, and gradnaled in tbe spring of 1863 from 
the Normal School situated in tl:e town. Previous to his graduation he taught school, 
and in 1S72 went West and taught in Illinois, Michigan and Kansas. lie also engaged 
in stock raising in Kansas. He came to Betliel in 1881. He married Louisa L. Jones, 
wlu) W.1S boni in Tunbridge, Keljruary 22, 18i3. They have two cliildicn, viz.: John li,, 
born ill Hcihel, January 5, 1883; and Thomas J., horn in Uethel, January 31, 1885. 



Old Families. 567 



Bryant, James, was bom in Barnard, Vt., September 2L 1806. He married Eliza C, 
daughter of Hezekiah and Katharine (Clapp) M <cl{, November 11, 1827. .She was l)orn 
in Woodstock, Vt., March 30, 1810. Tlieir children were Cordelia Eveline, Aiigu.st.i 
Lorinda, Alonzo James, Hiram Alfred. James died January 19, 1864. His widow 
married ag-ain, and died November 5, 18G8. Alonzo James, born in Bethel, Aprd 4, 
183(), married Jidy 23, 18-57, Julia A. Clark, a native of Landgrove, Vt. They have one 
child, Gilmore W., born in Bethel, August 8, 1859. His father was a teacher of vocal 
music, and secured for his son instruction by the ablest professors of music. The talent 
thus awakened was developed and cultivated by study with the best masters. He stud- 
ied with Professor Carlyle Petersilea, of Boston, finishing his musical education with 
him in 1881. Mr. Bryant taught lessons on the piano at different places, and in 1881 
founded a Conservatory of Music at Brattleboro, Vt., wliich he conducted successfully 
for two years. He was engaged as teacher of music at Leland & Gray's Academy, at 
Townshend, Vt., and at theGlenwood Senunary, at West Brattleboro, Vt. In 1884 he 
moved to Springfield, Mass., where he remained till the fall of 1885. At that time he 
accepted the position of Director of Music in the Wesleyan Female Institute at Stanton, 
Va., which position he has since held. A number of Mr. Bryant's compositions have 
l)een publi.shed, among which we mention " Reverie Poetique," ''Polka Chromatique," 
"Forty-Three Practical Piano Siudies," "Polonaise Americana," "Finger Flight Ma- 
zurka," "Mazurka Caprice," "Song of the Brook," "Distant Bells," "Dancing Shad- 
ows," and "Merriment." Mr. Bryant married Mi.ss Mattie E., daughter of Penlielil 
Bullard. She is a native of Bethel. 

Brooks, Simeon, had seven children, viz.: Eli, who died in Braintree, Vt.; Simeon, 
died in Bethel; Ira, died in Bethel; Asa; Anna, married Ellis Fish, and died in Ran- 
dolph ; Betsey, died single in Bethel ; and Almira, was drowned during her childhood. 
Asa, of the above, was born in Bethel, July 31, 1788, and married January 16, 1814, 
Lucy Stevens, who was born November 27, 1792. Asa died August 7, 1871, his wife 
March 29, 1876. They had .seven children, viz.: Lucy Hay ward, died nine years of age; 
Nancy Stevens, wife of Simeon A. Webster, of Bethel ; Asa Strong, died four years of 
age; Samuel Hayward, died in infancy; Albert A.; Julius P., died at Auburn, Cal.; 
Sophia L., wife of Albert F. Waterman, of Tunbridge, Vt. 

Brooks, Albert A., was born in Bethel, October 18, 1824. He received a common 
school education, and was engaged in farming till he was eighteen years of age. He 
then engaged in mercantile business, and in 1856 opened a store at Gaysville, Vt. He 
disposed of this business in 1875 and came to Bethel, formed a partnership under style 
name of Brooks & Montgomery, which coniinued three years. On the dissolution of 
this copartnership the present firm of Brooks & Washburn was formed. From 1879 to 
1888 Mr. Brooks was connected with Nelson Gay, Chester Downer and F. P. Ilolden, 
under the name of the Gaysville Manufacturing Company, in the manufacture of under- 
wear. In the latter year a stock company was formed, and in the same year the works 
were destroyed by fire. He was postmaster at Gaysville, Vt., twelve years from 1861 
to 1873, and is adirector of the National White River Bank of Bethel. Mr. Brooks mar- 
ried Jeannette Whitcomb, aud has two children, Jennie, wife of J. A. Chedell, of Gays- 
ville, Vt.; and Kate, wife of S. M. Washburn, of Bethel. 

Bowen, Squire, born in Rehohoth, Mass., February 28, 1786, married Candice Jones, 
a native of that town. He removed from Massachu.setts to Cabot, Vt, in 1810, and 
came to Bethel in 1833. His children were Maria, Abel B., Squire, Albert, Joseph, Ab- 
igail, Zebedee, Lorenzo and S.amuel, both residents of Bethel. Abel B. was born in 
Rehohoth, December 13, 1812, married, first, Polly Hoisington, by whom he had three 
children: Azro B., Beulah, Arlinda. He married, .second, Mrs. Sarah J. Morse, nee Will- 
iams. Thomas Williams, her father, was born in Cornish, N. H., May 14, 1785, and mar- 
ried, October 15, 1820, Phila Kimball, who was born in Royalton, June 15, 1799. Thomas 
died October 9, 1875, his wife November 19, 1878. Their children were Louisa Gilford, 
Benjamin, Sarah Jane, Leonard Kimball, Susan Alvira, Amos Huntington, Amplias 



$68 



History of Windsor County. 



Frencli, Polly A., Cliailes Lyman, Amanda Rebecca, Thomas Rix, John Kimball, Esther 
Ann and Wallace Edward. Charles Morse, jr., her first husband, was born in Ilooliester, 
Vt., October '27, 182;i, and was tlie eldest son of Charles and Hannah (Chapman) Morse. 
He was a farmer in Rochiwter, and in October, l.S(i2, he enlisted in Company A, Sixteenth 
Regiment Vermont Vohinteers, and was killed at the battle of Gettysliurg, July 3, 18G3. 
He married, June 28. 184G, Sarah J. Williams, born in Bethel, February 11, 1824. The 
children by this union were Charles L., born in Rochester, March 26, 1849; Lizzie J., 
born in Rochester, February 20, 185.5; Sumner F., born in Rochester, October .3, 1857; 
and Kimball W., born in Rochester, January 2, 1859. 

Chad wick, Constantine, was born in West Randolph, Vt, July 22, 1826, and is the 
eldest sou in a family of twelve children, of Rufus and Mahala (York) Chadwick. He 
was a carpenter by trade, ami enlisted in August, 1SG2, andwas mustered in on the first 
of September as a member of Company H, Eleventh Vermont Volunteers. He served 
till June, 18G4, and lost his left arm at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1SG3. He has 
been a resident of East Betljel since 1878, and is engaged in farming. He married Mar- 
tha Gilson, of Randolph, and has four childre ;, viz.: Amelia, wife of Cyrus M. Locke, 
of Detroit, Mich.; Jennie, wife of Cornelius Griffin, of Elkhart, Tnd.; George, resides in 
Arizona; and Emma, wife of Daniel Scott, of Montpeher, Vt. 

Chase. Moses, a son of Abner Chase, was born in Sutton, N. H., and married Hannah 
Slade. They had four chililren : Mary (deceased), married Hiram Thurston; Mo.ses; 
Fannie, wife of Lester Gay, of Iowa; and Lyman, died in Rochester, Vt. Moses, of the 
above family, was born in Rochester, Vt., April .30, 1821, and married, Novend)er 15, 
1846, RosinaF. Hill. She was liorn at Sharon, Vt., April 4, 1823, and w.as the daugh- 
ter of Benjamin and Sarah (Scales) Hill. They have four children : Moses Roscoe, a 
dentist, at Ludlow, Vt., was Ijorn May 18, 1849; Flora Rosina, wife of W. T. Keyes, of 
Kearney, Neb.; Fannie Mabel, wife of H. C. Dunham, of Edmunds, Indian Territory; 
and Rolla Miner. (See sketch of Dr. Rolla Miner Chase oi. page 930 of this volume.) 

The Child Family. — Benjamin Child emigrated from Great Britain to America. He 
helped i n building the first church in Roxbury, Mass., and was admitted to this church 
in 1658. He had twelve children. He died Octoljer 14, 1678, in Roxbury, Mass. 

Child, Benjamin, second son of Benjamin and Mary Child, was born in Roxbury, Mas.s., 
in 165G. He married Grace Morris, March 7, 1683, and they had twelve children. He 
died January 24, 1724. 

Child. Ephraim, first child of Benjamin and Grace (Morris) Child, was born in Rox- 
bury. Mass.. December 18, 1683. He married Priscilla Harris in 1710, and they had ten 
children. He settled in Woodstock, Conn., about 1710, was active in the Revolutionary 
struggle, andwas lieutenant in a Connecticut regiment. He died November 22, 1759. 

Child, Daniel, second son of Ephraim and Priscilla (Harris) Child, was born in Wood- 
stock, Conn., January 1, 1713. He married, first, January 1, 1747, Ruth Ammidown, 
and second, Abigail Bridges. They had six children. He died in 177G. 

Child, Stephen, third son of Daniel and Ruth (Ammidown) Child, was born in Wood- 
stock, Conn., November 27, 1749. He married, September 7, 1778, Mercy Chase, of 
Sutton, Mass., and they h.ad eleven ehddren. He died May 24, 1831, m Cornish, N, II. 
He was one of the early proprietors of Bethel, Vt., but never became a resident. 

Child, Daniel, eldest child of Stephen and Mercy (Chase) Child, was born in Cornish, 
N. H.. August G. 1779. He married, November 11, 1804, A-pama Lyman, daughter of 
Josiah and Eunice (Tiffany) Lyman, and they had nine children. Mr. Child, with his 
brother Enos, settled early in Bethel, Vt. After marrying he went to Rochester Hol- 
low, Vt., and began in the wilderness. He was a great pedestrian, and walked to Ohio 
and back on a prospecting tour in the summer of 1818. On his return he moved onto a 
farm in Bethel, where he lived until his death. He was a careful and methodical re- 
corder of events, and was for many years parish and town clerk, as well as clerk of the 



Old Families. 569 



district in which he Uved. He was notably upright in business, temperate in his habits, 
one of the first to support the temperance movement in his town, a man of well defined, 
clear ideas, a lover of books, a scholar and a thinker. He was a life-long member of the 
Episcopal church, and in pohtics was a Whig. His mathematical and statistical turn of 
mind fitted well his business of land surveyor, and his opinion came to he authority con- 
cerning disputed corners, lines, etc. He died January 7, 1853, very suddenly, falling 
dead on the street in Bethel village. 

Child, Lyman, third son and sixth child of Daniel and Apama (Lyman) Child, was 
born in Rochester, Vt., July 31, 1810. He married, June 26, 1838, Elizabeth E. Blanch- 
ard, of Pomfret, Vt. Mr. Child has been a lite-long resident of Bethel, Vt., a farmer, 
and prominent in trade as grocer and dealer in meat and grain, who believes a livfngcan 
be earned in Vermont as well as elsewhere. 

Chdd, Elizabeth J., daughter of Lyman and Elizabeth E. (Blanchard) Child, was born 
in Bethel, Vt., July 1, 1840. She graduated from the medical department of the Uni- 
versity of Michigan in June, 1889, and is now (1890) a practicing physician in Bethel, Vt. 

Child, Daniel Lyman, son of Lyman and Elizabeth K. (Blanchard) Child, was born in 
Bethel, Vt.. June 25, 1852, and married, April 17, 1883, Josephine M. Clark, second 
daughter of Nathaniel F. Clark, of Bethel, Vt. He is now a merchant and a farmer in 
Bethel. 

Roche, Joanna, eldest daughter of Richard VV. and Emily (Child) Roclie, and grand- 
daughter of Daniel and Apama (Lyman) Child, was born in Charlestown, Mass., October 
7, 1833. Her early years, as well as those of her mother, were spent at the homestead 
of Daniel Child. Joanna was born and reared in the Church of Rome, and when quite 
young entered a convent of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary, taking the name of 
Sister Mary Elizabeth. Slie has become eminent, not only for her great love and zeal 
for the church, but for her remarkable organizing and executive ability, having traveled 
from Canada to Florida and Oregon, founding convents and supervising their schools. 
She is at this time with her family of nuns working in Los Angeles, Cal. 

Child, Enos, son of Stephen and Mercy (Chase) Child, was born in Cornish, iST. H., 
January 10, 1783, and married, August 23, 1806, Sarah Bemis. He settled in Bethel, 
Vt., about 1813, where he lived until his death, January 30, 1839. 

Child, Asaph Bemis, second son of Enos and Sarah (Bemis) Child, was born in Bethel, 
Vt., August 22, 1813. He married, January 7, 1840, Eusebia Sabine. He graduated 
from the Medical College at Burlington, Vt., and practiced a few years in Bethel. Later 
he studied and practiced dentistry in Boston, Mass., attaining considerable eminence in 
his profession. He was one of the founders of the Banner of Light, a leading Spiritu- 
alist journal. 

Davis, .Jacob, came from New Hampshire to Randolph. He was born in 1768 and 
died June 21, 18G1. He married, first, Judith Hidden, by whom he had three children: 
Dorcas, died young; Asa, died in Royalton ; and Mary, married James Short and died 
in Royalton. He married, second, Lydia Phillips and their children were Plannah, 
widow of Chester Smith, lives, at Hyde Park, Mass.; George, died at Royalton; James; 
John, died at Vershire, Vt.; and two daughters named Caroline that died young. 

Davis, James, of the above family, was born in Randolph, August 22, 1814, and re- 
moved to Royalton in 1837. He was married, March 20, 1838, to Charlotte, daughter 
of Aqiiilla and Margaret Stanley, born in Tunbridge, "March 8, 1816. They had four 
children : Ellen Margaret, Sarah Jane, Minnie Mary, and William Jacob. Ellen M. mar- 
ried L. D. Leavitt, of Brainard, and died in 1801. Sarah J. married W. D. Lee, of New- 
ark, 0., and died October 6, 1890; they had four children, Nellie Davis, Cha les Augus- 
tus, Kate Mode, and Charlotte May. Minnie M. married Charles Marsh, of Sharon, 
and had two children, Kate Florence, born October 21, 1874, and John, born in Novem- 
ber, 1877, died April, 1878. William J., of Glens Falls, N. Y., was born May 9, 1855, 



570 History of Windsor County. 

and iiianied Mode, daughter of D. W. Cowdery, of Royalton ; they have two children, 
Kathrina Mode, born August 28, 1878, and Margaret Stanley, born NoveinVx-r Ifi. 
1888. James Davis was a member of the House of Representatives of 1S4'J, and during 
his life held nearly every town office. He was a member of Clirist's Episcopal church, 
of Bethel, being one of the vestry, and part of the time a warden. He was a man of 
recognized ability and stern integrity, and commanded the confidence and respect of all 
who knew him. 

Davis, Samuel, was born in October, 1782, and died October 6, 18G5. Hemarrieil 
Sally Cotlin, and had eight children : Zilpah C, widow of William Preston, resides m 
Bethel; James Smith, fate unknown; Samuel; Fannie (deceased), married James Gif- 
ford ; Sarah, died single; Abigail (deceased), married M. Spaulding; Jacob, married 
Sally B. Chamberlin, died in Weathersfiold, Vt,; and Joseph, died four years of age. 

Davis, Sanniel, son of Samuel, was born in Weathersfield, Vt., May 25, 1812, and 
married, September .30, 1839, Desire, daughter of Isaac and Azubia (Bailey) Chamber- 
lain. She was born in Stockbridge, May .30. 1810. Mr. Davis became a resident of 
Bethel in 182'J, where he died May 1, 1886. He had three children : Clark S.; James, 
born in Bethel, August 28, \S4h, resides at Lowell, Mass.; Abby, died aged thirteen 
years. 

Davis, Clark S., was born in Bethel, July 17, 1S40, and married, February 2.5, 1863. 
Alice N! Giddings, daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Boynton) Giddings; she died June 
21, 1865; they had one son, Walter, born May 21, 1865, died June 3, April 17, 1866. 
he married Hattie M., daughter of Enos and Alartha (Holden) Town; she was born in 
Barre, Vt., April 21, 1841. They have three children, Willis Clark, boruMune 10, 1867 ; 
Fred Lincoln, born May 9, 1871 ; Barton Encs, born December 20, 1874. Mr. Davis is 
the jiresent first selectman of Bethel. 

Fish, Lewis, was born in Randolph, February 28, 1818. Ellis Fish, his grandfather, 
born in Cape Cod, came to Vermont and settled in Randolph, Orange county. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth Cobb, and reared a family of eight children, of whom James, father of 
Lewis, born in Randoljih, married Achsali Lam.^on, and hail six children, as follows : 
Caroline, was the wife of Ilirimi Smith, and died in Randolph; Maria, was the wife of 
Lewis Wdl.s, she died in Royalton ; Harriet, was the wife of Darwin Paul, and died in 
Bast Bethel; Lewis; Catharine, w.as the wife of Henry Gould, and died in Jamaica, Vt,; 
Maudane, was the wife of Dr. .Tolm Ordway, and lives in West Liberty, 0. James Fi,<;h 
died in .\ndover. Mass,, May, 1823, his wife in Randolph, Vt,, August, 1873. Lewis 
married March 7, 1842, Sarah, daughter of William and Isabella (Mcintosh) Wyatt. 
She was born in .\niherst, N. H., October 20, 1815. Their children are as follows : 
William Lewis, born December 11, 1843, died aged six; Sarah Phebe, born .Vugust 10, 
1850, wife of Judson II. Filts, a farmer living in Br.aintree, Vt.; Frances Florence and 
Clarence, twins, died in infancy, Mr, Fish live<l in Randolph until 1846, and since that 
time has lived in Bethel, a farmer by occupation, Sarah, his first wife, died March 11, 1S73, 
He married, second, March 10, 1874, Lucy Cornelia, daughter of Charles W. and Char- 
lotte (Hudson) Kimball. She was born in Brookfield, Vt., May 27, 1834. 

Gilson, — The family of this name in Bethel are of Scotch descent. Their emigrant 
ancestor, Eleazer Gilson, came from Scotland to Pepperell, Mass. He married Sybil 
, ,-ind his will is dated November 25, 1777. He reared a family of twelve chil- 
dren, of whom .fames was his fourth son. was born in Pepperell, and married Sarah 
.\nn Dodge, of that town. Of their family si.^c children reached adult age. Samuel, the 
second son, was born in Penperell, April 13, 1795, and married Fanny Pinney, who was 
born in Windsor, Conn., February 13J 1796. Samuel died in Bethel, .Vugust 29, |S71, 
his wife died February 26, 1885. Their children were James Martin, born in Northfield, 
Vt., October 9, 1818, and died at Leavenworth, Kan., April 12, 1888; Frederick Alonzo, 
born at Northfield, January 22, IS'iO, died at New York, June 15, 1870; Fanny Mari.a, 
born at Northfield, October 4, 1823, is the wife of Merrick Sylvester, of Bethel ; Will- 



Old Families. 571 



iam Henry, born at Hartland, Vt., September 22, 1826, died at New York, April 17, 
1865 ; Sarah Ann, born at Hartland, October 24, 1828, is the wife of Edwin Sturtevant, of 
Bethel; Elizabeth Newbury, born at Barnard, Vt., October 7, 1830, wife of John Tay- 
lor, of New York city; Hiram Harlehigh, born in Barnard, January 17, 1832, who 
at the age of six months, removed with his father to Stockliridge, Vt, where he 
hved till 1853, when he went to Indianapolis, Ind., travehng for a wholesale and retail 
drug house. In 1856 he became engaged in the hotel business at 367 Broadway, New 
York city, and came to Bethel, Vt., in 1868. He went to Minneapolis, Miini., in 1869, 
engaged in the hotel business, and returned to Bethel in 1873. He purchased the Bethel 
mills in 1877, .sold the same in 1890, and is at present a director in the National White 
River Bank. He married, December 25, 1862, Jennie S., daughter of Merrick and Sa- 
rah M. (AVhitcomb) Gay. She was born in Stockbridge, October 24, 1837. They have 
an adopted daughter, Mary, born in Brooklyn, N .Y., January 9, 1881. Carlton Simons, 
born at Stockbridge, October 15, 1834, resides at Nyack, N. Y.; Francis Samuel, born 
at Stockbridge, April 26, 1838, resides at Minneapolis, Minn.; Edward Aleric, born in 
Stockbridge, November 17, 1841, resides at Orange, N. Y. 

Jones, Alexander K., born in Preston, N. Y., March 24, 1809, married, April 14, 1833, 
Louisa, daughter of James and Pliebe (Davis) Woodworth. She was born in Bethel, 
June 11, 1811. Mr. Jones came to Vermont in 1837, locating in Bethel for two years. 
He then became a resident of Tunbridge, where he remained till 1857, when he again 
located in Bethel where he died February 12, ISSl. His wife died February 27, 1886. 
Their children were James, Phebe, Ellen C, Louisa L,, Laura J., Lauraette, and John S. 

Marks, Frederick FL, was born in Randolph, Vt, February 23, 1832, and was the 
youngest son of Seneca and Hannah (Russell) Marks. His father was born in Reading, 
Vt, June 20, 1783, and became a resident of Bethel in 1835, locating on the farm now 
occupied by his sons, and where he died June 20, 1867. His mother was the daughter 
of Rev. Thomas Russell, a native of Massachu.setts, and was the first settled minister in 
Bethel. She died June 27, 1883, being eighty-eight years of age. They had two other 
children besides the subject of our sketch, viz.: Frederick, who died at twelve years of 
age; and Solon, a resident of Milwaukee. Frederick H. enlisted as a private in Com- 
pany H., eleventh Vermont Volunteers, August 8, 1862, afterwards became regimental 
baggage-master, and was mustered out of the service July 5, 1865. He then returneil 
to Bethel, and has since been engaged in farming. He has been a selectman four years, 
lister, and was member of the House of Representatives of ISSS. He married February 
23, 1868, Abby H. Whitney, of Tunbridge, Vt.; she died in Bethel, November 10, 1889. 

Moody. — The first of this name came from England soon after the arrival of the May- 
Jlower. He had four sons: Jonathan, Philip, John and Daniel. John of this family is 
siippcsed to have been the father of John, who was the father of Daniel who married 
Rebecca Lyon, and died in Bethel in 1794, aged fifty-six years. Daniel had a son John 
who was born in Royalston, Mass., June 18, 1760, and married November 11, 1783, Han- 
nah Copelaud. She was born February 26," 1763, and died June 18, 1842. John re- 
moved from his native town to Bethel in 1786, and was for three years a soldier in the 
Revolution ; was at the battle of White Plains, and also served as a soldier in the War 
of 1812. He died June 27, 1823. He had a family of nine children. John, .son of 
John, was born in Bethel, July 27, 1800, and married, first, April 4, 1835, Lucinda H. 
Garfield. Slie was born in Langdon, N. H., and was a distant relative of the late Presi- 
dent James A. Garfield. Her father, Daniel Garfield, was a soldier during the Revolu- 
tion. His musket and cartridge box are in the possession of his grandson, Marcus A. 
Moody. The children of John and Lucinda Moody were Har.nali, John, and Marcus A. 
Mrs. Moody died June 18, 1842. Mr. Moody married second, October 14, 1847, Erae- 
line F. Kimball. There were by this marriage two children, Lucinda H. and John. John 
was a farmer, and owned and occupied tiic " old Moody farm " in the east part of 
Bethel. He died September 3, 1869. Marcus A. was born in Bethel, February 5, 
1840. He enlisted in Company A, Sixteenth Vermont Volunteers, in August, 1862, and 



572 History of Windsor County. 

was discharged from the service August 10, 1S63. He received a wound at tlie battle 
of Gettysburg. In 18(i9 he engaged in niercaniiie business at Bethel, which he has con- 
tinued ever since. Mr. Moody represented his native town in the House of Representa- 
tives in 1878. He was married January 25, 1882, to Abbie E., daughter of Samuel and 
Charlotte (Wyman) Archer. 

Parsons, Frankhn L., was born in Warren, Washington county, Vt., April 20, 1834. 
Elia.s, liig grandfather, born in Q"6chee. Vt., reared a family of live children, of wliom 
Perley. the youngest, was father of Franklin L. He wa.s born in Quechee, March 4, 
178*1, and married Lucinda Hardy, born April o. 1791. They had children a.s follows: 
Minerva, born June 2.5, 1813, wife of Harry Sawyer, lives in Burlington, la.; Anne, 
born January 9, 181<), the wife of Charles Bass, died in Bethel, Dec. b, 1849; Samuel P., 
born November 20, 1819, unmarried, lives with his brother, Franklin L.; William B., 
born May 3, 1824, farmer, lives at Clear Lake, S. Dak.; John W., born October 5, 182(i, 
died in California, August 22, 1850 ; Lucinda M., born August 3, 1829. wife of Samuel R. 
Batcheller. and lives in West Brainlree, Vt.; and Franklin L. The latter married April 
30, 1857, Susan A., daughter of Thomas and Phila (Kimball) William.s, born in nethel, 
November 1, 1826. The\' have four children, as follows; John F., born February 23, 
1858 ; Mary S., born November 29, 1804 ; Ella F., born February 1 1 , 1800 ; and Frank W., 
born May 23, 1808. Mr. Par.sons settled on the farm in Bethel where he has since 
lived, in 1869. He has followed farming and lumbering. He has been li-iter four years, 
and selectman Eve years. 

Sturtevant, Friend, came from Pittsfield to Hartland, Vt. about 1809, and married 
Sarah Porter. She was born September 29, 1771, and died June 20, 1804. They had 
si.'i children, viz.: Cullen F., died in Hartland ; George F., died in Hartland ; Thomas F.; 
Edwin, died at Charleston, S. C; Eveline, married a Mr. Clark and died in the West; 
Sarah Ann, widow of Curtis Cady, resided at Wnidsor, Vt., and died September 10, 
1890. 

Sturtevant, Thomas Foster, of the above family, was born in Pittsfield, Vt., May 12, 
1798. He married December 10, 1823, Rosaline Terville Taylor. She was born in 
Hartland, June 10, 1806, and is living in Red Wing, Minn. Their seven children were 
all born in Hartland, viz.: Susan Waters, born October 13, 1824, is the wife of Will- 
iam L. Webster of Red Wing, Minn.; Edwin; Mary Taylor, born April 10, 1829, is the 
wife of T. B. Sheldon of Red Wing, Minn.; Robert Bruce, born December 25, 1832, re- 
sides in Hartford, Conn.; Samuel Taylor, died three years of age; Sarah Porter, born 
April 11, 1837, is the wife of E. H. Blodgett of Red Wing, Minn.; and Thomas Foster, 
born August IS, 1845, resides at Livingstone, Montana. Thomas Foster, sr., died at 
Hartland, December 4, 1874. 

Sturtevant, Edwin, mentioned above, was born in Hartland, September 24, 1820, and 
married Sarah Ann Gilson, who was born in Hartland, October 24, 1828. They have 
no children. In his early life Mr. Sturtevant was a locomotive'engineer on the Ogdens- 
burg and Lake Chumplain Railroad, and was afterwards engaged in the restaurant busi- 
ness in New York city. In 1867 he came to Bethel and engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness till 1876; since that time he has carried on the monumental business. He was a 
member of the Vermont House of Re]>rosentatives in 1876, representing Bethel. 

Tupper, Robert B., a native of Barnard, married Tryphenia Hodgkins and has the 
following family: Israel, fate unknown; Deborah, married Frank Gay and died in Ill- 
inois; Royal H.; Tyler H., dieil in Mount Vernon, N. II.; John and Tryphenia, both 
died young. Robert B. was a member of the Masonic fraternity and for a number of 
years ran the Tupper's Hotel in Rochester. 

Tupper, Royal H., son of Robert B , was born in Rochester, June 22, 1810. He mar- 
ried, first, Sarah Farrington, a native of Lyndeborough, Vt., whodied February 22, 1848, 
and by this marriage he had three children, viz.: John R.; Robert B., died at the age of 
twenty-two ; Sarah Frances, wife of F. P. Holden, of Bethel. He married, second, Mar- 



Old Families. 573 



tlia Rogers, of Lowell, Mass., by whom he had one child, Georfje H. Royal H. was a 
mail contractor, and dealt largely in hops and wool. He died November 2G, 1881, aged 
seventy-one years. 

Tapper, George H., son of Royal H., was born in Rochester. June -1, 1855, and mar- 
ried Nellie M., daughter of A. J. Graliam. They have two children : Grace L. and 
Henry Andrew. In 1881 he left his native town and went to Illinois, and the following 
year returned to Bethel ami engaged in the hardware business, which he has carried on 
continuously ever since. During the administration of Hon. Grover Cleveland Mr. 
Tup|ier was postmaster of Bethel, fdling the position to the satisfaction of the citizens, 
irrespective of their political preferences. 

Wallace, Gardner J., was born in Bethel, October 26, 1838. John, his grandfather, 
son of William, born in Somers, Tolland county, Conn., in 1750, married Betsey Wight, 
and had thirteen chddren. John died September 2, 1833, aged eighty-three, Betsey, his 
wife, January 5, 1834, aged sixty-eight. John, his father, born November 4, 1801, mar- 
ried Jlarv Ann Wheeler, who was born in Bethel, December 25, 1809. They had ten 
children, as follows: Susan, Laura E., Minot, Gardner J., Sar.ih, Royal W., George D., 
John, EIroy E., and Genevieve A. John died December 12, 1872, his wife June 24, 
1880. Gardner J. married, February 3, 18G3, Altha L., daughter of James M. and 
Caroline (Duttou) Wood worth. She was born in Randolph, January 18, 1845. They 
have had six children, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are John, born Au- 
gust 18, 18G5, married Alice J. Spaulding, and has two children, Anna A., born June 
20, 1886, and Laura E., born April 13, 1889; Kate C, born August 18, I8G8; Archie G., 
born February 14, 1870; Gardner J., jr., born June 3, 1879; and Helen G., born Decem- 
ber 31, 1881. Mr. Wallace has always lived in Bethel. He has filled various town 
offices, and was appointed deputy sheriH'in 1870, and filled that position until 1880, when 
he was elected high bailiff of the county. He was appointed by the governor of the 
State, October. 1884, high sheriff, to fill an unexpired term, and was elected to that office 
the same year, and has held this office four years. 

Wood, Amasa, tlie eldest son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Hartwell) Wood, was born in 
Rindge, N. H., September 2, 1771, and came to Plymouth, Vt., where he died February 
17, 1852. His father was born in Lunenburgh, Mass., September 7, 1740, and settled m 
Rindge, N. H., where he died May 5, 1835. He was a minuteman at the Battle of Lex- 
ington, and was a signer of the Patriot's Declaration. He was married to his wife 
Elizabeth, January 11, 1770. She was born April 14, 1751, and died November 20, 
1819. He was twice married, his last wife being Mary Foster. His children were, by 
his first wife, Abigail Moore, born in Rindge, N. H., married September 10, 1797, and 
died August 8, 1824; Eliphalet, died in Bridgewater, Vt. Charles, died in Worcester, 
Mass.; Lyman, died inPlynuuth, Vt.; Caleb, died in Cambridge, Mass.; Abigail, mar- 
ried Wilham Smith, and died in Bridgewater ; Jon.as, died in Bethel. Lyman (son of 
Amasa), born in Plymouth, Vt., June 29, 180(), married January 10, 1830, Polly Mor- 
gan. She was born in Plymouth, Vt., February U, 1810. They had three children : 
Lurena A., widow of Norman Hudson, lives in Bethel; Marcella M. and Lyman M., 
both residents of East Bethel. Lyman died January 8, 1853, his wife, March 15, 1883. 



574 History of Windsor County. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OK 15ARNARD. 

THE town of Barnard was chartered by Governor Bennin<j VVent- 
worth, of New Hampshire, to William Story, Francis Barnard and 
others, their associates, by an instrument bearing date the 17th of July, 
1 76 1. The name of Barnard was given the town in compliment to the 
grantee just named, he being a somewhat distinguished personage of his 
day. The charter, however, gave the town the name " Bernard," which 
was a manifest error, and which, also, common consent corrected by the 
change to Barnard. 

Geographically, Barnard is situated in the northwestern part of Wind- 
sor county, being bounded north by Bethel and Royalton; east by Pom- 
fret ; south by Bridgewater and Sherburne, the latter being a town of 
Rutland county; and west by the town of Stockbridge. The charac- 
ter of the surface of the land generally throughout this town is rolling 
and hilly, but there is a noticeable absence of commanding or unusual 
heiglits found in many others of the inland towns of the county. The 
best approach to what may be called mountain formations are found in 
the west and southwest parts of the town, and are known by the distin- 
guishing names of Delectable Mountain and Mount Hunger, the former 
having something of a range formation, while the latter stands as a sin- 
gle and almost independent elevation. With the latter there rests a tra- 
dition to the effect that two brothers named Eaton died of starvation 
upon the mountain, aiul from this fact it was appropriately named Mount 
Hunger. Whether this story had a foundation in fact may be a matter 
of discussion which will not be argued here, as it is of no particular im- 
portance ; but the tradition does not pretend to furnish a date for this 
occurrence, but then, dates are easily forgotten anyway. Connected 
with Delectable Mountain there appears to be no such sad history, and 
that notwithstanding its being the most formidable mountain formation 
in the town. The lands in this section of the town are not extensively 
cleared, and those that are cleared are not specially well cultivated. In 
this respect this is an exceptional locality in the town. 



Town of Barnard. S7S 



But however hilly or mountainous may be the character of the land 
in this town, one thing at least is noticeable, and that, that the higher 
elevations are as susceptible of cultivation as the low or interval lands ; 
and as one stands on the highway along the south side of Silver Lake 
there can plainly be seen for miles along the horizon well tilled farms 
with clearings and improvements, evidences of cultivation, even to the 
tops of the mountains. But it is not asserted that the higher elevations 
are as productive as the lowland, for such is hardly the case ; neither is 
it to be understood that all the mountainous sections of the town are 
under cultivation, for they arc not, nor are all of its lowlands, for that 
matter. 

And Barnard, too, is one of the more elevated sections of the county, 
the general altitude averaging much higher than nearly any other town 
in the county, and especially higher than the general average altitude of 
the towns to the southward. Incredible as it may seem, it is stated as a 
solemn, serious fact that at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill, on the 
17th of June, 1775, the sounds of the discharged cannon were plainly 
heard in the town of Barnard, although the distance between these 
points was something more than a hundred miles. Of course, if that 
was the fact, and it undoubtedly was so, the atmospheric conditions 
must have been wholly favorable for the transmission of sound, and 
under any conditions the event could not be duplicated at this age. 

In the central portion of the town, at the point near where they laid 
out the town lots, is a beautiful body of water called Silver Lake, a 
name by no means misapplied, for there is no more delightful spot in the 
entire county, not excepting the vicinity of Plymouth Pond, although 
the latter may be greater in extent, and its surroundings more as nature 
originally provided. Around Silver Lake are fine farms, well cultivated, 
with an occasional grove of forest trees, and the land, too, gradually in- 
clines toward the shores, sharp and abrupt declivities being the excep- 
tion and not the rule, as is the case with the vicinity of Plymouth Pond. 
But the writer would not detract one iota from the beauties of Plymouth, 
and its charming attractions, far from it. Both are excellent and desira- 
ble scenes, though vastly different in surroundings. Which is prefera- 
ble is altogether a question of individual taste. 

Silver Lake at Barnard is quite an extensive body of water, covering. 



tij6 History of Windsor County. 

it is estimated, about one hundred and twenty-five acres, and of sufficient 
depth to safely float any small steam craft that may be put upon it. The 
lake, with the other natural attractions of Barnard, have contributed to- 
ward making the town something of a summer resort, although the efforts 
of the people in this direction are of comparatively recent beginning. 
The outlet of the lake is one of the tributaries of Locust Creek, the latter 
being the largest water-course of the town. It has its source in the 
extreme southern and southwest part of the town, and thence flows 
northward, and with a sharp inclination to the westward at the northwest 
corner of the town, courses on into Bethel, where it discharges into 
White River. The streams in the southeast part of the town are tribu- 
taries of the River Quechee. 

The town of Barnard, as has already been stated, was chartered un- 
der New Hampshire on the 17th of July, 1761 ; and, although the town 
is not understood as having been chartered, or even granted, by New 
York, it is, nevertheless, understood as having its original charter con- 
firmed by the governor of the latter province. This would seem to be 
corroborated by the fact that the freemen at their first meeting chose 
their officers in part under the New York rules and customs, by the elec- 
tion of assessors instead of listers. 

The honor of being the first settler, although perhaps temporary, is 
generally conceded to James Call, who came to the town in 1774 and 
made a clearing, but left during the fall of that year. His name docs not 
appear in the old records of town meetings, and no authorities seem to 
assert that he again returned to the locality, although the family name, but 
spelled " Caul," does appear among the first town officers. The first rec- 
ognized permanent settlement was made during the spring, in March, 
1775, by Thomas and William Freeman and John Newton, and was fol- 
lowed during the same year by the coming of the families of Lot Whit- 
comb, Asa Whitcomb, Nathaniel Page, Thomas Freeman, jr., and Will- 
iam Cheedle. The names of these heads of families, and others as well, 
who were pioneers, will appear in the following extracts from the earliest 
town records. 

In 1778 the town of Barnard was found to possess the requisite 
number of owners of rights, or lots of land, to entitle the inhabitants to 
have proprietors' meetings held within the town; infact, to become or- 



Town of Barnard. 577 



ganizfd within the meaning of the term. But even before this right was 
acquired, or at least before it was exercised, the people of the town 
made themselves known to the outside world by responding to the in- 
quiries of the committees of the Westminster convention, of October 30, 
1776, asking their views concerning the advisability of forming the new 
State ; and although there does not appear to have been any personal 
representative of the town in attendance at the adjourned meeting at 
Westminster on January 15th, 1777, it was, nevertheless, represented by a 
letter to the convention to the effect that the town had declared in favor 
of the new State. This convention declared the independence of the new 
State under the name of Nezv Connecticut. But at the adjourned session 
of the convention at Windsor, held June 4, 1777, the occasion upon which 
the name of Vermont was adopted, the town of Barnard was repre- 
sented by Asa White and Asa Chandler. 

The first town meeting of the inhabitants of Barnard was held at the 
house of William Freeman on the 9th of April, 1778, and was assembled 
in pursuance of a call issued by Thomas Freeman and Lot Whitcomb, 
the Committee of Safety of the town. The first officers were then chosen 
as follows: Moderator, Thomas Freeman; town clerk, Thomas W. White; 
selectmen, Thomas Freeman, Asa Whitcomb and Solomon Aiken ; as- 
sessors, Edmund Hodges, Thomas W. White and Captain (Benjamin) 
Cox; town treasurer, Thomas Freeman ; grand juror, William Cheedle ; 
constables, Joseph Byam and Joseph Bowman ; surveyors of highways, 
Henry Curtis and John Newton ; tithingman, Ebenezer Caul. At a 
meeting held July 7, 1778, Asa Whitcomb was chosen justice of the 
peace. 

The second annual town meeting was held on March 29, 1779, and 
these officers were chosen for the ensuing year ; Moderator, Asa Whit- 
comb ; town clerk, Thomas W. White ; selectmen, Asa Cheedle, Solomon 
Aiken and Joseph Byam ; listers, Thomas W. White, Ebenezer Caul and 
Asa Paige ; constable, Timothy Eastman ; collectors of rates, Timothy 
Eastman and Timothy Newton; surveyors of highways, Moses Davis, 
John Newton, Ebenezer Caul and Nathaniel Paige; leather sealer, Will- 
iam Cheedle ; grand juryman, Asa Cheedle ; tithingmen. Will Cheedle 
and Jabez White ; haywards, Elkannah Steward and Sherebiah Ballard ; 
brander of horses, Daniel Sharpe ; sealer of weights and measures, 

73 



578 History of Windsor County. 

Thomas W. White. At the same meeting were chosen Asa Cheedle, 
Solomon Aiken and Joseph Byam a committee " to meet with the pro- 
prietors to secure and lay out three rights for the use of the town." 

The committee charged with this duty was undoubtedly prompt in 
their action, for, at a meeting held July 5th of this year, 1779, it was 
voted " to build a Meeting-house at the Spruce Tree where the Town 
made the Center"; also " voted to build log meeting-house, and to 
meet at the center on the 15th of this month with axes in order to peel 
bark and cut timber for the said house." The building of this log meet- 
ing-house was one of the first acts of a public nature performed by the 
town. It was completed in due time, during that same year in which it 
was decided to build, and by the voluntary contribution of labor on the 
part of the pioneers of the town. It was built, as the resolutions or votes 
above indicate, at the center of the town, which would bring it on the 
site of the present little village of Barnard. 

And about this same time the inhabitants began to stir themselves in 
the interest of having a saw-mill in their town ; and this matter became 
the subject of action at the meeting of August 9, 1779, at which time it 
was voted to choose Captain Hodges, Lieutenant F"oster and Solomon 
Aiken as a committee to send to Lot Whitcomb " to see if he intends to 
build the mill." What further action was taken, or whether or not Lot 
Whitcomb did build the mill, the records do not disclose, but tradition 
and probability both say that they did. 

These proceedings, and all of them thus far referred to, occurred dur- 
ing the period of the war of the Revolution, and upon this subject the 
ancient records of the town are not altogether silent. And it will be 
seen, too, that a number of the persons already mentioned among the 
town officers were dignified with military titles, denoting that they were 
in some manner connected with the warlike events then transpiring in 
tiie country, though none had then been enacted in this immediate 
vicinity. But for this the people of Barnard had not long to wait, and 
it was an unexpected visitation, one not hoped for, and although un- 
fortunate in its results, did not cost the town a single life. This event 
has always been known in history as the " Attack upon Barnard," and is 
thus briefly described by Thompson : " On the 9th of August, 1780, this 
town was visited by a party of twenty-one Indians, who made prison- 



Town of Barnard. 579 

ers of Thomas M. Wright, Prince Haskell and John Newton, and carried 
them to Canada. Newton and Wright made their escape in the spring 
following, and Haskell was exchanged in the fall. They suffered many 
hardships while prisoners and on their return, but they arrived safely at 
Barnard, and were all living in 1824, upon the farms from which they 
were taken." 

After this attack and capture the people of Barnard came to realize 
that they were indeed upon an unguarded and substantially defenseless 
frontier, and at once took such measures as would afiford some semblance 
of protection, especially for the women and children of the community, 
in case another attack should be made. To this end a stockade was 
built in tlie town, but its defensive powers were never put to the test, as 
no further attack was made upon the town or its inhabitants. A couple 
of months later, however, the people were greatly distressed and alarmed 
by the attacks upon the neighboring towns, and although the Indians 
carried their depredations into the immediate vicinity of Barnard, the 
people here were not molested. But after these events the military 
authorities of the State provided for the maintenance of an armed force 
in several of the towns to the northward of this, and reasonably adequate 
protection was thus assured ; nevertheless the people of Barnard were 
determined to exercise every possible precaution, and had their own 
minutemen armed and supplied with a goodly quantity of ammunition, 
but they were not called into action on account of further invasions by 
the Indians. 

At the time of the attack upon Barnard the board of war was in ses- 
sion at Arlington, and upon the news being brought to that body this 
action was taken : " Whereas it has been represented to this board by 
Colonel Woods that the enemy have taken several prisoners from 
Barnard, etc., in consequence of which a number of militia officers and 
other principal gentleman in the Third and Fourth Regiments of militia 
assembled and agreed to raise forty volunteers to be commanded by 
Captain Cox and a lieutenant, for the defense of the frontiers in that 
vicinity. 

"Resolved, Therefore, on said officers' and soldiers' joining Major Eben- 
ezer Allen's detachment of Rangers, that they are entitled to the same 
pay and rations as the other part of said detachment, such pay to com- 



580 History of Windsor County. 

mence two days before they marched, and to continue until the first day 
of December next, unless sooner discharged. 

"Resolved, That Colonel J. Marsh, Colonel J. Safford, Major B. Wait, 
Captain Seaver, Captain Safford, and Captain (Benjamin) Cox be a com- 
mittee to station Captain Saftbrd's and Captain Cox's companies of 
Rangers. That they stake out the ground for forts, and give direction 
how said forts and covering shall be built ; and 

"Resolved, That Major B. W^ait furnish the necessary implements for 
building forts for Captain Safford's and Captain Cox's companies, and 
the necessary camp equipage for the same." 

Captain Hodges and Captain Cox were both Barnard men. Tlie 
former was nominated as a proper person to serve on the board of war ; 
but as there were eighteen nominations, and but nine to be chosen on 
the board, he was not elected. These officers and Lieutenant Foster 
were undoubtedly the military leaders of the town. When, in Septem- 
ber, 1779, the freemen elected Asa Whitcomb as town representative in 
the General Assembly, they also " made choice of Captain Hodges, 
Captain Cox, and Lieutenant Foster as a committee to give instructions 
to the representative," from all of which it is fair to assume that the town 
wanted to accomplish some special thing. 

The town of Barnard had several men in the service, particularly on 
the frontier, during the war ; and each year it was the custom of the 
freemen to vote " to hire " volunteers, which means that they offered a 
bounty as an inducement for men to enter the army. 

Some of the preceding pages of this chapter have made mention of 
the building of the log meeting-house, through the voluntary labors of 
the towns-people; but it could hardly be expected that that primitive 
structure would fill more than a temporary want ; therefore, after the 
events of the war had ceased to be interesting, and the struggle was 
practically at an end, and after the affairs of the town, incident to early 
years, had become settled, the people made preparations for the erection 
of a more substantial place for holding public worship. A committee 
was chosen to " treat " with Joseph Marsh and Benjamin Stebbins, pro- 
prietors of lands, to see if they would give lands for public rights ; and 
it was also voted to raise twenty-five pounds, lawful money, for the 
purpose of building the meeting-house, and " to allow a carpenter the 



Town of Barnard. 581 



price of a bushel of rye and a common man the price of a bushel of 
corn for a day's work " ; also " chose Lieutenant Thomas Freeman, 
Lieutenant Foster, Mr. Whitcomb, Mr. Byam and Captain Cox, a com- 
mittee to see that the meeting-house is built." 

March 17, 1782, "Voted to hire Mr. (Rev. Aaron) Hutchinson to 
preach with us fifteen Sabbaths, for the time (term) of six months " ; also, 
"voted Mr. Joshua Whitcomb and Mr. Solomon Aiken to treat with 
Mr. Hutchinson about preaching with us." April 4, 1782, "Voted to 
give Mr. Hutchinson two and one -half bushels of wheat per day for 
preaching with us." 

During the year 1782 the meeting-house was built, and the town 
meeting of November was held in the building. Then the freemen 
commenced looking for a settled minister, and at the meeting of Novem- 
ber 2 1st, chose Deacon Foster, Deacon Whitcomb, Aaron Barlow, Mr. 
Aiken, Mr. Freeman, Lieutenant Wilber and Captain Green, a commit- 
tee to " treat " with Rev. Joseph Bowman with view of becoming the 
settled minister. This was done, and Rev. Bowman assumed pastoral 
charge of the church September 22, 1784, and continued that relation 
until his death, which occurred April 27, 1806. 

It would appear from the title given to some of the men of the com- 
mittee last mentioned, " Deacon " Foster and " Deacon " Whitcomb, 
that a church society was organized at or about that time ; but the 
records of the town do not show such organization prior to the year 
1802, but such an organization may have been made. 

In 1793 a burying-ground was laid out near the common (the six- 
acre tract donated to the town by Benjamin Stebbens) under the direc- 
tion of Joseph Foster, Asa Whitcomb, and Joshua Whitcomb, who were 
chosen a committee for that purpose. 

In order to bring prominently before the reader the names of as many 
as possible of the settlers of the town during its pioneer days the fol- 
lowing lists have been copied from the town records, the first showing 
the names of the petit jurors for the year 1791, as follows: Nathaniel 
Paige, Samuel Aiken, jr., Thomas Freeman, jr., Joseph Foster, jr., John 
Foster, Asa Paige, George Paige, Seth Dean, Benjamin Wilber, Thomas 
Swift, Elijah Barnes, Abraham Richmond, jr., Stewart Southgate, Jacob 
Lawton, William Freeman. And the following list shows the names of 



582 History of Windsor County. 

those who, about this same time, were " approbated by authority of the 
town to take the freeman's oath," and were sworn : Paul Woods, Andrew 
Stevens, jr., Levi Swift, Lemuel Stevens, Peter Lurvey, Ichabod Clapp, 
John Chcedle, Jacob Foster, Asa Paige, Silas Woods, John Atwood, Job 
Read, Whitfield Swift, Solomon Blackmer, Levi Chamberlain, Ebenezer 
Tabor, Josiah Richmond, Samuel Steward, Nathaniel Dean, Thomas 
White, John Steward, Elijah Aiken. 

The first church society organized in Barnard was the Congregational, 
concerning which there is evidence tending to show that the organiza- 
tion was effected as early as 1782. But whether so or not the records 
clearly disclose the formation of such a society by a freemen's meeting 
held for the purpose on April 20, 1802. John Foster, Captain Luther 
P'airbank, and Aaron Barlow were chosen a committee to prepare arti- 
cles of association for the society, which being done, and presented, read, 
and adopted, were signed by the following persons: Thomas Swift, Alex- 
ander Bowman, Nathaniel Paige, Roger French, Luther Fairbank, jr., 
Jonathan Newhall, John Foster, 3d, Samuel Foster, John Newton, 
Moses Coolidge, Robert Tucker, John Foster, John Foster, jr., Ebenezer 
Sabine, Moses Barlow, John Chamberlain, Thomas W. Wright, Asa Paige, 
Christopher Lawton, Moses Lurvey, Nathaniel Richmond, Samuel Gray, 
Joseph Barlow, Peter Foster, Matthew l^rown, Jacob Foster, Deacon Jo- 
seph Foster, Aaron Barlow, Jacob Lawton, tCzra Hudson, ICbenezer 
Lewis, John Foster, esq., Abel Babbitt, jr., David Pierce, Benjamin 
Eastman, Benjamin Wilber, William Freeman, Luther Fairbank. John 
Foster, 3d, was chosen society clerk. 

Down to the time of the beginning of the present century, and even 
for some years thereafter, the members of the Congregational Society 
by far outnumbered any and all others. Rev. Aaron Hutchinson was 
the first preacher to visit and officiate in the town, but the first settled 
minister was Rev. Joseph Bowman, heretofore mentioned, whose pastor- 
ate commenced in 1784, and closed with his death in 1806. The Rev. 
Joel Davis succeeded to the pastorate in 1807, and served in that capac- 
ity until 1S22, when he was dismissed. Soon after this Congregation- 
alism in l^arnard began to decline, and finally the society became extinct. 

In 1802, or thereabouts, a Methodist Episcopal society was organized 
in the town, and the interest the new formation created had the effect of 



Town of RARNARb. 583 



drawing many from the Congregational church. Gradually the new so- 
ciety gained in influence and numbers from first to last, and to-day this 
is the leading church organization in the town. There are two churches 
and two societies of this denomination, one at Barnard, and the other at 
East Barnard. The first church of the society at Barnard was built 
about 1803, and was used until about 1837, at which time a new and 
larger edifice was erected. In 1863 the old building was sold to the 
town for a town hall. The Methodist Episcopal Church Society, at East 
Barnard, was organized soon after 1830, and the edifice at that village 
was built about 1834 or 1835, a union church, the joint property of the 
Methodist and LJniversalist societies. 

A Universalist society was organized in Barnard about the year 1804, 
under the ministerial charge of Rev, Hosea Ballou. This society, like 
the Methodist, gradually increased in numbers, finding many converts 
from the Congregational church and society ; and although possibly not 
so great numerically as the Methodist in the town, the Universalist so- 
ciety is a large one, having two church buildings, one at Barnard village, 
and the other, a union church, at East Barnard. The first was erected 
by this society at Barnard in 1803, and replaced by a more substantial 
structure in 1 841. The church edifice at East Barnard was built in 

1834 or '35- 

Barnard is distinctively an agricultural town, and contains some of the 
best farming and grazing lands to be found in the county, except, pos- 
sibly, the districts bordering on the Connecticut River and other large 
streams of the region. But there has been made some efibrt at estab- 
lishing manufacturing industries in the town, and not without fair suc- 
cess. The outlet of Silver Lake furnishes one of the best water privi- 
leges in the county, and the industries established at this point are the 
property of Joseph E. Safiford, and comprise a saw-mill, a grist-mill, and 
a chair-stock factory, neither very large, but all doing a successful busi- 
ness, and furnishing employment for a number of men. Below this point, 
and on Locust Creek, Henry Thayer has a chair-stock factory, which 
also does a considerable business. 

Representatives of Barnard in Vermont General Assembly. — 1778, 
Edmond Hodges; 1779, Asa Whitcomb ; 1780, John Foster; 1781, 
Benjamin Cox ; 1782, Benjamin Stebbins ; 17S3, Benjamin Cox ; 1784- 



584 History of Windsor County. 

85, Aaron Barlow; 1786, Beriah Green; 1787, Benjamin Cox; 1788-89, 
Joseph Foster; 1790-91, Aaron Barlow; 1792, John Foster; 1793, 
Aaron Barlow ; 1794, John Foster; 1795, Stewart Southgate ; 1796-97, 
John Foster; 1798-99, Aaron Barlow ; 1800-01, Thomas Freeman, jr.; 
1802-04, l?enjamin Clapp ; 1 805, Tiiomas Freeman; 1806-07, Thomas 
Freeman, jr.; 1808 to 1816, Benjamin Clapp; 1817 to 1819, Thomas 
Freeman; 1820-21, Zebina Eaton ; 1822, John Foster; 1823-24, Apol- 
los Warner; 1825-26, Elijah Aiken; 1827, John S. Bicknell ; 1828-29, 
Ebenezer Richmond; 1830— 31, Levi Belknap; 1832-33, Thomas Free- 
man ; 1834, S. S. Hemenway ; 1835-36, Lorenzo Richmond ; 1837-38, 
Ebenezer Atwood, jr.; 1839, Hiram Aiken; 1840, Orrin Gambel ; 
1841-42, Hiram Aiken; 1843-44, Charles Walcott ; 1845-46, Joseph B. 
Danforth; 1847, Hiram Aiken ; 1848-49, Sebastian R. Streeter ; 1850- 
51, none; 1852, H. O. Slocum; 1853, Allen Cox; 1854, none; 1855-56, 
Moses E. Cheney; 1857 to i860, Paul D. Dean ; 1861-62, William C. 
Danforth; 1863, Silas Tupper ; 1864, Paul D. Dean; 1865, Hiram J. 
Luce; 1866, none; 1867-68, George H. Atwood ; 1869, John H. Gam- 
bel; 1870-71, Salmon C. Thayer; 1872-73, Adin S. Boyden; 1874-75, 
William C. Danforth; 1876-77, Paul D, Dean; 1878-79, Charles W. 
Black ; 1880-81, Isaac D. Davis ; 1882-83, Asa Perry ; 1884-85, Mon- 
roe Gambell; 1886-87, S. D. Putnam ; 1888-89, H. C. F. Atwood. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter in this work. 

AtwooJ. Harrison C. F., was born in Bri(if;ewater, Vt., April 16, 1828. Caleb Atwood, 
Ills grandfather, c.ime from Carver, Mass., with his family, and settled in Bridgewater, 
Vt. He married Sarah Shurtliff, and reared a family of ten children, of whom Francis S., 
father of Harrison C. F., was the youngest child. Caleb and his wife died in Bridge- 
water, and are buried in the Center biirial-groinid of that town. Francis S. was born in 
Carver, Mass., December, 1708, and married Mrs. Snsan B. White, nee Babcock. Of 
their six children, the eldest died in infancy. Those who reached adult age were Har- 
rison C. F., E hvin H., Emily Jane, Gilbert W., Alvin 0., and Francis S., who died 
March 11, 18 J5, in Bridgewater ; his wife May 2, 1885, in Gralton. Harrison C. F. mar- 



Old Families. 585 



lied, first, January 1, 1851, Sarah J., daughter of Lyman Cobb, of Woodstock, boin in 
Bridgewater, January 14, 1832, died in Barnard, March 26, 1873. By this union there 
wero five children, as follows: Abliic Jane, born October 31, 1852, niairied Herbert A. 
Shurtlitl, farmer living in Bridgewater; Lyman C. born March 5, 185(5, farmer living in 
South Dakota; Charles Franci-s, born August 5, 1857, living at home ; Herman G., living 
at Tacoma, Wash.; Mary R., born June 17, 1865, wife of R. D. Ransom,, farmer of Pom- 
fret. Mr, Atwood married, second, Apr I 19, 1875, Mrs. Sarah E. Brooks, nee Garrd^ell. 
Shew.as born in Barnard, August 31, 1833 She was the daughter of Willard find Susan 
((;hamberhiin) Gambell She had two children by hei- former marriage, Willard J. and 
Charles H. Brooks ; the former lives in Bethel, the latter m Wichita, Kan. Her malernal 
grandfather, William Chamberlain, was a Revolutionary soldier; was with Arnold in the 
expediiiou to Canada, taken a pri.soner and carried to England, and her patei-n.al grand- 
father, John Gambell, was also a Revolutionary soldier, serving under General Wash- 
iifton. When twenty-five years of age Mr. Atwood moved from Bridgewater to 
Barnaid, and settled on a farm in the southwest part of the town, where he has since 
resided. He has .served as selectman of Barnard for four years, and is the pre.sent (1 89(i) 
chairman of the board. He repre.-ented the town in the Legislature for 1888-89, and 
has been lister si.x years. 

Cobb, John S., was born in Woodstock, Vt, September 13, 1828. Binney, his grand- 
father, born January 10, 1769, in Carver, Ma.s.s., married Azuba Atwood, horn August 12, 
176G. Tliey reared a family of eleven children, of whom Lyman, father of John S., was 
the seventh j born October 14, 1801. Binney died August 9, 1839, his wife April 10, 1829. 
Lyman married Joanna Strong, born June 19, 1800. They had nine children, as follows: 
John Strong, Lyman, jr., Sarah Jones, Charles, Mary Emily, Lucia, George Washing- 
ton. Joseph Albert, Mary Joanna. Lyman died June 14, 1872, his wife June 6,1853. 
John S. married September 8, 1852, Harriet Newell, daughter of Alvin and Lucy (Hub- 
bard) Parker. Mrs. Coblj was born in Windsor, \'t., September 6, 1830. They have 
.seven cliililren, as follows: Joanni .Mice, born August 18, 185.''; John Henry, born No- 
vember 15, 1854; Frances R., born March 10, 1856; Lucy P., liorn June 23, 1857; 
Franklin B., born August 18, 1858; Harriet Angeline, born March 21, 1868; and Emily 
Mabel, born December 6, 1871. Mr. Cobb resided in Bridgewater until 1867, when he 
removed to Barnard, where he has since lived. He has served the town as selectman 
three years, justice of the peace twelve years, and town agent twelve years. 

Jewett, Amory, M. D., was born in Boston, M.a.ss., January 17, ]8,'!3, the eldest in a 
family of two children of Amory and Lucy E. (Dieuaide) Jewett. Nathaniel, his grand- 
father, was a native of Dracut, Mass. He built the Bunker Hill Monument and the old 
State's Prison at Charlestown, Mass., also the Woodstock, Vt., jail. Nathaniel, his only 
brother, is a physician and surgeon in Ashlmrnham, Mass. The doctor received his edu- 
cation in the public schools at Boston. He commenced the study of meilicine with Dr. 
Harlow in 1849, then studied with Dr. Lindsley, of Boston Hi.ghhuKN, and Dr. C. E. 
Miles, of the same place. He received his medical diploma from the Eclectic College of 
Cincinnati in 1866, and commenced the practice of his profession in Boston, where he 
continued it until 1868, and the next four years was iu_ Ashburiiham, Mass. He was 
afterwards twoyearsin Portsmouth, then in Boston and vicinity up to June, 1889, when 
lie came to Barnard, and is the only resi<leiit physician of that town. He has filled the 
various offices in the Eclectic State Society of Massachusetts, and was its president at 
one time. He married Maualine M., daughter of John and Marinda Porter, of Hard- 
wick, Vt.; she died August 8, 1887. The doctor has three children : Williiun A., a den- 
tist in Gardiner, Ma.ss.; John P., also a dentist; and Ida D., living at himie. 

Newton, Solon D., was born in Barnard, April 8, 1832. His grandfather, Timothy, 
was born in Hardwick, Mass., and married there Abigail Eail, and had seven children. 
One son, Timothy, moved from Ma.ssachusetts and was the first settler on Locust Creek. 
He was ca[itured by tne Indians and taken to Montreal ; he escaped from his captivity 

74 



586 History ok Windsor County. 

and returned to liis home. They took from his wife at the time of his capture a .string 
of f(old bead.-:. lie died on tlie farm in Barnard now owned and occupied bj' h\s {.'rand- 
son, Solou U. Ili.s wife died iu Haruaid in i85•^. Earl Newton. I)iiru in Barnard, .Vlarcii 
1, 17S7, married Myra M. Dean, February 27, ISI.i. Tlicy liad nine cliddren, viz.: 
Josiali C. Diautlia, Earl, .Jame.s M., William II., Myra M., Robert D.. Jo.sei>h B. and So- 
lon D. Earl died iu Haru.ard. October I'J, 1811.5, and h s wife January 3l), IStil. Solon D. 
married Mary E., dauj,'hter of Oramel and Eineline (Paige) Davis, .-^he was born in 
Barnard. October 7, 18.'32. Tiiey have four children, viz.: Lydia, born M,ay 2.5, 18.58, 
di-^d .July 14, 18(iJ ; Will M., born .July .'iO, 18(i4, a meiidier of the senior class in the 
Metuodist Seminary at .VIontpelier. V'l.; Ada, liorn Augu.st 8. 18(i8, a teacher in Mont- 
peliei'; and .leimie G., born .Inly .5. 1871, living at home Solon D. owns and occupies 
the old Newton homestead on Locust Creek iu Barnard. 

Rand, Keulieu B.. was born in Bridgewater, May .5, 181:! Benjamin, his father, born 
.laiuiaiy Hi, 177.5, in Westminster, Vt., married, lirst, Cyniliia Robinson, .Inly 1.5, 1802, 
and had two children, viz.: Sylvester and Philander. Benjamin mariied, second, Sarah 
Robinson, cousin of his first wile; she was born September 3, 1780. They hiid nine 
uliildren, viz.: Eli B., Bradford li.. Reuben B., Reuben B., second, Cynthia A., Siillman H., 
Caroline . I., Alvinza B., and a daughter born November 17, 1822, died an infant. Reu- 
ben B. married February 11, 18,i8, Harriet R,, daughter of Alfreil and Bersha (SievensJ 
.Vmidon, .Mrs. Rand was born in Randolph, Vt., November 22, 181.5. They had nine 
children, viz.: Preston A., born December 20, 1838, overseer iu a cotton-mill iit Oakdale, 
Mass., married Roberta Sawyer, and they have one child ; Rosiua A., born November 20, 
1840, wife of A. 0. Spiiulding, a farmer living in Barnard, and they have <Mie child; 
Benjamin A., born February 14, 1843, volunteered as private Aiigu.si 2o, 1801, in Com- 
pany B, Fourtli Regiment Vermont Volunteers, discharged Septembers, 18G2, was sub- 
sequently drafted .and a private in Company H, Sixth Regnneiit Vermont Infantry, 
received his discliarge August 2, 1SG5, and died from a disease contracted in the army, 
.Tune 1, 1807; Alfred E., born December 3, 1844, married Emma Whipple, h.as seven 
children, and is a farmer living in Royaltou ; Winfield Scott, born August 14, 1S40, niar- 
rieU Rachel Burnham. has one son, and is a farmer; Dora H.. wile of Silas lIowar<l, a 
farmer of Royaltou. and they have seven children; Alonzo .V., born June 3, 1852, mar- 
ried Alice Prouly, has two children, and is overseer for a lumber dealer; Frank, born 
December 1, 18.54, married Amelia L. Adams, live.« with the fatlier at the homestead 
farm, which he carries on with his father; Andrew B.. born May 2.5, '.8,58, married 
Ellen Davis, died February 14, i8!)0, and left one son, G-uy. Benjamin Rand died in 
Morristown, April 2(i, 1843, and his widow, Sarah, died there September 8, 187.5, aged 
ninety-five years. After his marriage Reuben B. lived in Morristown till 1840, then 
moved to Barnard, and has owned and occupied the place where he now lives since 
1857. 

Stiles, Frank H., was born in W.-iterford, Caledonia county, Vt., .Taimary 8, 1841, the 
seventh in a family of eight children of Mark and Lancy (Powers) Stiles, Of these eight 
children, two died in infancy. The others were Augusta, Fanny, Almeda, Phila, Frank 
IT., and Hattie M. Lancy Powers Stiles died in Waterford, Vt., in 1846. Mark mar- 
ried, second, Mrs. Bel.sey Sias. nee Nichols.aud hy this union there were five children, viz : 
Waldo, Marcus, Curtis, Eveline, and Edwin C. Mark .Sides died in Barr.et in November, 
1872. Frank H. enlisted as private iu Company D, Fourth Vermont Infantry, Septem- 
ber 2, 1801, and was nuistered out July 28, 1805. He was wounded at the battle of 
ChancedorsviUe, on which account he receives a pension. He married. September 27, 
18GG, Mary E., daughter of John W. and Diantha (Newell) Harding, who was born May 
1, 1841. They havesi.K children, as follows: Mabel M,, wife of William Perkins, a farmer 
living in Royaltou; Winnie A,; G-ace B.; Myrtle M,, wife of Clarence White, living in 
Barnard, they have one child, Albert; Hattie V,, living at home; and Mark W.. also liv- 
ing at home. Mr. Stiles has lived in Royalton from 1860 lo IS87, when he moved to 
the Harding place in Barnard owned by his wife's parents. 



Town of Stockbridge. 587 

Thayer, Salmon C, was born in West Randolph, July 20, 181G, the youngest of nine 
children of Isaac and Abigail (Lampson; Thayer. His father was boin in Braintree, 
Mass.. October 26, 1703. At the age of seventeen he enlisted as a soldier in the Revo- 
lutionary war and served three years. Soon after the close of the Revolution he moved 
from Massachusetts and .settled in West Randolph, Vt. He was a blacksmith by trade, 
but followed farming chiefly. He died in West Randolph, Septrmber 5, 1850 ; his wife 
died there July 17, 1842. Their children were Eiiphalet S., Joel B., Zeba G., Civilla L., 
Elvira E., Isaac, jr., Isaac C, William H. H., and Salmon C. The latter married Julia A., 
daughter of David and Sarah (Page) Lewis ; .~he was horn October 18, IMIG. in Barnard. 
Their three children are Adelbert F., born January 10, 1848, living at home; a twin 
sister of Adelbert F., who died in infancy; and Etta. E., born August H. 1851, wife of 
Albert N. Culver, living in West Randolph, Vt. Mr, Thayer settled in Barnard village 
March 1, 1845, and lived there till 18(56. In 1807 he purchased of his brother, W^ill- 
iam H. H., the old David Lewis farm in Barnard, and has lived there since. Mr. Thayer 
has served as town clerk of Barnard fifteen years, and represented the town in the Legis- 
lature in 1S70 and 1871. 



CHAPTER XXVI r. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STOCKBRIDGE. 

AT the time of takiiiLj the first census of Vermont, in 1791, the town 
of Stockbridge was found to have a less number of inhabitants than 
any other of the county towns ; but at the last census tiiere were no less 
than eight towns that showed a less number than this. This tends to 
prove and establish the fact that Stockbridge possessed resources which, 
when fully developed, gave the town an advantage over many others, 
and that a residence once efifected generally became permanent, and 
there was a less desire on the part of its people to emigrate to other States. 
And it is a fact, a singular one perhaps, that no town in this county, 
situated and conditioned as is Stockbridge, has been improved and 
developed throughout so great an extent of its territory, and that not- 
withstanding the fact that it is counted among the more mountainous 
of the cotinty's sub -divisions. If close pro.ximity and ready access to the 
county seat count for anything in promoting the welfare of a town, then 
Stockbridge is at special disadvantage, as the towering heights of De- 
lectable Mountain, as it is named, compel the traveler to pass south 
tiirough Sherburne, in Rutland county, or north through Bethel and 
Royalton, each way arotind the mountain, in order to reach the shire 
town, making a journey of at least twenty five miles by the nearest 



S88 History of Windsor County. 

route. To be sure there are at least two routes of travel over the De- 
lectable Mountain, but they are long, slow and tedious roads, and their 
passage is attended with much inconvenience and fatigue. Geographi- 
cally, Stockbridgc occupies a position in the northwestern part of Wind- 
sor county, its south and west boundaries being the lines of Rutland 
county towns. On the north it is bounded by Bethel and a small part 
of Rochester, and on the east by Barnard, all being in this county. In 
general the surface of the land is hilly and mountainous, but along its 
water-courses are fertile bottom lands, well adapted for agricultural pur- 
suits, while the uplands afford excellent pasturaj^^e for sheep and cattle. 
About in the center of the town stands Sable Mountain, being among 
the highest of the vicinity, while to the southward are others of perhaps 
less prominence and note. 

Stockbridge is drained by several streams, tlie largest of which are the 
White River, Tweed River and Stonj' Brook. The White River has its 
hcadw, iters in the Green Mountains, ami thence flowing south and east 
enters Stockbridge near its northeast corner, thence it courses southeast- 
erly to the center part of the town, and then bends almost abruptly 
northward and eastward, and leaves the town at its northeast corner. 
Tweed River also has its source in the mountains, and enters Stock- 
bridge about two miles south from where the White River enters, and 
thence flows east by north to a point near Stockbridge village, where it 
unites with the larger river. Stony Brook is a stream also of consider- 
able size, drains the whole eastern part of the town, and empties into 
the White River nearly a mile south of Gaysville. Fletcher Brook is a 
tributary of Stony Brook, and is as large, perhaps, as any of the rivulets 
in the town. Taken altogether the natural drainage system of Stock- 
bridge is the equal of that of any other town of the county; and the 
magnitude of the streams is such as to afford water-power privileges not 
inferior to an\' in the region. The most striking of the natural features 
of the town is observed at the hamlet of Gaysville, at a point that has 
been designated the Great Narrows, where the waters of \\'hite River 
are forced through an exceedingly narrow channel, not more than a few 
feet in width, thus affording one of the most excellent water-powers of 
the State ; and the privilege has been utilized, too, by the enterprise of 
Daniel and Jeremiah Gay, from which the village received its name. 



Town of Stockbiudge. 589 

The town of Stockbridge was brought into existence by virtue of a 
charter granted by Benning Wentworth, governor of the province of 
New Hampshire, and dated July 21, 1761, and was estimated to contain 
about forty-eight square miles of land, or its equivalent in acres, thirty 
thousand seven hundred and twenty. The grant was made to William 
Dodge and his associates, of whom there were sixty-one, in seventy-two 
shares, which included the reservations for all purposes and improve- 
ments, the same as provided for in nearly every charter made by Gov- 
ernor Wentworth. 

Rut Stockbridge was also granted by the provincial governor of New 
York, in the year [772, the instrument conveying the territory of the 
town to William Story and others, his associates ; and whatever of dis- 
tinction naturally accompanies " first events " belongs, in one respect at 
least, to Stockbridge, for this is understood to have been the first town 
in what became Vermont that was granted by the New York authority, 
although the grant was never confirmed by subsequent charter, as is gen- 
erally understood. This double chartering or granting was the result of 
the controversy between New York and New Hampshire concerning the 
right of jurisdiction over the territory of the New Hampshire Grants, so- 
called ; and it was a part of the policy of each province to grant as many 
towns as possible, in the hope, at least on the part of New York, that 
the settlers expected to occupy the lands would be favorably disposed 
toward the authority of the chartering province, thus carrying out the 
principles of the adage that " might makes right." But why Stock- 
bridge should have been selected by New York as the first town to be so 
granted is a question, for at the time there were no New Hampshire 
claimants within the territory of the town, and none could reasonably be 
expected in the near future, as it was quite early for settlement in a lo- 
cality so remote from any inhabited district. The action of New York 
may have been designed and the reasons unknown to us, or it may have 
been merely a coincidence, probably the latter. The matter of the con- 
troversy between the provinces of New York and New Hampshire con- 
cerning the territory now called Vermont is made the subject of special 
and extended notice in the early chapters of this volume, and therefoie 
needs no further comment in this place. 

The town of Stockbridge, as has been stated, was first chartered on the 



590 History of Windsor County. 

2 1st of July, 1 76 1, but it was nearly twenty-five years after that time 
that the first permanent settlement was made, and more than thirty 
years after the date of the charter that the town was organized and 
officers chosen. Tradition has it that the first person to attempt an im- 
provement and settlement within the bounds of the town was John 
Durkee, who came here during tlic early spring of 1784, cleared a small 
tract of land, planted crops and built a cabin; and that during the same 
year, but later in the season, and early in 1785, other families to the 
number of eleven came to the locality, among them those of Asa W'hit- 
comb, Elias Keyes, Joshua Bartlett and Samuel Wiley. 

These families and others who followed later were the pioneers of 
Stockbridge, and upon them fell the burden of all the hardships and 
privations incident to life in a wild, unbroken and uncultivated forest 
country. With them town organization was of no use or value; the 
struggle for comfortable houses was the main consideration that over- 
shadowed all else. Their houses were of logs, roughlj' hewn, and other 
buildings they had not. Hut it was necessary that some means should 
be provided by which their grain could be ground for food, and this it 
was that led to the erection of a rude grist-mill by hollas Keyes, in the 
year 1786; and that same energetic pioneer built, during the same year, 
a saw mill and made the lumber with which to construct more comfort- 
able habitations for the few families of the community. For the build- 
ing of these two mills the proprietors of the town voted to give Mr 
Keyes four hundred acres of huul. 

In this little settlement I^lias Keyes appears to have been the leader, 
the foremost man; he not only built and managed the first mill indus- 
tries of the town, but he is said to have established the first school therein. 
He was enterprising and industrious, and did more, perhaps, than 
any other man, or set of men, to help build up and make prosperous the 
town and its people. As the town increased in population he operated 
quite extensively and did a large business in land transactions; but, un- 
fortunately, he became involved in a litigation that terminated disas- 
trously for him, which, with the additional loss and demolition of his 
mills, left him financially broken, and he was brought to the county 
seat a prisoner for debt, but then he gave bonds for the " liberties of the 
jail." During his enforced residence at the county seat Judge Keyes 
rebuilt the jail. 



Town of Stockbridcje. 591 



He was in all respects the worthy citizen, and held offices of trust and 
responsibility botii in county and State affairs. In 1813 he was chosen 
one of the councikirs to the governor, and served in that capacity until 
1 8 14, and again from i8i5toi8i8. In 1803, also, he was elected presid- 
ing judge of the County Court, and served until succeeded by Judge 
Ebenezer Brown in 1814; and was again chosen in 18 i 5, and served two 
years more. After a number of years Judge Keyes returned to his old 
town of Stockbridge, and repossessed himself of his foinier mill property, 
which he improved. He acquired a fair estate before his death, out of 
which he made a provision for the poor of the town. Judge Keyes rep- 
resented the town in the General Assembly fourteen years. 

Among the other pioneers of Stockbridge was Lot Whitcomb, a r)a- 
tive of Massachusetts, but who came to reside and make a home in 
Barnard in 1780, but during that year the English and Indians attacked 
the settlement and captured or drove the settlers and destroyed their 
property, Whitcomb succeeded in making an escape and returned to 
Massachusetts and remained there until the war was ended ; and when 
he returned he joined the little colony that settled and improved Stock- 
bridge. He raised to maturity a large family of children, most of whom 
remained in the town, and themselves raised families. And to this day 
the surname of Whitcomb is as frequent in the town as perhaps any 
other. 

John Durkee, the acknowledged pioneer of Stockbridge, was likewise 
the progenitor of a goodly family of children, there being seven of them, 
and although not so numerous perhaps in the town as the Whitcomb 
descendants, the family name of Durkee is very well represented, and 
among those so named are some of the most substantial and progressive 
men of the locality. Onin Durkee, one of the sons of the pioneer, was 
in the service during the second war with Great Britain, and held the 
rank of ca[itain. 

As must of course be seen from the foregoing narrative, there were 
no settlers within the territory of the town to be disturbed by the events 
of the Revolutionary war ; nor were those who came here soon after the 
close of that contest ever embarrassed in their possession by reason of 
the dispute between the independent State of Vermont, on the one hand, 
and the recognized State of New York on the other ; for, after the pe- 



592 IllSlOKV OK VVlNlJSOK COUNTY. 



riod of the war had passed, Vermont, instead of resisting the New York 
claims, was directing her every effort toward an acknowledgment of her 
independence in Congress. This required politic and diplomatic meas- 
ures, and the most complete condition of peace on the part of Vermont's 
people was the greatest aid that could be asked of them in bringing 
about the desired end. To be sure there was in the region of this State, 
east of the mountains, a strong element of opposition to the Vermont 
interests, and a correspondingly strong element favorable to the New 
York side of the controversy, but that sentiment was not among the 
settlers of Stockbriiige, who were too busily occu])ied with their own 
personal interests to give much time to the affairs of the States, how- 
ever important they might have been. 

Soon after the admission of Vermont to the Union Stockbridge was 
possessed of a sufficient population to entitle it to town organization ; 
in fact, by that time such organization was not only desirable, but neces- 
sary for the proper government of the town and its people. Therefore, 
in accordance with the usual custom, the freemen of the town held their 
first meeting on the 27th of March, 1792, and elected their officers as 
follows : Town clerk, Klihu Holland ; selectmen, Joseph Durkee, John 
Whitcomb, and Samuel Wiley ; constable. Branch Whitcomb. In the 
fall of the same year the freemen elected John Whitcomb as the first 
representative in the General Assembly of the State. 

Having thus become organized the opportunities for further settle- 
ment were offered, and readily accepted. At this time tiie town had 
about eighteen or twenty families and one humlred inhabitants. Dur- 
ing the next eight years the population increased slightly more than 
four-fold, the number of inhabitants, according to the census of 1800, 
being 432. Since that the census enumerations have shown the popu- 
lation of the town to be as follows : 1810,700; 1820,964; 1830,1,333; 
1840, 1,419; 1850, 1,327; i860, 1,264; 1870, 1,269; 1880, 1,124, 
There are very good reasons upon which to ground the belief that the 
census enumeration of 1890 will show the town to have about the same 
number of souls as it had in 1880, or at least that the falling off, if any 
tliere be, will be less in proportion than during the preceding decade, 
that from 1870 to 1880. 

Probably the most extensive and important manufacturing industry 




'^r^ ^^^^^>i^Aux^ 



Town of Stockbridge. 593 

of Stockbridge, past or present, was that until recently operated under 
the name of Gaysville Manufacturing Company. The concern had its 
origin in the factory established in 1832, at the point called Gaysville, 
so named in honor of its founders, Daniel and Jeremiah Gay. In the 
year stated these men erected a mill at the Great Narrows of White 
River, and commenced the manufacture of cassimere cloths, and so con- 
tinued for many years, though with various changes in management and 
extent of works as time progressed. In 1880 the late company was or- 
ganized, the partnership comprising Nelson Gay, F. P. Holden, Chester 
Downer and A. A. Brooks. The principal article of manufacture was 
men's knit underwear, which industry furnished employment to nearly 
seventy-five persons, and employed several sets of machinery. This was 
the only manufactory of its special character recentlj' in the town or 
vicinity, and its unfortunate destruction by fire in 1888 was a severe 
blow to the prosperity of the locality. 

The establishment of this industry gave rise to the pleasant little vil- 
lage of Gaysville, and with the constantly increasing business of the pro- 
prietors the town correspondingly enlarged and prospered, until it 
contained several general stores, three churches, a school, a saw and grist- 
mill, and all the other adjuncts of a flourishing village, in which condition 
it is found to-day, save only that the large mill is no longer to be seen. 

But in the manufacture of lumber, in all its numerous branches, there 
are not so many mills in the town at present as was the case forty and 
fifty years ago. This is accounted for by the fact that the town's maxi- 
mum population was reached about the year 1840, and at that time, or 
within a few years afterwards, the lands needed for agriculture were about 
all cleared, and as there was not much building going on in the town the 
necessity for saw-mills was past. But there was a time when almost 
every available stream in the town had along its banks one or more of 
this class of industries. In i860 the principal manufacturers of Stock- 
bridge town were, at Gaysville, M. Gay & Son and Thomas Greenbank, 
woolen goods ; at Stockbridge village. Partridge & Hayden, tanners and 
manufacturers of leather At that time, also, the merchants were Car- 
roll & Brown at Stockbridge, and R. L. Fay and A. A. Brooks at 
Gaysville. In 1870 the merchants of the town were H. D. Morgan, 
Asgood & Culver, Kimball & Montgomery, L. P. Dean ; and the manu- 



594 History of Windsor County. 

facturcrs, J. H. Townshend & Co., woolens, F. P. Blancliard & Co., 
lumber, and M. E. Smith, hand rakes, at Stockbridge village; and 
Thomas Greenbank and M. Gay & Son, woolens, at Gaysville. Besides 
these there were the usual contingent of outside saw-mills, principal 
among which was the Isaac Jones mill, on Stony Brook ; also the Rich- 
ardson saw, grist and woodenware-mill on another stream. These mills, 
which are near the hamlet of Stockbridge, are still in operation. In 
1880 H. D. Morgan was still in mercantile business at Stockbridge, 
while E. P. Kimball, L. P. Dean and E. M. McCollom were in the same 
business at Gaysville. 

The present intlustries and occupations of these villagers may be 
summed up substantially as follows : Merchants, C. S. Carroll & Co.; 
postmaster, J. D. Wilco.x; hotels, E. H. Whitcomb, E. W. Clark; manu- 
facturers, the Richardson mills, as heretofore stated, and A. F. Lamb, 
monuments and headstones. The above are at Stockbridge village. 
At Gaysville, Austin Brown is postmaster; J. M. Clay, landlord ; J. A. 
Chedel & Co., E. B. Kimball, H. L. Deane, E. M. McCullom, F. V. 
Hassam, merchants; M. T. Averill, manufacturer of wagons, carriages 
etc.; William H. Edmunds and Isaac T. Jones, lumbermen; and the late 
Gaysville Manufacturing Company, knit goods. 

In the town are several church societies, the Universalist, Methodist 
and Congregational at Gaysville ; and a union church building at Stock- 
bridge, the latter being open to the use of any society. The Congrega- 
tional Society is the oldest, perhaps, of any, having been organized in 
conjunction with the Pittsfield society in 1812, and under the ministerial 
charge of Rev. Justin Patterson. In 1827 a separation was effected and 
this town's society placed in charge of Rev. Gilman Vose, who held the 
pastorate from 1829 to 183 i. The present church edifice of the society 
was built in 1863. 

The Gaysville and Stony Brook Methodist Episcopal church was 
erected during tlie year 1862, one society with two buildings, located re- 
spectively at Gaysville and a point several miles south, near wliere 
Fletcher Brook empties into Stony Brook, but on tlie stream last named- 
The Universalist Societies are at both Gaysville and Stockbridge villages, 
each organized in 1867, and having two edifices, although the latter is 
a union building and was erected in 1836. 




A^/<9^//^>^ 



iPi>t'^^<> 



Town of Stockbridge. 595 

Some Past Toivn Officers. — However interesting a record it might 
make, it would be deemed imprudent to furnish here a complete succes- 
sion of the town officers of Stockbridge since organization, or the suc- 
cession even for the last quarter of a century ; but, that the reader may 
have some knowledge of who presided over the affairs of the town at 
different periods, it is thought best to name the principal officers, com- 
mencing with i860, and then following with those chosen during the 
subsequent }-ears, 1870, 1880, 1887, and the present incumbents; and 
further supplementing this sub-division with a complete succession of the 
town representatives in the State General Assembly. 

i860: Town clerk. Nelson Gay; constable and agent, Caleb Leon- 
ard; overseer, Reuben Whitcomb; superintendent. Rev. T. S. Hubbard; 
selectmen, E. McCollom, R. L. Fay, J. H. Baker. 1870: Town clerk 
and treasurer. Nelson Gay ; selectmen, J. H. Baker, A. A. l^rooks, Jo- 
seph Taggart ; constable, George F. Chapin ; superintendent, C. C. 
Smith ; overseer, Reuben Whitcomb ; listers, C. W. Sawyer, G. F. 
Chapin, G. N. Culver; agent, Albert Whitcomb. 1880: Clerk and 
treasurer, Nelson Gay; selectmen, O. J. Richardson, Ezra McCollom, 
Austin Brown; constable, Joel Blackmer ; superintendent. Rev. T. S. 
Hubbard ; listers, R. E. Wilson, W. L. F'rench, C. C. Smith ; overseer, 
Reuben Whitcomb; agent, Albert Whitcomb. 1888: Clerk and treas- 
urer, J. A. Chedel ; selectmen, O. J. Richardson, W. H. Edmunds, M. L. 
Wyman ; constable, R. E. Wilson; superintendent, Minnie L. Grant; 
listers, W. H. Durkee, Joel Blackmer, C. W. Sawyer; overseer, N. M. 
Grant; agent, C. C. Smith. 1889: Clerk and treasurer, J. A. Chedel; 
selectmen, W. H. Edmunds, M. L. Wyman, O. J. Richardson ; consta- 
ble, R. E. Wilson ; superintendent, Mrs. M. J. Mills ; listers, H. W. 
Blackmer, C. Boutwell, E. S. Burnham ; overseer, N. M. Grant; agent, 
C. C. Smith. 

Representatives. — 1792, John Whitcomb; 1793 to 1797, Elias Keyes ; 
1797, Asa Whitcomb; 1798 to 1803, Elias Keyes; 1803-04, Norman 
Webber; 1805 to 1814, Rufus Lyon; 1814-15, Norman Webber; 
1816-17, Branch Whitcomb; 1818, Elias Keyes; 1819, Branch Whit- 
comb; 1820, Elias Keyes; 1821, Joel Cooper; 1822, Rufus Lyon; 
1823-25, Elias Keyes; 1826-27, Dwight Gay ; 1828, Norman Webber ; 
1829-31, Daniel Gay, jr.; 1832, John Leonard ; 1833, Daniel Ranney ; 



596 History of Windsor County. 

1834-35, VVilliam A. Millett ; 1836, Merrick Gay; 1837, Samuel 
Eaton; 1838, Merrick Gay; 1839, Paul W. Gay; 1840, Justin Morgan; 
1841, none; 1842, Paul VV. Gay; 1843, John R. Forrest; 1844-45, 
none; 1846, Asahel Felch ; 1847, none; 1848-49, John M. Bennett ; 
1850, Zeb. Twitchell ; 185 i, Zeb. Twitchell ; 1852, none; 1853, none; 
1854, David Everett; 1855, David Everett; 1856, Milton E. Smith; 
1857, A. Woolson ; 1858, Thomas S. Hubbard; 1859, Merrick Gay; 
i860, Merrick Gay; 1861, J. Bartlett Taggart ; 1862, J. Bartlett Tag- 
gart ; 1863, Nelson Gay; 1864, Nelson Gay; 1865, Josiah B. Rogers ; 
1866, Josiah B. Rogers; 1867, Henry H. Spafford ; 1868, Thomas S. 
Hubbard; 1869, Nelson Gay; 1 870-7 1, Nelson Gay; 1872. Ezra Mc- 
Collom ; 1873-74, Charles C. Smith; 1874-75, George N. Culver; 
1876-77, Charles \V. Clar!:; 1878-79, Nathan Davis; 1880-81, O. J. 
Richardson; 1882-S3, H. W. Blackmer ; 1884-85, C. C. Smith ; 1886- 
87, W. H. Edmunds; 1888-89, William H. Edmunds. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a gen- 
ealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the town. 
The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and have 
manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. F"or 
sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer to a 
later chapter of this work. 

Ballard, Miletus Appleton, was born in Plymouth, Vt., April 16, 182,1. Tlis father, 
Nathan P., was borti in Aahburiiham, Mass., March 5, 17'Jl. He married Polly Kim- 
ball, liorn in Reading, December 2.5, 1790. They had five children. When six years 
of age Nathan P. came from Ashburnham with an uncle, Moses Havens, the lirsl fam- 
ily that settled at South Hill, Ludlow, Vt. He died in llaucock, Addison county, Vt., 
August 16, 1857. His wife died in Plymouth, December 4, 1840. He lived in Ply- 
mouth forty j'ears, owning and occupying the place now owned and occupied by Warren 
Bailev. All his children were born in Plymouth. Mdetus A. married in Reading, 
April 23, 1845, Carrie Melinda, daughter of Jotham and Melinda (Fay) Jones, born in 
Reading, August 29, 1824. They have had six children, viz.: Nathan Pri'ntice, born 
April 12, 184G, died September 17, 1848; Jennie Maria, born April 12, 184!), married, 
first, Joseph D. Weston, of Plymouth. The children by this union were Bertha L (de- 
ceased), Arthur J. and Fraukie. She m.arrieil, second, Henry Boutwell. a fanner in 
Barnard. They have one child, Fred. Ida Minerva, born April 10, 185 1 ^ married 
Ellis M. Frink, of Sherburne, A't, now living in Michigan; Nellie M., born in Hancock, 
July 27, 1857, married C. J. Harrington, of Bethel. She has three childien, Ernest, 
Gay, and Mark. Arthur W., born December 1, ]S(),5, married Clara Packard and lives 
in Gaysville, and Charley H., born May 11, ISbS^ lives at home. Mr. Ballard moved 
from Sherburne and settled in Stockbridge, where he now lives, in 1870. 



Old Families. 597 



Boutwell, John, was born in Windsor, N. H., May 21, 1802. He married, June 18, 
182.3, Sylvia, daughter of Blisha P. and Hannah (Taft) Perkin.s, born June 13, isn4, in 
Barnard, Vt. His fatlier, Jo.shua, married Sarah AveriH. Their children were Reuben, 
Mary, John, David, Sarali, Chandler, Lucy and Eliza, twins, Rachel, Jane, and Benja- 
min. Joshua died in Stockbridge, January 1, 1843, his wife December 15, 1850. He 
moved from New Hampshire and settled in Stockbridge, on the place now owned by 
George Mills, where they lived till their death. John Boutwell, their son, married 
June 18, 1823, Sylvia Peikins, l)orn June 13. 1804. They had thirteen children, viz.: 
Orlena, born July 20, 18'24, the wife of Zebedee Churchill, died June 20, 1854; Melissa, 
born March 4, 1820, wife of Truman Averill, of Reading, Vt.; Oravell, bom January 12, 
1828, wife of Otis Adams, died December 12, 1847; Owen Taft, born November 10, 
1820, farmer living in Barnard; Lewis B., born September 11, 1831, died August 24, 
1S33; Henry Marsh, born October 5, 1833, farmer living in Barnard; Hannah L., born 
January 8, 1830, married May 21, 1857, Nathaniel B. Weston, born in Woburn, Mass., 
February 7, 1829 ; Elisha Perkins, born November 5, 1837, owns and occupies the Bout- 
well homestead in Stockbridge, volunteered as private in Company A, Sixteenth Ver- 
mont Volunteers, received his discharge August 10, 1803, and receives a pension on ac- 
count of disability contracted in the army; Lydia T., born December 7, 1830, wife of 
Arvin D. Angell, farmer in Barnard, Vt.; Mary F., liorn September 20, 1843, an invalid 
confined to her bed since 1882, living at the homestead; Augusta C., born April 29, 
ISJd, wife of Adam Eglin, lives in Merrimao, Mass.; Lucy E., liorn June 28, 1850, died 
February 18, 1851; Ellura C, born April 24, 1852, lives at the homestead. John Bout- 
well died July 4, 1888; his wife March 13, 1878. 

Burroughs, Thomas, was born in Halifax, N. S., February 7, 1817, the youngest in a 
family of six children of William Henry and Mary Burroughs. His mother's first hus- 
band was a Mr. Robinson, by whom she had two children, viz.: John, died in Halifax, 
and Doritha, died in Chelsea, Mass. The children of W. H. and Mary Burroughs were 
William Henry, died in Halifax ; Mary, wife of John Wan], died in Halifax ; George, 
lives in Lunenburg, N. S.; Catharine, wife of Captain Mathew M. Cook, resides in Cali- 
fornia; Edward, died in Boston ; and Thomas. The latter married Susannah D., daugh- 
ter of William and Elizabeth (Stayner) Wainwright, bom in Halifax, in 1818, and died 
in Boston, August, 1870, They had two children who died in infancy. Mr. Burroughs 
was educated in the common schools at Halifax and Boston, and an academy in Rhode 
Island. He learned the tin trade in Halifax and followed that business for many years 
in Boston. He settled on a farm in Stockbridge in 1878, where he has since lived. 

Clay, .James M., was born in Chester, Vt., August 22, 1825. Timothy, his grand- 
father, a native of Rliode Island, came from that State after his marriage and settled in 
Chester, where he reared a family of seven children. He died in Chester about 1831. 
His children were Daniel, .lames, John L., Sewell, Walter, Sally, and Amanda. James 
was born in Chester, Vt., in 1703. He married there Lucinda Wightman and had four 
children, viz.: Henry W., Louisa M., Otis P., and James M. James died in Chester, De- 
cember 12, 1825, his wife, Lucinda, June, 1862. James M. m.arried March 24, 1847. 
Charlotte T., daughter of Leonard and Sally (Breed) Orcutt. Mrs. Clay was born m 
Crown Point, N. Y., April 10, 1827. They have had four children, viz.; Emma A., born 
October 17, 1848, married November 11, 1874, Reuben W. Headle, of Hartland, Vt. 
She died in Stockbridge, December 11, 1880. Cassius M., born September 14, 1850, 
married Etta P, Gibbs, September 27, 1869. Their children were Ralph F., Nehie P., 
Charlotte P., Claude, and Jennie. Jennie E., born January 12, 1855, married Highland 
H. Clay and lives in Galesburg, 111, Their children were Fred Scott, Emma F., John L., 
Walter .L, and Irvin. Effie 'L., born May 31, 1801, married Fred E. Abbott, July 20, 
1881, and lives in Crawford, Neb. Their children are Harold and Leo. Mr. Clay live(i 
in Chester four years, next in Andover thirteen, in Pittsford ten, Stockbridge Common 
five, and in 1808 purchased the hotel in GaysviUe and is its present proprietor. 

Cutler Family. — The Cutler family in Stockbridge descended from James, born in 



598 History of Windsor County. 

England in KiOO, settled as early as 1034 in Watertown, Mass., where the first record o£ 
the family name in New Enirlaml is to be found. He was thrice married and reared a 
family of twelve children, of whom Thomas, born about l(i48, was liis sixth child and 
second son. He was honored in the public records with the title of lieutenant. He 

died at Lexington, Mass., July 13. 1722. He married Abigail and they had a 

family of seven children, of whom Jonathan, his sixth child, was baptized at Watertown, 
Mass., June 17, 1G8S, and died at Killingly, Conn., about 174(i. He married at Water- 
town, Mass., June 17, 1GS8, Abigail Bigelow. They had six children, of wiioni Beach 
was the third child, born at Colchester, Conn., July 4, 171lj, and died at Plainlield, N. H. 
He married, successively, Abigail Hodges, May 14, 1840, at Pomfrel, Conn., Miss Knight, 
of Killiugly, and Miss Hall, of Plainlield, or Lebanon, N. H. Of his seven children, 
V. Perley, his youngest child, was born September 25, 1701, died in Sharon, Vt., De- 
cember 20, 1842. He married, first, Polly, daughter of Benjamin Fuller, of Plainfield, 
Conn., February 14, 1782; she died March 20, 1810. He married, .second, Eliza, daugh- 
ter of Benjamin Clark, of Amherst, Mass., and widow of Lyman Coats, of Hartford, Vt. 
Of his fifteen children, the sixth, Vernon Shepard, born in Hartford, Conn., married 
January 2, 1848, Celina, daughter of Roliert and Diadema (Chanilierlaiu) Packard, of 
Barnard, Vt. They had four children, viz.: Louis V., died in Stockbridge, Vt., aged 
seventeen; Lucian E., ilied in Slockbridge ; Anna L., the wife of Lorin Chamberlain, 
died in Stockbridge, they had two children, Leon and Winnie; and Perley Robert, 
born in Stockbridge, October 30, 180(1, married Ida J. Magivney, born in Bethel, Vt., 
July 22, 1801. They have one child, Lucian Von, born April 25, 1887. Vernon S. and 
his only surviving child, Perley Robert, are residents of G-aysville, Vt. 

Grant, Nelson M., was born in Lincoln, Addison county, Vt., May 7, 1840, the young- 
est in a family of twelve children of Benjamin and Rebecca (Chapin) Grant. His father, 
born in London, England, was impressed into the English army, and upon arriving in 
Canada he left the army ami settled in New Hampshire, where he was m.arried. He 
died in Stockbridge, Vt., December 11, 18{;0; his wife May !t, 18(il. Of their twelve 
children, four are living, viz.: David P., farmer, living in Tunbridge, Vt,; Martha W., 
wife of James Colwell, farmer, living in Lincoln, Vt.; William M., farmei-, also living in 
Lincoln ; and Nelson M. The latter married Harriet B., daughter of William and Ilan- 
nali (Brockway) Pierce, born in Royallon, August 22, 1843. Their children are Minnie 
J., born November 2.5, 18(15, married George T. N. Mills, a farmer living in Stockbridge. 
and they have one cliild, Josie, born July 21, 1889 ; Fred P., born November 8, 1872, 
died July 4, 1881. Mr. Grant first settled in Stockbridge in 1858, and has carried on 
farming in that town since. He is the present overseer of the poor, which position he 
has filled for the last four years. 

Hassam, Francis Voltaire, was born in Northfield, Washington county, Vt., July 25, 
1845, the eldest in a family of seven children of George P. and Naomi (Bnzzell) Has- 
sam. Lewis, his grandfather, was the first of the family who settled in Vermont. He 

married Rice, and had a family of niu<^ children. George P., born in Northlield, 

married Naomi Buzzell. They had seven children, viz.: Francis V.; George 0., lives in 
Rutl.and ; Alfredina, lives in Pittsfield, Vt.; Gilbert M., a grocer, at Ayer, Mass.; Her- 
bert, farmer living in Pittsfield; Louis, living in Pittsfield; and Roscoe, who died in in- 
fancy. Georges P. died in Stockbridge, July 5, 1888. His widow is living in Pittsfield, 
Vt. Francis V. married November 25, 1871, at Bethel, Emma J., daughter of Clark D. 
and Jane (Curtice) Newell, born November 16, 1853. They have had two children, 
viz.: Freddie F., born December 28, 1873, died April 13, 1875, and Wilfred, born Octo- 
ber 25, 187G. Clark D. Newell, Mrs Ilassam's father, born in Stockbridge, May 21, 
1812, was the third in a family of five children of Jonas and Sarah Newell. His five 
children were Helen A., born MayO, 1839, wife of Rufus Morse, of Sharon. Vt.; Eu- 
gene C, born March 24, 1843, lives in Stockbridge; Charles D. and Carroll D., twins, 
born January 2, 1850, reside in Barnard, Vt.; ami Emma J. Clark D. died in Stock- 
bridge, October 21, 1884; his wife, Jane, October 20, 1875. For eight years Mr. Has- 



Old Families. 599 



sam followed the lumber business in the towns of Stockbridge, Pittsfield, Barnard, Pom- 
fret, and Bethel. He has carried on merehandising in Gaysville since January, 1888. 

Jone.?, David, was born in Pittsfield, Ruthmd county, Vt., April 26, 1815, the second 
in a family of four children of David and Nancy (Bin-bank) Jones. The four children 
Were : Nancy, born October 15, ISl.'i, wife of Jackson Rolens, and died in Colund;us, 0., 
October 2ii, 1S53. James Harvey, born Novenitier 25, 181i;, moved when twenty-one 
years of age to Ohio, where he taught school thuty-two years; he died in Frankfort, O., 
August 30, 1881 Priscilla, born May 12, 1819, married, tirst, William Sbedd, of Bethel ; 
he (bed in the Union army during the war. She married, second, a Mr. Mooney, and 
third, a Mr. Crawford, with whom she is living in Ohio. David, the father, died in 
Pittsfield, Vt., June 15, 1819, aged thirty-one years. Nancy, his widow, married, sec- 
ond, Amos Jones, brother of Daviii, and bad by thi.s union one cliild, Chastina, born Sep- 
tember 21, 1829. Nancy Joues died Marcli 27, 1862, aged sixty-nine. 

Jones, David, son of David, married, June (i, 1844, first, Abigail G., daughter of Sam- 
uel and Anna Eaton, born Noveinlier 20, 1820, died March 9, 1874. He married, sec- 
ond, February 8, 1870, Harriet L., daughter of John C. and Harriet A. (Allen) Knight, 
born in Pittsfield, Vt., August 12, 1850. They have three children, viz.: Abbie E., born 
April 20, 1877; Mary R., born April 10, 1880; and Nancy H., born January 2(i, 1880. 
Mr. Jones moved from Pittsfield ami settled in Stockbridge, on the farm where he now 
lives, in 1845. He has .served as lister, selectman and constable. 

McCollom, Deacon Ezra, was born in Ludlow, Vt., April 7, 1818. His grandfather, a 
native of Londonderry, Ireland, emigrated to Ameri -a, settled in New Hampshire, and 
died there. He had five children. His son, Ale.\imder, father of Ezra, was born in 
New Hampshire, September, 1771, and died in Stockbridge, January 21, 1858. He was 
thrice married. By his first marriage, November 14, 1794, he liad three children, viz.: 
Margaret, John. Jennett. He married, second, September 18, 1804, Mcribali Sargent. 
Children by this union were Eleanor, Ira, Lavina, Louisa Jane, Thomas, Ezra, Josiah 
Fletcher. He married, third, October 27, 1831, Mary Moore, who died in Stockbridge, 
October 4, 1857. Deacon Ezra McCollom married, October G, 1842, Fanny Maria, 
daughter of Solomon Nott. She was born in Stockljridge, May, 1820, and died in 
Stockbridge, March 3, 18(i4. They had children as follows: Jennie F., Eveline L. and 
Charley E. Jennie F. and Eveline L. carry on a millinery and fancy goods store in 
Woodstock, Vt. Deacon McCollom came with his father from Ludlow and settled in 
Stockbridge, on the farm now owned by Harvey Blackmer, in 1836, and lived there till 
he moved to G-aysville in 18fi3, having a contract to build the Congregational church in 
that village, and has resided there ever since. Since 1860 he has carried on there the 
cabinet and undertaking business. He has been deacon in the Congregational church 
for over thirty years. He has served as lister, seleotman, and justice of the peace, which 
position he now holds. He represented the town in the Legislature in 1870, and was a 
member of the Assembly to revise the constitution of the State in 1870. 

Sheldon, Egbert, was born in Manchester,Vt., September 14, 1830. His father, John, 
was born in Ohio, and came to Manchester, where he married Sarah Bailey. His three 
children were Egbert, Myron and John H. John, his father, died at Saxon's River. 
His wife, Sarah, married, second, Darius Porter, and died at Acworth, N. H. By the 
latter union there were three children, viz.: Herbert and Ellen, both of whom reside in 
New Hampshire, and Henry, who was drowned when a small boy. Myron Sheldon 
now lives in Washington Territory and John in Kiiiisas. Both .are engaged in farming. 
Losing his father at the age of si.x, Egbert lived until nineteen years of age with diflfer- 
ent families in Vermont and New Hampshire. At that age ne came to Gaysville (Stock- 
bridge), where he was employed for four years in the chair-stock factory of Cheney, Kil- 
bourn & Co., and one year with the same company in Burlington. Since that time he 
has been engaged in farming. He purchased the farm where he now lives in 1868. He 
married, March 29, 1854, Cornelia E , daughter of Hazen and Azuba (Whitcomb) Rich- 
ardson, born in Stockbridge, June 3, 1831. Mrs. Richardson was a daughter of Captain 



6oo History of Windsor County. 



Lot Whitcomb, one of the first settlers of Stockbridge. Hazen D., a brother of Mrs. 
SheUlon, hves in West Brooklield, Mass. Oscar V.. anotlier brother, hves in West Con- 
cord. N. H. Mrs. Henrietta Lincoln, a sister, lives in Bethel. Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon 
have had children as follows : Frank Egbert, born November 2!), 1857, died February 
20, ISli.O; Ned Lonis, liorn May 23, 1859, was graduated from Norwich University at 
Northlield in 1884. and is now a professor m the High School at Norwood, Mass.; Alice 
May. born December 28, 1^<G8, was graduated at the Bethel High School in 1889, and is 
now teaching. Mr. Sheldon has served iis selectman in Stockbridge seven years. 

Taggart, .lolm Rartlett, was born in Stockbridge, June 24, 1829, the seventh in a fam- 
ily of ten children of John and Betsey (Avery) Taggart. Joseph, his grandfather, born 
in New Hamp.shire, married Lydia Jones, and reared a family of ten children, of whom 
John, his father, was the lifth child, born in 1794, married Betsey Avery, and had ten 
cliildren, viz.: Abigail, Joseph, Nancy, Hannah, Harriet, Angeline, .lohn Bartlett, Cyn- 
thia, Maria and Jennie. John Taggart died in Stockbridge, April 2, 1845, his wife, Bet- 
sey, June, 18li8. John Bartlett married, June 5, 18(j2, Cornelia Belcher, born in Stook- 
hricige, August 30, 1838. Her father, Samuel, born in Newbnryport, Mass., July 7, 
1788, married, first, Anna G.Caldwell. Five of their eight children are living. He mar- 
ried second, July 1, 1835, Adaline E. Dunham, born in Bethel, November 12, 1808. The 
children by this union were Samuel S., died in Stockbridge; Cornelia E.; Harriet Au- 
gusta, wife of Dr. S. J. S. Rogers, died in Marysville, Cal.; and Edward A., lawyer in 
San Francisco, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Taggart have two children, viz.: Miimie Augusta, 
born November 4, ISlili, lives with her uncle, William C. Belcher, in California; and 
Harriet M., l.iorn April 11, 1874, living at home. After the district school, Mr. Taggart 
attended the High School at Chelsea, and the Academy at Randolph, and taught for 
nine winters in the district schools of Stockbridge and neighboring towns. With the 
exception of three years in Nashua, N. H., he has been a resident of Stockbridge. He 
has served as lister six years, selectman tliree years, and represented the town in the 
Legislature in 18(i0-(!l. 

Wilson, R. Eugene, was born in Stockbridge, February 6, 1845. Peter, his grand- 
father, was born in Putney, Vt., married Ann Bingham and reared a family of five 
children : Bingham, Charles, Ann, Lucretia, Jeremiah The latter was born in Hart- 
ford, Vt., January 9, 1812, and married December 5, 1833, Orrenda Boynton, born in 
Baltimore, Vt., August, 1808. They had six children, viz.: Mary Jane, lives with her 
brother, R Eugene; Jeremiah Emery, was a corporal in Company C, Sixth Vermont 
Volunteers, and was shot in the battle of Lee's Mills; Osmond, died aged two years; 
Sarah Emeroy, died single; Ella L., widow of Edwin J. Tenney, lives in Stockbridge. 
She has one son, Carl E. W. R. Eugene married, first, Frances H. Twitchell. By this 
marriage there are two children living, viz.: Jennette and Maybelle. He married, 
.second, Elsie R. Lyon. They have one child, Katie E. He married, third, Mary E. 
French. They have no children. Mr. Wilson is a farmer, owning and occupying the 
place where his grandfather first settled in Stockbridge in 1821. He has served as 
lister, was constable of the town ten years, and justice of the peace six years. He was 
appointed census enumerator of the town in 1880, also in 1890. 

Woolcutt, Ebenezer, was born in Stockbridge, Ifarch 13, 1816. His grandfather was 
a fifer in the Revolutionary War. His father, Ebenezer, was born December 13, 1783, 
and married, June 4, 1807, A.^enath Gibbs, born June 23, 1788. Their children were 
John, Mehitable, Mary, Ebenezer, Ebenezer, 2d, Mahlon, Mary, Orlando. Ebenezer, 
the father, died July 17, 1872 ; his wife April 14, 1854. Ebenezer married April 23, 
1844, Adelia E., daughter of Alden and Lydia L. (Smith) Brigham, born in Barnard, 
.Vugust 1<), 1824. Her father, Alden, son of Asa, was born in Barnard, October 28, 
1790, died April 2, 18"2. Her mother was born in Berlin, Vt., died April 29, 1872. 
They had five children, four of whom reached adult age, viz.: Sarah, widow of George 
A. Chedel, lives in Franklin, N. H.; Cliarles W., a physician, lives in Pittsfield, Vt.; 
Dennis S., lives in Albany, N. Y.; and Mrs. Woolcutt. Mr. Woolcutt, after the district 



Town of Bridgewater. 6oi 

school, attended a select school taught by Uriah Rice, at Rochester. He taught school 
in Stockbridge and neighboring towns nine winters. In 1843 he bought the farm upon 
which he now resides, and is one of Stockbridge's most successful farmers. He has 
served the town on the grand and petit juries and two terms as selectman. He has no 
children of his own, but has brought up since he was twelve years of age George A. 
Chedel. a nephew of Mrs. Wooloutt's, now engaged in the lumber business at Pitts- 
field, Vt. 

Wyman, Martin L., was born in Ponltney, Rutland county, Vt., May 3, 1836 the 
sixth in a family of nine children of Anson and Lydia (Elanaford)Wvman. Jasher, his 
grandfather, born in Vermont, September 4, 1770, married July 1, 1800, Annice Benson 
born March 25, 1784. They had seven children, viz.: Anson, Annice, Ira, Vei-syle, Jus- 
tin, Celesta and Asel. Martin L. married Lydia, daughter of Emerson and Eliza (Bar- 
rett) Hardy, born in Harvard, Mass., April 4. 183G. Their children are Walter E., born 
in Fitchburg, Mass., January 9, 18.58, married Charlotte Cowling, May 7, 1883 ; has one 
child living, Herbert, born March 8, 1887. Walter B. is superintendent of the Moore & 
Wyman Machine Works in Boston. Charles E., born in Boston, November 8, 18()3, 
married Maud Banister, February 13, 1884; has one child, Arthur, born March 8, 1885. 
Charles E. is treasurer and manager of the Moore & Wyman Machine Works. Georo-e R. 
born in Melrose, Mass., April '29, 1807. married, firsi,. Alma Leslie, of Boston, Septem- 
ber, 1887 ; one child, Bessie, Ijorn in Walpole, Mass., July 0, 1888. He married, sec- 
ond, Emily Kimball, December 30, 1889. He is a machinist in East Walpole, Mass. 
Martin L., jr., born in Melrose, Mass., January 8, 187(), married May 21, 1890, Ada 
Brown, of Stockbridge. He is a farmer living near the homestead in Stockbrid"-e. 
Alice M., Ijorn in Melrose, October 8, 1872, is a student in Goddard Seminary, Barre 
Vt. Mr. Wyman, when fourteen years of age, went to Boston, where he learned the 
machinist trade. He followed his trade five years in Fitchburg, Ma.ss., then returned to 
Boston, where, in company with Charles E. Moore, in 1803, he carried on the machine 
business under the firm name of Moore &; Wyman. The company was incorporated in 
1884 under the corporate name of the Moore & Wyman Elevator and Machine Work.?. 
In 1885 Mr Wyman moved from Boston and settled on the homestead farm, which he 
carries on. He retains, however, his interest in the above company. He has served 
the town as selectman and justice of the peace. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BRIDGEWATER. 

AMONG the several towns that comprise the county of Windsor, 
Bridgewater occupies a central north and south location, wliile its 
east and west situation [places it on the western border. The town is 
bounded on the north by Barnard, and a small part of Ponifret ; east by 
Woodstock, and slightly by Pomfret ; south by Plymouth and Reading; 
and west by Sherburne in Rutland county. Its latitude is forty-three 
degrees, thirty-seven minutes, north, and longitude four degrees, twenty- 
two minutes, east. 

76 



6o2 History of Windsor County. 

In common with the majority, and in fact all, of the towns of the county 
the surface of the hind in Bridgewater is quite hilly, and some of the ele- 
vations partake of the character of mountains. From its geojjraphica 
position, so near the main mountain chain, the land is perhap.s more broken 
and uneven than is characteristic of the towns farther east and nearer 
the valley of the Connecticut River. Nearly all of the larger hills or in- 
dependent elevations of land in the town are designated by name, and the 
largest of these are Bald Mountain in the southern portion, and Mount 
Hope slightly to the northwest of the center of the town. Other goodly 
elevations are Southgate Mountain, so called from one of the pioneer 
families of the locality ; Woods Hill, in the extreme southeast part of the 
town ; Rugged Hill, Montague Hill, Raymond^ Hill, and the Pinnacle, 
and possible others, all of which are familiar names to the older residents 
of the town, and with some of which there are associated some interest- 
ing incidents, especially the vicinity of Mount Hope, concerning which 
mention will be found on subsequent pages of this chapter. 

While the rough and rugged character of the earth formations of 
Bridgewater may have worked to the disadvantage of the town as an 
agricultural district, other natural characteristics have in a measure com- 
pensated for this condition and afforded an excellent system of drainage, 
and superior water-power privileges. But this ijs not saying or inti- 
mating that the town has no good farming land, 'for it has, and splen- 
did, too, especially in the valleys of the streams. The Otta Quechee, or 
as commonly called Quechee, courses across the town from sonthwest, 
bears to the northeast, and enters Woodstock. This is the largest stream 
of the town, and drains the whole southern portion thereof Its most im- 
portant tributary is the creek or river called the North Branch, which re- 
ceives the greatest part of the drainage water of the northern sections of 
the town, and discharges into the Quechee at Bridgewater Corners. And 
the North Branch has a somewhat important auxiliary stream, which 
drains the central western portion of the town. 

These more ini[jortant streams have proven of the greatest benefit to 
the town of Bridgewater, affording water-power privileges along almost 
the whole distance of their course; and tiiis has been utilized to a vast 
extent in years gone by, but more latterly there has been a decline in 
the number of mill industries along these waters. 



Town of Bridgewateu. 603 

The town of Bridgewater was chartered on the loth day of July, 

1 761, by Governor Wentworth, of New Hampshire ; but the pioneer set- 
tlement of the town did not commence until some eight or nine years 
later. This explains why it was that no conflict occurred over the right 
to possession of these lands, for the New York authorities rarely granted 
a charter east of the Green Mountains of any district not then attempted 
to be settled and occupied under the grants of New Hampshire. And 
when Bridgewater received its first pioneers, Deacon Asa Jones and Amos 
Mendall, the whole country was in a disturbed condition on account of 
he war then in progress. Deacon Jones made his survey in 1779, but 
did not make a [permanent settlement until the next year, 1 780, which 
year witnessed the arrival of young Mendall, who soon afterward married 
the daughter of the Deacon. Thus it was this event that recorded the 
first marriage of the town ; and the principal parties to that transaction 
were also connected with another "first event" — the birth of their child, 
Lucy Mendall. 

The early settlement of Bridgewater was exceedingly slow, and it was 
not until the ye-ir 1785 that the town had acquired a sufficient population 
to become organized; but prior to that time the proprietors held meet- 
ings and made such provision as was deemed necessary for the temporary 
government of the town, and such improvements as should tend to en- 
courage settlement within its borders. The first meeting of the proprie- 
tors of the town was held in pursuance of an order issued by Justice Ben- 
jamin Emmons, of which the following is a copy; 

"State of Vermont, County of Windsor, whereas application hath been 
made to me, one of the justices of the peace of this State, by more than 
one-sixteenth part of the proprietors of the township o'f Bridgewater, to 
call a proprietors meeting for said township on Tuesday the loth day of 
July next, to meet at the house of Captain John Strong, innholder in 
Woodstock, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, to act on the following arti- 
cles, etc. 

" Benjamin Emmons, assistant. 

"Woodstock, May 18,. 1 781." 

In pursuance of this order the first proprietors' meeting was held, as 
stated, on the loth of July, at the public house then kept by Captain 
Strong, Asa Jones, the pioneer of Bridgewater, was chosen moderator; 



6o4 History of Windsor County. 

John Ransom, proprietors' clerk ; Asa Jones, proprietors' treasurer ; and 
James Cady, proprietors' collector. The assembled proprietors then pro- 
ceeded with the business of arranging for the regular survey of the town, 
and its division into hundred-acre lots. For this labor a committee was 
chosen, consisting of settlers Asa Jones, James Cady and Amos Mendall. 

Tiie next meeting of the proprietors was held at Deacon Jones's house 
in Bridgewater on the 24th of November, 1783. Among other things it 
was voted, at this time, to give Isaac and Richard Southgate two whole 
town rights (lots) in one body, provided they build two good mills, one 
a saw-mill and the other a grist-mill, within one year; but a subsequent 
meeting extended the time of building these mills to two years. The 
Southgates were further required to give the mills "good attendance" for 
a term of twenty years. Other hundred-acre lots were also granted to 
George Boyce and Captain John Hawkins, in consideration of their buiUl- 
ing saw- mills in the town. 

At a meeting held at Woodstock in September, 1784, the proprietors 
appointed Captain Strong, Jesse Williams, Cephas Shedd, John Hawkins 
and Richard Southgate as a committee to lay out a road through the 
town. And at this same meeting the proprietors granted to Deacon 
Asa Jones the privilege of selecting and laying out for himself a hun- 
dred-acre lot, to compensate him for the hardships experienced in mak- 
ing the first settlement, and the interest he had taken in promoting set- 
tlement by other families in the town. 

As a result of these several preliminary proprietors' meetings the town 
was divided and surveyed, and the owners made their selection of lands. 
The manner of selecting was called " making a pitch of land " ; and it 
was not an uncommon thing for lots to be measured by "perambulating," 
or, to be better understood, by " pacing them off." All the pitches 
having bee 1 made, or at least all that were then taken, the town was 
found, in 1785, to have a sufficient number of residents to warrant its 
complete organization by settlers of the land, although during the pre- 
ceding year John Hawkins had been chosen to represent the town in the 
General Assembly of the State. 

The first meeting of the freemen of Bridgewater was held on the 30th 
of March, 1785, and there the first town officers were elected. Who 
were present and the extent of attendance upon that important occasion 






^^^ 




\ 



Town of Bridgewater. 605 

cannot now be ascertained, but it would form an interesting record if 
there could be drawn even a pen picture of thdt assemblage. The re- 
cording officer of that meeting, however, only furnishes us with the pro- 
ceedings had at the time, chief among which was the selection of the 
following town officers : Asa Jones, moderator ; John Hawkins, town 
clerk; Richard Soutligate, James Hetcher and Isaiah Shaw, selectmen ; 
Joseph Hawkins, town treasurer and first constable; Bliss Hoisington, 
James Fletcher and Joseph Boyce, listers; Richard Southgate, grand 
juror ; Joseph Boyce, Amos Mendall and James Topliff, surveyors of 
liighways. 

The officers chosen for tlie year 1786 were as follows : Richard South- 
gate, moderator; John Hawkins, clerk ; James F"letcher, Richard South- 
gate and Joseph Boyce, selectmen ; James Fletcher, treasurer ; Asa 
Jones, first constable; James Topliff, Cephas Sheldon and John Pahiier, 
listers; Joseph Boyce, grand juror. 

There is probably no manner in which can now be accurately deter- 
mined the names of every one of the pioneers of the town of Bridge- 
water. After the lapse of more than 100 years from the time the town 
was first occupied, all tradition (for all information concerning the set- 
tlers must necessarily be based on tradition) is become unreliable ; and 
the oldest inhabitant would scarcely attempt to reveal the names of all, 
the settlers prior to the year 1800. The task is practically impossible 
of performance. But, fortunately, the ancient records of the town do 
throw some light upon this matter, and enable the reader to learn of 
many of the families who came to the town prior to the year iSoo. 
Among the old books in the clerk's office is one that purports to con- 
tain the names of resident families, a record of marriages, births and 
deaths; but whether or not all the families are recorded there is, per- 
haps, a question. From that record we have extracted the names of all 
who were married, whether within the town or elsewhere, and resided 
in Bridgewater prior to the year 1800, together with the names of their 
children, in the order of their birth. But in explanation of the list fol- 
lowing it may be stated that there will be found frequent repetitions in 
the christian names of children in the same family. In such cases the 
reader will understand that the first child so named died before the birth 
of the other bearing the same name. The order giving these records is 



6o6 History of Windsor County. 

the same as found in the clerk's book, and not chronologically arranged. 
I*"urther, it may be stated that no record appears of the marria<je of 
Amos Mendall and the daughter of Asa Jones, nor of tlie children born 
of that marriage. 

Elijah Walker and Anna Jones were married May 28, 1789. Chil- 
dren : Electa, Rena, Anna, Patty, Sally, Demis, Elijah, Roene, Edwin 
and Edson. Elijah Walker, the pioneer, died on the 26th of February, 
1813. Ariel Jones and Polly Hayes, married September 21, 1787(31 
Woodstock). Children : Lydia, Polly, Lj-man, Betsey, Betsey, second, 
and Ariel Asa Green and Achsa Sanderson, married April 26, 1783. 
Children : ICphraim, Lucy, Asa, I'.lias, Oliver, Benjamin, Elias, Rachel, 
Achsa and Irenus. Joseph Perkins and Patience Hayes were married in 
Lyme, Conn. Children, born in Bridgewater, Polly and Mehetable. 
Patience Perkins, wife, died August 6, 1792. Second wife of Joseph was 
Patience Denison, whom he married February 19, 1793. Children: 
Patience and Joseph. " Progney " of James Topliff ' by Abigail, his 
wife: Calvin, Joseph, Abigail, Salla. James, Jeruslia, Eunice and Anna. 
F"amily of Jonathan' and Abigail White: Lyman, Laura, Oilman, Alan- 
son, John, Alfred, Sullivan, Saphrona, Fann)-, Juliana M. and Andrew 
Jackson. Challis Safford and Sally Jones, married P"ebruary 26, 1789. 
Children : Robert, Dennis, Joseph and Orrin. Ephraim C. French and 
Rhoda Dike, married June 6 1785, at Worcester, Mass. Children born 
in Bridgewater: Aima, Pamelia, Octava and Carter. Benjamin Perkins 
married Demis Jones, June 10, 1784, in Colchester, Conn. Children: 
Demis, born in Colchester; Fannj', Betsey, Irene and Melvine, born in 
Bridgewater. Benjamin Perkins died February 25, 1813. SamuelHaw- 
kins married Betsey Miller, May 4, 1796. Children : Lucy, Laura, Ann, 
Julia, Betsey. James Walker married Reny Parmenter; February 6, 1794. 
Children: Roswell, Horace, Rodolphus,Orrin,Alden, Fann}-, Nelson, Man- 
dana, and Fanny. David Thompson married Betsey Leech, December 17, 
1795, in Massachusetts. Children, born in Bridgewater: Alvinzy, Eunice, 
Edwin, Calista, Ovid and Ro.xelona. Abel Thompson married Polly 
Stacy, Decembers, 1799. Children: Patty, Hosea, Anna, Oliver H., Noah, 
Elihu and Polly. Thomas Vickory Vose and Sarah Little were married 
December 20, 1781, in New Hampshire. Children: Elizabeth, Phebe 

' No record given of date of marriage. 



Town of Bridgewater. 607 



v., Samuel, Roger I., Thomas V., (last three born in Hartland, Vt.,) 
John, Sally H. M., Esther, Joseph and Oilman. Isaiah Shaw married 
Abigail Tinkham. Children : Isaac, Rebecca, Abijah (daughter), Isaiah ; 
by second marriage, with Anna Stacy, (ceremony performed by Benja- 
min Perkins, J. P ,) Michael, Moses, Enoch, Rufus, Ansel, Gideon, 
Franklin, Alonzo and John, all boys. Elihu Smith married Susanna 
Grow, November, 1799. Children : Lorenzo, Minerva, William and 
Philander. Samuel Vaughn and Ruth Bowker were married February 
■4. '799- Children: Elizabeth, Samuel, Mary, Marcy, Joanna and Jer- 
emiah. Selah Montague and Electa Winter were married January 11, 
1787. Children : Betsey, Clarissa, David, Moses, David, Daniel, Otis, 
Electa, Rosena, Laura. Selah Montague died May 17, 18 12. Richard 
Southgate and Phebe Raymond were married March i, 1799. Children: 
Richard W., Phebe, Napoleon B., Marquis L., Caroline E,, Julia, Will 
iani B., Giles, Winfield Scott, Peter B., Porter and Mercy Emily. Na- 
thaniel Miller and Betsey Lewis were married in Massachusetts, October 
20, 1794 Children : John, Ansel, Abigail, Lewis, Betsey, Nelson, 
Nathaniel, John, Oliver H. P. and James Monroe. " Progney " of 
Joshua Woodbury and Eunice, his wife: Nancy, Pollv, Eunice, Lucy, 
Sally, Melinda, Eunice, Joshua, Betsey, and one other that died un- 
named. 

These, then, were the pioneers of Bridgewater, and, it is believed, the 
majority of them. But, in order to present them to the reader, the 
names of as many as possible of those who dwelt in the town during its 
pioneer period, who took part in its earlier affairs, and from whom were 
descended the great multitude of residents of after years, and many of 
the present day, there has been prepared the following list. It purports 
to be, and is a roll af, the qualified freemeij of the town, prepared by the 
authorities of the town, to show who were entitled to vote at the town 
elections. Similar lists to tiiis are prepared prior to the State elections, 
by the board of civil authority. The list copied here was dated Sep- 
tember 1, 1 80 1, and is believed to contain the name of each qualified 
elector of Bridgewater entitled to vote at the election next ensuing, and 
is as follows : 

Amos Mendall, Joseph Hawkins, Thomas Southgate, James Topliff, 
Thomas Palmer, Benoni Shaw, Isaiah Shaw, John Palmer, Eleazer Mea- 



6o8 History of Windsor County. 

cliiini, William Grois, James Soutligate, Joseph French, Isaac Jones, 
Jonatlian Wliite, Jeremidh Thomas, Zebulon Thomas, Benjamin Perkins 
James Pierce, Ariel Jones, Selah Montague. James Fletcher, Zachariah 
Barrett, Joseph Perkins, Ariel Jones, jr., Barnabas Thomson, Robert 
Palmer, Ivory Bostvvortii.Zebina Eaton, Thomas Eastman, George Wash- 
burn, Abner Jones, John Walker, James Walker, John P'oster, Elijah 
Walker, Elkanah, Job and Daniel Shaw, George Boyce, Stephen Rice, 
Aaron Frencli, Elisha Gillette, Joseph Boyce, Cephas Sheldon, Challis 
Saftbrd, Gideon Maxham, John Gaylord, Richarii Soutligate, jr., John 
Strong, Lemuel Gibbs, David Maxham, William Lamb, Jedediah Damon, 
Nathaniel Miller, Jonathan Pratt, Cyrus Perkins, David Thomson, Noah 
Thomson, jr., Renel Simmons, John Ayres, Stephen Woodward, Enoch 
Young, Wade Jones, James Woodward, Ezra French, Ichabod Churchill, 
Joseph Benson, Aaron Lamb, John Harris, Samuel Harris, Stephen 
Gibbs, William Pierce, Josiah Gibbs, Henry Ilakett, Natlian Avery, 
\\ ilKird Lamb, Abisha Bingham, Reuben Washburn, Abner Woodward, 
Samuel Babcock, Isaac Osgood, Abel Thomson, Joshua Leonard, 
Phineas Sanderson, jr., .Abithar Polland, John Pratt, second, Samuel 
Keech, Job Hoisington, Stephen Slater, William White, Noah Thomson, 
Abel Tracy, John Hawkins, jr., and Daniel Barrows. 

In 1780 tiie town had a population of not more than six or eight fam- 
lies, perhaps less; but in I79i,the time of taking the first Federal cen- 
sus, there were two hundred and ninety-three persons in Bridgewater, 
or, in families, about fifty. From this time settlement increased rapidly 
for many years, each census sliouing a greater nimiber of residents than 
that preceding, until the year 1840, at which time the maximum of 1,363 
vvfas reached. Since the last named census, that of 1840, the population 
of the town has been gradually diminished until the enumeration of 1880, 
which showed the town to have but 1,084 inhabitants. The greatest 
ratio of gain was between the years 1791 and 1800, the increase being 
from 293 to 781. 

Thus it was during the first half century of the town's occupation by 
settlers and their descendants that its greatest strides of advancement 
and improvement were made. During the last fifty years hundreds of 
people, most of them young and energetic men, have left their native 
homes and taken up their abode in other States, mainly in the great 



I 



Town of 15rid(;ewatek 609 

western country. In this decrease of population Bridgewater does not 
stand alone, for a majority of the towns in the county, and perhaps in 
State, have experienced a similar reduction. 

The history of the growth, progress and development of the town of 
Bridgewater during the present century has been much the same as of 
other towns similarly situated. During the period of the Revolutionary 
war the locality was so sparsely settled as to attract no notice from the 
civil and military authorities of the new State, and it is not known that 
any volunteers were sent from the town during that contest; but it is 
known and understood that some of the men who were engaged in the 
service during that time afterward became residents of Bridgewater. 
However, in the second war with Great Britain there was the same dis- 
cussion here as elsewhere throughout the State, and the town contrib- 
uted of its militia and other men for that service, as well as to raise ad- 
ditional funds for the purpose of supplying recruits and other necessaries 
lor military operations. 

But the town of Bridgewater enjoyed one period of excitement not 
experienced by any other of the towns of the State ; and that promised 
to rival the agitation occasioned by the outbreak of the gold fever in the 
far West. In fact, the feeling at that time vi^as said to have been some- 
tiiing the same as in California, but it is doubtful if the local excitement 
had any noticeable effect in staying the westward tide of emigration. It 
seems, according to the oft-repeated tale of this wonderful discovery, that 
one Matthew Kennedy by accident became possessed of the fact that 
gold lay hidden in the depths of Mount Hope, but shrewdly kept the 
matter secret until he was able to possess himself of the title to the val- 
uable tract. Then the fact leaked or rather poured out, and each state- 
ment of the extent of the deposit doubled upon its predecessor, until, 
at length, it became understood that the golden treasures of the town 
were of incalculable value, all of which brought the greatest gratifica- 
tion to the crdfty Kennedy. But the gold deposits of Bridgewater were 
not wholly imaginary, for the precious metal did lay hidden there, but 
the (quantity of it was — well, never underestimated. 

Mr. Kennedy was induced to sell out, and soon thereafter a mining 
company was organized, built mills and crushers and what not of the 
necessary appendages for extensive mining operations, and then the 



6io History ok Windsor County. 

priictical work was commenced. Affairs progressed well for a time — 
all such dt) — but soon there came a decline, and finally an end Some 
gold was found, but tlie general public never learned of its (juaiUity — 
anil i)robably never will. But these were glorious years for the town, 
and were enjoyed to the fullest extent by the merchant and farmer alike; 
but when the tide once turned, Bridgewater resumed mucii of its former 
condition. 

During the war of 1861-65, more commonly known as the war of 
the Rebellion, the town of Bridgewater is credited with having furnished 
the aggregate number of one hundred and Iwcuty-five men, who were 
scattered through some fourteen or fifteen different regiments, and sev- 
eral in the navy. Of this number seventy-seven were recruits for tlie 
three years' service; six for one year ; twenty-seven for nine months ; 
eight in the navy and seven more were credited, but not named. Six 
men in the town furnished substitutes, and fifteen were drafted and paid 
commutation. A complete rt)ll of the men of Bridgewater, who entered 
the service during the war, will be found in Chapter X. of this volume. 

Agriculture and manufacturing have been the leading pursuits of the 
people of Bridgewater from its very earliest occupation ; but it would 
be a thing impossible to recall the names of each and every person en- 
gaged in either of these industries in the town, nor would it be deemed 
advisable to do so could it be accomplished. There is hardly a stream, 
great or small, within the bounds of the town but had on its banks some 
kind of a mill or factory, and these have come and gone with each suc- 
ceeding generation. 

In the town at the present time are no less than a dozen manufactur- 
ing industries, some large and others small, but all, nevertheless, add to 
the town's wealth and prosperity. At the little village of Bridgewater 
are the industries owned and carried on by F. S. Mackenzie, the one an 
extensive woolen manufactory, and the other a lumber-mill. At Bridge- 
water Corners, so called, are the chair-stock factories of W. C. Bugbee, 
Manscll Heselton & Sons, H. G. Ashton, G. & A. O. Dailey, and H. H. 
Hubbard, and the lumber-mills of Austin Howard, A. D. Barrows, and 
the scythe-stick factory of Herbert Johnson. And at West Bridgewater 
are the chair-stock factories of J. N. Madden and R. D. Bridge. 

Bridgewater is a small village situate in the southeastern part of the 



Town of Bridgewater. 6ii 

town, near the Woodstock line, having a school, post office, and the shops 
and stores usually found in the smaller and less thickly populated towns 
of the State. 

Bridgewater Corners is another hamlet, situate about one and one- half 
miles farther west than the village last named, and is, perhaps, the more 
important of the two in point of number of industries. 

West Bridgewater lies in the extreme southwest corner of the town, 
and has a post-office, the two industries above mentioned, and one or two 
stores. 

The little settlement located in the central part of the town, and 
known as Bridgewater Center, was once a scene of busy activity, and 
that during the days of the gold mining operations. Then it was the most 
important hamlet of the town, but with the decline of the excitement 
and the abandonment of the mines the settlement relapsed into its former 
state. All of the villages of the town, except the Center, are located 
along the Ouechee River, from which excellent water power is derived 
by diverting the waters of that stream; still, to some extent, steam is used 
as an auxiliary power. 

Bridgctvatcr Mills. — The first person to utilize the waters of the Que- 
chee River at Bridgewater, for manufacturing purposes, was Richard 
Southgate He was from Massachusetts and came to Bridgewater in 
1784, and took an active part in developing the early settlement of that 
town. In 1786 he built a dam across the Quechee, which was situated 
about ten rods west of the present dam at Bridgewater. He there car- 
ried on for a number of years a saw and grist-mill. Mr. Southgate had 
a family of six children, of whom three were sons, viz.: Richard, Thomas 
an_d Janies, who were at different times connected with their father in 
business. The property finally passed into the hands of B. F. South- 
gale, a son of the Thomas mentioned above. About 1825 he built a 
new dam across the river, which was located on the site of the present 
one, and also erected a building which was equipped with wood-working 
machinery. There was just east of this building at this time a black- 
smith shop and in 1828 Mr. Southgate, with a Mr. White, built a build- 
ing on the site of the present mills and manufactured cotton yarn, which 
they continued till 1835. This enterprise did not prove a success, and 
after remaining idle a short time the premises were occupied by Samuel 



6i2 History of Windsor County. 

Ford and Samuel Moulton under the firm name of Ford & Moulton, a 
Mr. Hutchinson also being a member of the firm. At this time the 
building then used as a dry- house and which is now the west wing of the 
building was built. Mr. Southgate continued to own the saw-mill till 
February 4, 1871, when he sold it to Dartt & Goldsmith, who disposed 
of it August 27, 1872, to Frank S. Mackenzie, the present owner. The 
grist-mill property was purchased by a number of different parties and 
finally was bought by Mr. Mackenzie. The building built by Mr. South- 
gate and used by him in the wood-working business, with the blacksmith 
shop, also the dam, was carried away in the flood of 1869. Ford & 
Moulton continued to manufacture cloths for a number of years and mills 
were afterwards operated by New York parties. In 1845 Ammi VVilliard 
and William H. Lemme.K came into possession of the property. The 
former was a resident of South Woodstock ; the latter was a manufacturer 
at Hartland, but relinquished his business in that town and became a res- 
ident of Bridgevvater in 1848. The mill, excepting what is now the west 
wing, was totally destroyed by fire in the winter of 1852, and was re- 
built the succeeding summer. The mill at this time had two sets of 
cards and black doe skins were manufactured. Mr. Williard subse- 
quently disposed of his interest to his partner, who sold it in 1866 to 
Luther C. White of Windsor. The business was continued from this 
time till January I, 1872, by Mr. White, he having during a part of the 
time James C. Converse, of Boston, as partner, though the latter held no 
interest in the real estate. On the date mentioned above Frank S. 
Mackenzie of Woodstock formed a co-partnership with Mr. White under 
the firm name of White & Mackenzie. This firm manufactured black 
doe skins and flannels, but after the first year the former article was dis- 
continued. The co-partnership was dissolved January i, 1880, Mr. 
Mackenzie becoming sole proprietor and has since that time continued 
to run the business. In 1873 another set of cards was added and in 
1875 the fourth set was put in operation ; also in the same year the brick 
building located at the south end of the mills was built and the change 
was made from narrow to broad looms. Increasing demand for the prod 
ucts of the mill required the purchasing of another set of cards in 1880, 
and in 1887 the mills were supplied with the sixth set. The capacity of 
the works was doubled in 1885 by the erection of the new wooden build- 



Town of Bridge water. 613 

ing, at the west end Mr. Mackenzie has confined himself to the manu- 
facture of Shaker and fancy flannels, also flannel suitings and cloakings, 
and employment is given to from seventy-five to eighty hands. An 
open canal, which ran between the mills and roadway, formerly furnished 
the power, but in 1888, 610 feet of six foot tubing was laid and the water 
was carried under ground. In connection with J. C. Parker & Co. and 
the A. G. Dewey Co., Mr. Mackenzie owns the Woodward Reservoir, 
situated about ten miles from his mills in the town of Plymouth. This 
reservoir overflows about 400 acres and is used in case of shortage of 
water. The mills are located six miles from Woodstock, the buildings 
being in the best of order and the grounds surrounding the same are or- 
namental and picturesque. By the census taken in 1890 Bridgewater, 
with but one exception, is the only t<iwn in Windsor county that shows 
an increase in population during the last decade, the cause of which is 
due wholly to the fact of the maintenance of a successful manufacturing 
industry within its borders. 

The pioneer residents of the town of Bridgewater seem to have been 
mindful of the spiritual welfare of the people of the community, but later 
generations do not appear to have e.xercised the same thoughtful con- 
sideration, at least in the matter of maintaining regular services, and the 
erection of church edifices. The society of the Congregational church 
was the first organized in 1793, and John Ransom was the first ordained 
preacher. The church edifice of the society was erected in 1828. The 
present pastor is Rev. Vincent. 

The Universalist church was built in 1829, and burned with other 
property a niunber of years ago. The society of Adventists has a house 
for worship in the Center, but no regular services have been held there. 
The last minister of the society was Henry C Holt, who still lives in the 
town. The other religious societies of the town, past and present, are 
Baptists, Methodists and Christians. 

For school and educational purposes the town of Bridgewater is 
divided into eleven districts, suported on the district plan. There are 
eleven school houses, and eleven teachers are employed, at an estimated 
annual expense of $1,650. 

The present town officers of Bridgewater are as follows: Alfred Sar- 
gent, moderator ; George E. Smith, clerk ; D. O. Robinson, Eugene 



6i4 HiSTouY OF Windsor County. 

W. Stevens and C. T. Josselyn, selectmen ; Charles Rabcock, treasurer; 
R. W. Pinney, overseer of the poor; M. J. Hudson, constable ; E. R. Rob- 
inson, George E. Smith and Royal B. Perkins, listers ; H. L. Rodiman, 
Lemuel Shattuck and William D. Johnson, auditors ; E. M. AUard, 
R. W. Pinney and Abel Shattuck, fence viewers ; E. A. Davis, grand 
Juror; E. J. Robinson, pound-keeper; R. W. Pinney, measurer of wood 
and lumber; Allen E. Woods, inspector of leather; Alfred Sargent, 
town agent ; Lemuel Shattuck, school supervisor. 

Succession of Representatives to the General Assembly. — 178410 1790, 
John Hawkins; 1 791, Benjamin Perkins; 1792-3, John Hawkins; 1794-6, 
Benjamin Perkins ; 1797, John Hawkins ; 1798. Phineas Williams ; 1799, 
Benjamin Perkins ; I 800. John Hawkins ; 1801-2 JamesTopJifif; 1803-6, 
I'hine.is Williams; 1807-10, James Topliff; 181 i. James Southgate; 
1812, James Toplift"; 1813-14, James Southgate ; 1815, James Topliff ; 
1816-17, James Southgate; 1818-19, James Topliff; 1820-1, James 
Southgate; 1822, James Topliff; 1823-8, Isaiah Raymond; 1829-30, 
David Thompson ; 183 1-2, James Mungcr ; 1833-7, Lyman Raymond ; 
1838-40, Isaiah Raymond; 1841-2, Alvan Lamb; 1843-5, Ovid 
Thompson; 1846-7, R. W. Southgate ; 1848-9, Charles S. Raymond; 
1850, John Osgood ; i85i,none; 1 852, Gilbert White ; 1853-4, Josiah 
Josselyn; 1855, Calvin Carpenter; 1856, William H. Lemnicx ; 1857, 
George W. Topliff; 1858, Justin S. Montague ; 1859, William C. Dodge ; 
i860, Justin S.Montague ; 1861, William T. Pierce; 1862, John S. Slack; 
1863-4, Columbus B. Carpenter; 1865-6, Charles N. Woods; 1867-8, 
Henry L. Rodiman; 1869, Alpheus B. Simons; 1870, William C.Bug- 
bee; 1872, John D. Mitchell ; 1874, Peter King ; 1876, Calvin Josselyn ; 
1878, George E. Smith; 1880, Charles Babcock ; 1882, William Ray 
mond ; 1884, Andrew J. Pinney; 1886, F.lihu M. Shaw ; 1888, Lemuel 
Shattuck. 

Oi.D Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. Tile remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter of this work. 



Old Families. 615 



Bridge, Roilolphus D. — This family are of Kiiglisli origin. Simeon Voutt, grandfatlier 
of Rodolpluis, lived and died in England. John Bridge, his .son, was born in England 
in 1818. At the age of nineteen he came to America as an English soldier, and upon 
his arrival at Quebec, Canada, not liking the .service, did what many another English 
soldier has done under like circumstances, deserted, changed his name from Voutt to 
Bridge, and was never known in this country by any other name. He first settled in 
Woodstock, Vt., then worked for [\ve years on a farm in Pomfret for Nathan Dana. 
He married Harriet Augusta Briggs, a native of Plymouth. After marriage he settled 
on a farm in Bridgewater. Besides farming he carried on the trade of a mason. He 
die<l at his hou.se in Bridgewater, September 10, 18S5. His wife died there April 8, 1888. 
Then- children were Charles E., George vS., Rodolphus D., Mary J., Emily A., Josephine 
.\., Edwin .1., Alberton H. Rodolphus D. Bridge enlisted September 14, 181)4, in Com- 
pany A, Ninth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, but after four months' service witli 
that regiment he was transferred to Company C, Sixth Regiment Vermont Volunteer.s, 
Colonel Lincoln commanding. He received his discharge June 19, 1805. He" married 
January 21, 1866, Emma J., daughter of Albert L. and Mary A. (Pinney) Spaulding. 
Mrs. Bridge was born in Woodstock, May 20. 1848. Tliey have one ciiild, a daughter, 
Nora L, liorn June 17, 1870. Albert L. Spaulding, father of Mrs. Bridge, was a son of 
Azil Spaulding. of Woodstock, whose widow is still (ISS'.I) living at tlie advanced age of 
ninety-five. He was a drummer in Company H, Seventh Regiment Vermont Volun 
teers, and died at tlie Marine Hospital, New Orleans, m 1802. His children living are 
Euuna J., Ma.y Isabelle, Albert Digliton, and Clara Anna. In 1873 Mr. Bridge built his 
residence and chair-stock and shingle-mill on the Quechee River in West Biidgewater. 
and has carried on that industry successfully since. He is Republican in politics, and is 
a member of the Free Mason Lodge, No. 31, Woodstock. 

Capron, Jonathan, grandfather of Cliester K., was a native of Marlboro, N. H., a 
blacksmith by trade and a soldier in the war of the Revolution. He married Lois Por- 
ter, by whom he had eleven children, all born in New Hampshire. About the year 1810 
he moved from New Hanipsliire and settled in the town of Reading, Vt. He died at 
the residence of his son Stephen, in Bridgewater, May 4, 1837, aged eighty-four. His 
wife survived him and died in Keene, N. H., at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Lois 
Ingalls. 

Capron, Stephen, was born in New Hampshire in August, 17!l8. He was about 
twelve yeais old when the family moved lo Reading. He married, in Reading, Mary 
Kellogg, and had a family of thirteen children. In the spring of 1829 he moved to 
Bridgewater and lived there tdl his death, which occurred May 21, 1864. His wife is 
still living with her youngest son, Colamer Capron. in Bridgewater. 

Capron, Chester K., was born in Reading, Vt., September 29, 1824. He lived with 
his father until he was twenty-two years of age. He married, January 31, 1847, Eliza 
A. Cary, of Clyde, N. Y., where he resided fi-om 1847 to 1851, then in Bridgewater one 
year. In 1853 he settled in Plymouth, where he resided thirteen years, and then 
moved back to Bridgewater, where lie stdl resides. His children are as follows: Dexter 
S., born December 21, 1849, married Anna Brown. Their children were Lillian E., born 
March 15, 1874; Myrtie, born March 13, 1879; and Floyd, born March 18, 1888. Ed- 
ward W., born April U, 18.V2, married Mary Etta Rogers, of Weare Center, N. II. 
Their children were Gertrude F., horn October 16, 1376; Ernest W., born November 
22, 1877; Bernice E., born September 12, 1879; and Claude R., born August 10, 1886. 
Dexter S. and Edward W. are residents of Bridgewater village. Stephen B., born in 
Savannah, N. Y., December 31, 1847, a .soldier in Company G, Seventeenth Regiment 
Vermont V'olunteers, was killed at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1805; he enlisted March, 
1804. 

Derby, Augustus R., was born in Orford, Grafton county, N. H., November 14, 1840. 
His father, John Derby, was also a native of Orfoni, born in [1801, and died there in 



6i6 History of Windsor County. 

1856. His mother was Fidelia S. Freeman, who, after the death of her husband, be- 
oame the wife of Peter Sliattuck, of liridgewater. She died in Bridgewater in 1881. 
The children of John and Fidelia S. Derby were Martha L.. Henry B., George Edwin, 
Francis E., Charles F., Mary F., and Augustus U. The latter lived in Orford til he was 
twelve years old. He lived witli his mother three years after her marriage to Peter 
Shattuck. He then worked on a farm sunmiers, and went to school winters. In 1SG(> 
he went to Lawrence, Mass., where he was employed in the Pacific Mill up to the fall of 
1879. He married. May 13, 18S0, Eva S. Gile.s. who was born in Clifton, Me., October 
3, 1S57. They have one child. Will B. Since his marriage Mr. Derby has carried on 
general merchandising in Bridgewater village. 

Fnrber, Dr. Zopliar W., was born in Dublin, N. H., October 9, 180(). He was gradu- 
ated from Castleton Medical College, March 10,1829. He married October 27, 1.S30, 
Caroline Edgerton, born in Hartford, Vt., October 8, 1808. He commenced the prac- 
tice of his i)rofession in Weathcrsfield, Windsor county, Vt, then in Charlestown, N. U., 
where he .secured an extensive practice. He ne.\t settled in Quechee, where he re- 
mained about four years. In ISIO he settled in Bridgewater, where he practiced his pro- 
fe.ssion until 1S52. In the latter year he went to California, where he died January 22, 
18(i0. Twice during that period he returned East, with the intention of remaining, but 
was obliged, on account of the climate not agreeing with him, to go back to California, 
His primary object in going to California was for gold, but he also practiced his profes- 
sion while there. He was an early Abolitionist, and was a staunch Free Soiler. He 
was held in high esteem as a man and as a physician in every community where he 
lived. Eliphalet Edgerton, his wife's father, was a native of Norwich, Conn. He came 
to llartland and married there Wealthy Willard, a descendant of one of the early set- 
tlers of Windsor county. Tlie children of Dr. and Caroline Furber are Emily Edgerton, 
born August 21, 1831 ; Edwin Edgerton, born December 9, 1833, died November 15, 
\>"i7 ■ Luther Edgerton, born May 5, 1843; and Mary Frances, born January 2(>, 1845. 
Emily and Mary have carried on a millinery and ladies' furnishing goods trade in Bridge- 
water for the last sixteen years. Luther Edgerton Furber married October 2, 18(j(i, 
Ellen, daughter of Jo.seph and Lucy (Clark) Ileadle. Mrs. Furber was born in Plym- 
outh, V^t., March 1, 1^!44, one of a family of ten children, seven of whom areliving. Mr. 
Furber was educated in Bridgewater, and at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, 
N. Y. He was employed in the woolen factory now owned by F. S. Mackenzie, in dif- 
ferent positions, for about twenty years. In 1870 he took charge of the company's 
ljoarding-hou.se in the village of Bridgewater, and still retains that po.sition. The chil- 
dren of Luther E. and Ellen Furber are Edwin E., born July 14, 18G7, a student in the 
Harvard Medii^al College, Boston, and Alice E.. born July 10, 1869, living at home. 

Josselyn, Josiah, was born in Pembroke, Plymouth county, Ma.ss., August 25, 1799, the 
eldest in a family of six children of Josiah and Ruth (Howland) Josselyn. Charles Jos- 
selyn, his grandfather, married Rebecca Keeue. Their children were Charles, Jabez, 
Jacob, Elisha, Josiah and two daughters. Josiah was the youngest of his children. He 
moved from Pembroke with his family and settled in Woodstock, Vt., on a farm pur- 
chased of Josiah Crocker, in the southwest part of that town. He remained here till 
ihe death of his wife, which occurred August 16, 1848. He was ashoemaker by trade, 
hut carried on merchandising in Pembroke. He was a life-long Democrat, He sur- 
vived his wife sixteen yean:, and died in Tyson, town of Plymouth, at the residence of 
his .son, Jairus Josselyn, April 30, 1864, and was hurried beside his wife in the Bridge- 
water cemetery. With the exception of a daughter, who died in Pembroke, the follow- 
ing were his children : Jairus, Lewi.s, Ruth and Robert. Josiah Jos.selyn was sixteen 
years old wOien his father moved to Vermont. He learned the "'clothier" trade of Elihu 
Smith. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old, and for the next four 
years he followed peddling in Vermont and New Hampshire. Starting with nothing 
but credit, he closed his peddling career §2,000 ahead. He married in Bri<lgewater, Oc- 
tober 16, 1825, Ann, daughter of James and Abigail (Dimick) Topliff, who was born in 



Old Families. 617 



Bridgewater, November 19, 1803, and died at their residence, October 3, 1876. For 
two years after marriage he was in trade in Woodstock, in company with his liiother 
Lewis. In 1827 he came to hve with his father-in-law, Mr. Tophllj and in 1830 he pur- 
chased the Toplilf farm, and from that time to the present (1890) Las owned and car- 
ried it on. He has always taken a deep interest in every movement looking to the 
elevation and betterment of the farmer. He biiilt the finest Grange hall in the State, 
known as the " Josselyn Hall." He has been a life-long Democrat. He has filled most 
of the town offices, and represented the town two terms in the Legislature. He is 
liberal in his religious belief. The children of Josiah and Ann .Josselyn are Andrew 
Jackson, born April 10, 1830, married September 1.8, 1855, Ro.xa, daughter of Peter and 
Ruth (Freeman) Shattuck, born in Bridgewater, June 6, 1836. He lives at the home- 
stead and carries on the farm. Their children are Lewis B., Charles H., and Arthur A. 
Lewis B. married Nellie A. Blake, March 23, 1885. She was born in Bethel, June 18, 
1866. Calvin Topliff, born March 16, 1836, married October 6, 1859, Ellen A., daugh- 
ter of Charles and Arminda (Fales) Walker, who was born in Unity, Sullivan county, 
N. H., September 9, 1839. Mr. Josselyn represented the town of Bridgewater in the 
Slate Legislatrre in 1876, is now (1890) serving his second term as selectman, and 
was superintendent of the schools two years, and has taught in the schools of Bridge- 
water and neighboring towns twenty winters. For the last nineteen years he has 
owned and carried on the farm nearly adjoining his father's in Bridgewater. Their 
children are Iney May, born May 29, 1861, wife of A. H. Morse, of Ascutneyville ; 
Horatio Seymour, born May 13, 1863; Chandos Fales, born October 20, 1867; Ann A., 
born August 21, 1869, wife of Charles B. Weeden, a spinner in the Bridgewater woolen- 
mills; Charles Josiah, born March 23, 1877; and Nellie, born May 13, 1879, 

Marsh, Ziba Aldrich. — Joseph Mar.sh, grandfather of Ziba A,, born in Henniker, N. H., 
August 6, 1750, married Mehitable Ilaniman, June 17, 1784. The latter was born Jan- 
uary 24, 1707. They died in Henniker, the former July 7, 1837, the latter March 24, 
1816. They had sixteen children, of whom Joseph, father of Ziba, was the seventh 
child. He was born in Henniker, March 20, 1793, married Betsey (Aldrich) Hathorn 
widow. Two chddren, Ziba A. and Mary, were the issue of this marriage. The latter 
became the wife of Charles Rice, of Lansingburg, N. Y. Lyman Hathorn, son of 
Betsey by a former husband, is now living in Cuttingsville, Shrewsbury, Rutland county, 
Vt. Joseph Marsh died in Henniker, September 11, 1823, His wife subsequently iriai-- 
ried Elisha .Johnson, of Shrewsbury, Vt., and she died there. Ziba A. Marsh was born in 
Henniker, December 21, 1818. He was ten 3'ears old when his mother married Mr. John- 
son, and he lived four years with his stepfather in Shrewsbury. In 1832 he came to Bridge- 
water, where he learned the shoemaker's and tanner's trades, with Messrs. Flint & 
Bailey, remaining seven years with them. He married, Aiu-il 23, 1840, Orph.a, daugh- 
ter of Emanuel and Submit (Foster) Sawyer. Mrs. Marsh was born in Plymouth, Vt., 
July 14, 1820. His father settled in Plymouth before his marriage (May 20, 1804). 
There are ten children in the family, three of whom are deceased, six are still residents 
of Windsor county, and one a resident of Detroit, Mich. Her mother died in Plym- 
outh, her father in Bridgewater, and both are buried in the Bridgewater cemetery. 
After his marriage Mr. Mar.sh settled in Bridgewater village, and lived there till his 
death, which occurred May 0, 1885. He carried on the boot and shoe business at the 
stand now occupied by E. A. Davis for twenty years. He was postmaster of the vil- 
lage for twenty-four year.s, justice of the peace two years, and overseer of the poor 
fourteen years. The,«e positions of public trust sufficiently attest the estimation in 
which he was held in the community where he lived. An only child, Mary A., born 
June 30, 1842, became the wife of Clarke Raymond. She died June 28, 1860. Two 
children, the issue of this marriage, died in infancy. 

From William Shattui'k, as their common progenitor, have descended nearly all, if not 
every one, of those who now bear the name in America. He was born in England in 
1621 or 1622, and died in Watertown, Mass., August 14, 1072, aged fifty years. Though 
78 



6i8 History of Windsor County. 

a weaver by trade, agriculture was his principal employment. He sustained the char- 
acter of a sagacious, energetic and successful business man, of an honest, uprigiit and 
worthy citizen. Ho married about 1642. His wife's christian name was Susanna. 
Tlioy had ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom second, William, born in 
WatertowM in 1()78, married Susanna Randall. He died October !!_», 173'2, in the eight- 
ieth year of his age; his wife died May 8, 1723. They had eleven children, six sons 
and live daughters, of whom third, Benjamin, born in Watertown, Jul}' 30, l()S7, mar- 
ried Martha Sherman, whose father, John Sherman, was grandfather of Hon. Roger 
Sherman, ex-United States .Senator from Connecticut. Benjamin Shattuck was a grad- 
uate of Harvard College in 170!), studied divinity, and was ordained the first minister of 
Littleton, December 25, 1717. They had eleven children, seven sons and fom- daugh- 
ters, of whom fourth, William, the fifth child, was born in Littleton, January 1, \7\^. 
He was a leading man in the town affairs of Littleton, as afterwards in New Ipswich, 
N. H. He was eight year.s its selectman, a delegate to the Provincial Congress, a rep- 
resentative to the Legislature in 1776. In 1704 lie moved to Jaffrey, N. H., where he 
died, January. 180G, aged eightj'-eiglit. He married, November 20, 1750, Aliigail Reed, 
born in 1733, died in February. 1820. Of their eight children, lifth, Peter, was their 
fifth child, born iu Littleton, in 1762. He was thrice married. His first wife was Lydia 
Henney. In 1800 he moved to Bethlehem, N. H., where hedied, July 18, 1824 Si.xtli, 
Peter, eldest child of Peter and Lydia, was born in New Ipswich, July 15, 1778; first 
settled in Lunenburgh, Ma.ss.; in 1806 removed to Canaan, N. li.; in 1S20 to Lebanon; 
and in 1830 to Bridgevvater, Vt., where he was killed by a tree tailing upon him, April 
20, 18,35. He married in Luuenburgh, January 1, 1803, Ru.xbey Whiting, borti April 20, 
1782, daughter of Leonard and Mary Wliiting. She died in Bridgevvater, October 23, 
1851. Peter Sliattuck, the eldest of five children of Peter and Ruxbey Shattuck. was 
born in Lunenburgh, December 19, 1804. He was employed in the grist-mills at Leba- 
non and Hartford from the time he was sixteen until he was twentj'-six years of age. 
In 1830 he settled in Bridgewater, on what is known as '■Shattuck's Hill," on the farm 
where he still resides. He married, February, 1830, Ruth IL, daughter of Caleb F. 
Freeman, who died April 10, 1858. He married, December 2, 1858, Fidelia Derby, 
widow of John Derby, and sister of his first wife. His children by the first marriage 
were George P., born December 12, 1^30, died May 12, 1832; Roxey, born June 6, 1835. 
wife of Andrew J. Jos.selyn, of Bridgewater; Abel Storrs, born February 11, 183!), 
married, September 18, 1800, Addie O., daughter of Ebenezer K. and Ehzabeth (Holmes) 
Bartlett. She was born in Plymouth, November 20, ]838. They have one child. Mary 
Ruth, born December 3, 1871. Abel Storrs carries on the homestead farm. Cyrus E.. 
born January 9, 1844, died .March 10. 1850. Mr. Shattuck has foHowed farming in 
Bridgewater, and made it a suucess. He has filled a number of town ollices. For the 
past five years he has failed in his eyesight; though not totally blind, he is not able to 
recognize faces. He enjoys in the fullest measure the confidence and esteem of the 
community in which he lives. Lemuel Shattuck, a younger brother of Peter, and living 
in Bridgewater a near neighbor, has been connected largely with educational interests, 
and has been prominently identified with the public aflJ'airs of the town. 

Taft, Andrew J., was born in Wo idstock, September 3, 1825, the fifth in a family of 
six children of Timothy and Jerusha (McWain) Taft. Artemiis Taft, his grandfather, 
married a Miss Staples, .and raised a family of six children. Artcmus Taft died iu Rul- 
laml, his wife in Woodstock. Timolliy, born August 25, 1777, married Jerusha, daugh- 
ter of Andrew and Rebecca (Seaver) McWain. After marriage he settled on the farm 
in Woodstock now owned and occupied by C.J. Taft, his grandson. lie sub.seiiucntly 
exchanged farms with Jesse Williams, a [)lace now owned and occupied by Mi\s. Lucia 
Taft, widow of his son, Wales A. Taft. Here he died July 16, 1861, aged eighty-three. 
His wife died May 26, 1856, aged sixty-one. Their children were Charles F.. Wales .\., 
Kdwin S., Adaliiie L.. Andrew J., Marshall W. Andrew J. lived until he was thirty-one 
vears of age on the hc.mestead iu Woodstock, and received his education in the district 



Old Families. 619 



school of the town. He married April 18, 1858, Emily, daugliter of Lsrael nnt\ Clarissa 
(Seaver) Blake. Mrs. Taft was born in Briilgewater, .January 10, 18.30. Her father was 
born in Keene, N. H., April 29, 1795; her mother August, 1800. He died March 28, 
1873; she died March 8, 1872. Mrs. Taft, and a brother, Henry T., are their only chil- 
dren living; the latter a farmer living in Stockbridge, Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Taft lived the 
first three years after marriage in tlie village of Bri<lgewater; the next twelve years on 
a farm in Woodstock. In 187:i he purchased the Gilman White larm in Bridgewater, 
one-half mile north of the village, where he still resides. Andrew McWain, his grand- 
father on his mother's side, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, serving from the 
beginning of the war to its close, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-nine years, 
one month, and thirteen days. He died in Woodstock, Vt., at tlie home of his son-in- 
law, July 29, 1S37. The children of Andrew .1. and Emily Taft are Ethan A., born 
.luly 29, 1863, living at home; Hattie A., born July 4, 18G0, wife of Forest E. Taylor, 
living in Bridgewater village. 

Washburn, Oscar V., was descended fiom one of two brothers wlio emigrated from 
England and settled in West Bridgewater, Mass. His grandfather, Nehemiah, and his 
father, Hattil, were both born there. When eight years of age his father went with 
Dr. Silas Burgess to Goshen, Ma.ss., and there married Martha Putney. Tliey had a 
family of ten children. Hattil Washburn died at the residence of his son, Amos, at 
Vernon, Vt., in 1860. His wife died in Goshen in 1846. Of their ten clnldren, only 
three are living, Amos, Oscar F., and Marth.a, who married William Webster, of Spring- 
field, Mass. O.scar F. lived with his father in Goshen until he was thirty years of age. 
He married November 29, 18-15, Mary A. Wing, of Goshen, who died in March, 1849. 
Marion ( >. is t.hi'ir only child. Mr. Washljurn married May 30, 1851, Eliza .1., daughter 
of William and Eunice (Brooks) Lacore. The latter was born in Southampton, Mass., 
September 15, 1838. The children by this union are as follows: Hattie A., Oscar V.. 
Mary E., Lydia M., Lizzie B., Carrie G. and Florence G. Mr. Wasliburn carried on the 
watchmaking trade in New York city ten years. In 1803 he came to Bridgewater, Vt., 
to explore the gold bearing rocks of that town, and for five years was manager for the 
•' Quartz Hill and Pioneer Gold Mining Company," remaining with them until their failure. 
The yield of gold obtained varied from 5 to 37 cwts. per ton, 21^ karats fine. Thereafter, 
for several years, he carried on the mill on his own account. In 1869 everything was 
carried away by a fre.shet, which left him penniless. He then engaged as superintend- 
ent for Senator Pomeroy, in the " Portis Gold Mine," in North Carolina. He occupied 
that position five years. Upon his return North he invented " W;i,shburn's Automatic 
Fire Escape," and remaided in New York city during the di.spo.sal of the patent. In 
October, 1888, he returned to Bridgewater, Vt., where he engaged in the development 
of his gold mining interests. He is now (1890) sixty-si.\ years of age. 

Weeden, Benjamin F., was born in Hartland, Vt., May 23, 1835. His great-grand- 
father, Thomas Weeden, moved from Rhode Island to Hartland, Vt. Samuel, his third 
child by the first marriage, was born in Hartland, May 6, 1792. lie was twice married. 
His first wife was a daughter of Simeon Willard, of Hartland. His second wife was 
Martha B. Cady, born December 11, 1800, died December 10, 1873. Samuel Weeden 
died July 29, 1870. Benjamin F. was six years old when his father moved from Hart- 
land to Reading. He lived in the latter town thirteen years. In 1854 he moved from 
Reading and .settled on the farm in Bridgewater, which, upon his death, came into the 
po.ssession of his son, Benjamin F., which he still owns and carries on. Benjamin F. 
married January 18, 1864. Sarah A., daughter of Moses and Sarah (Thompson) ,Shaw. 
She was born in North Bridgewater, August 30, 1834. Her father was a son of Isaiah 
Shaw, who located in Bridgewater in 1783. Her mother was a sister to Prof. Zadock 
Thompson, author of "Thompson's Gazetteer of Vermont." 

West, Lorenzo 0., was born in Pomfret, Vt., January 2, 1841, the eldest in a family 
of nine children of Ezekiel, jr., and Mary E. (Stafford) West. The tradition in the 
family is that John West was the ancestor of the famil}' in this country ; that he came 



620 History of Windsor County. 

from Ireland, was a bridge builder by trade, and lost his lite by an accident while em- 
gaged in his occ^upation. Ezekiel West, son of .John, born in Vermont, at an early day 
moved with his family to Lockport, N. Y., in that portion known !is the Holland Pur- 
chase. Here Ezekiel West, jr., was born March 16, 1816. He married about 1839, in 
Pomfret, Mary E. Stafford, of Bridgewater. Ezekiel West, jr., died in Bridgewater, 
April 29, 1887. His wife died in Slierl)urne, in May, 1S89. Their children were Lo- 
renzo ( )., Mary A. (deceased), Ezekiel, Emily M. (decca.sed), Luther N., John L., .lames L,, 
Elsie M., and Edna M. (deceased). All those living are resi<lcnts of Vermont. Lo- 
renzo O. euli.sted as private in the First Vermont Light Artillery, January 2, 18()2, and 
served in that battery ten and a half months. .\t the end of that service he enlisted in 
(he regular .service. First Regiment, Company F, Heavy Artillery, then serving as light 
artillery, and continued in that regiment three years. Upon his re-enlistment from the 
volunteer to the regular service, it was by orders of the general government, General 
Order 154, Special Order 501 for the Gulf Department. He received his discharge No- 
vember 18, lS(i5. He receives a pension on account of injuries received in the service. 
He married, Decemlier 15, ISIKi, Nancy A., daughter of Isaac B. and Nancy F. (Bisbee) 
Gates. Mrs. West was born in Sherburne, Hutliind county, Vt., June 23, 1S4(1. Isaac B. 
Gates, her father, was the son of Abel and Judith (Chase) Gates. Isaac Bisbee, her ma- 
ternal grandfather, was a Scotchman by birth, a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His 
wife was Mary Uaker, of Cape Cod. Isaac B. Gates died in Woodstock, April 19, 1879 
Nancy F., his wife, is still (1890) living in Woodstock. Their children were lieiija 
min F., Nancy A., Lestina S., Stella J., Thomas W., and an infant. Mr. West ha-i fol- 
lowed lumbering and larming. He owns and carries on the " Leavetl Wood " place on 
Bridgewater Hill. Tlie children of Lorenzo O. and Nancy A. West are Ida .VI., Jessie L.. 
Editii L., .Artliin- L, Herljcrt \ , Vernon L, Flora •!., and Perry O. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Hl.STGR.Y OF THE TOWN OF ANDOVF.R 

AN DOVER is an irregularly otitlined town of about eighteen tliuu 
sand acres, located in the southwestern part of the county, and is 
bounded on the north by Ludlow; east by Chester; south by London- 
derry and Windham, in Windham county ; and west by Weston. The 
surface of the town is uneven and tlie soil and timber similar to those of 
other towns located on the eastern slope of the Green Mountains. 
Markhain Mountain and Mount Terrible lie along the western borders 
of the town. There are no important water-courses, but the town is well 
watered by the liead branches of the Williams River. 

The Proprietors. — A number of the inhabitants of Lebanon and 
other towns in Connecticut having petitioned the colonial governor of 
New Hampshire for a grant of land on the west bank of the Connecti- 
cut River, he granted, on the 13th of October, 1761, the town of An- 



Town of Andover. 621 



dover, containing 23,500 acres, to Nathaniel House and his associates, 
subject to the conditions of the charters given in those days. In accord- 
ance with this charter a meeting of the grantees was held November 4, 
1 76 1, at Lebanon, Conn., and in 1765 a party of twenty persons had 
made preparations to remove into the town, when tiiey became discour- 
aged by the publication of his majesty's orders declaring the western 
bank of the Connecticut River to be the eastern boundary of New York. 

Under date of May 6, 1765, the proprietors addressed a memorial to 
Lieutenant-Governor Colden, of the province of New York, in which 
they stated that they had expended $462 for improvements, besides 
making attempts to settle the territory, and asked that their titles to the 
lands of the town be ratified by the provincial government of New 
York. This petition was not noticed until June 15, 1772, when a con- 
firmatory grant was recommended by the council of New York. Yet 
the patent was never conferred, and the lands of Andover have always 
been held under the New Hampshire charter. 

The following are the names of the original grantees of the town : 
Nathaniel House, Nathaniel Dunham, Asahel Clark, Timothy Wasli- 
burn, John Demman, Jonathan Brown, James Wright, Jonathan Sweet- 
land, Thomas Perkins, Nathan Demman, William Sweetland, John Gibbs, 
jr., Ehsha Bill, Rufus Reade, William Hunt, Eliphaiet House, Philip Bill, 
Stephen Hunt, jr.. Gain iVIiller, Nathaniel White, James Sims, Joseph 
Wright, Joseph Loomis, Simeon Curtis, Thomas Lyman, William Dow- 
ner, Freeman Ellis, David Strong, Orlando Mack, Jesse Townsend, John 
Nelson, David Townsend, Constant Woodward, Benoni Clark, Thomas 
Lyman, jr., Orlando Mack, jr., Robert Hunter, Robert Bennet, Benajah 
Bill, Samuel Sprague, Benoni Loomis, Israel Woodward, jr., John 
Sprague, William Sims, John Lawson, Aaron Clark, Benjamin Hull, 
Joseph Hibberd, Benjamin House, Solomon Tupper, Davison Kings- 
bury, Stephen Hutchinson, Ezekiel Thomas, Samuel Fisk, Israel Wood- 
ward, M. H. Wentworth, Theodore Atkinson, Peter Eastman, John 
Miller, Benjamin Emerson, Simon Stephens, John Rand, Jacob Sawyer, 
Peter Morse, Stephen Emerson, sr., Benjamin Leister. 

There were also the rights reserved at the time by the chartees for the 
first settled minister, the propagation of the gospel, etc. 

At a proprietors' meeting held August 25, 1762, Israel Woodward, 



622 History of Windsor County. 

William Sims, Ezekiel Thomas, Nathaniel House and Elisha Bill were 
appointed a committee to divide the grant into lots. William Sims was 
chosen clerk and treasurer, and held the position until December i, 
1768, when Lieutenant Amos Babcock was elected his successor. The 
latter was also sent to New York to perfect the title of the grant. 

There seems to have been no meeting of the proprietors held between 
1768 and 1774. Decembers, I774,a meeting was held at Enfield, Conn., 
and the town was redrafted into lots. The first meeting held by the 
proprietors in the town was at the house of John Simonds, but the rec- 
ord bears no date of it. At this meeting it was voted to lay a road from 
Chester to the west line of the town, for which an appropriation of two 
hundred pounds was voted. Captain John Simonds was elected treas- 
urer, and James Keyes, collector. The committee appointed to lay out 
the road was Jacob Pease, Moses Warner, James Keyes and John Si- 
monds, jr. At a meeting held June 17, 1779, Moses Warner was elected 
[)ro[)rietors' clerk, and si.x hundred pounds were appropriated f^r survey 
and building of highways. The last meeting of the proprietors was held 
September 20, 1781. 

Early Settlers. — The first settlement was made in 1768 by Shubael 
Geer and Amos Babcock. Their stay was short, but during Mr. Geer's 
residence he had a son born, who was called William, and this was the 
first birth in the town. 

No other attempt was made to make a settlement until after the be- 
ginning of the Revolution. During the month of June, 1776, Mo.ses 
Warner, John Simonds, John Simonds, jr., Eli Pease, Jacob Pease and 
James Keyes came from Enfield, Conn., and made the first permanent 
settlement. This party of settlers followed up the Connecticut Riveras 
far north as Barnet without finding a place satisfactory as a location. 
They came to Andover, and Warner selected a farm on the east side of 
Markham Mountain, the others choosing farms on the west side, now 
Weston. Following the records, we find the name of Frederick Rogers 
as early as 1780, who kept the first tavern in town. About a year later 
Samuel Brown and Thomas Adams became residents of the town. Joel 
and Samuel Manning, with their families, moved into town from Town- 
send, Mass., in 1789, bringing all their effects in an o.x-cart. Their 
brothers, Joseph and Benjamin, were also early settlers in Andover. 



Town of Andover. 623 



Samuel Pettengill came from Andover, Mass., about 1790. Ebenezer 
Cummings sold a farm in 1794, between Simonsville and Peaseville, to 
John Manvur, a native of Dracut, Mass., who removed from Temple, 
N. H. Mr. Cummings removed to the northern part of the town, where 
he erected works for the dressing of cloth, but afterwards removed to 
Ludlow, where he died. Abner Gutterson came from Milford, N. H., 
and settled where his descendants now live in 1794 Moody Stickney 
settled a farm near the center of the town in 1795, and eleven years 
afterwards sold it to his brother Joseph, whose descendants now occupy 
it. Jonathan and Peter Putnam came from Hancock, N. H., in 1797, 
and at tiie same time Joseph Dodge became a resident. They located 
near the middle of the town. Joshua Jaquith settled in the town in I 787, 
and also Samuel Burton, who came from Wilton, N. H., in 1791. Jonas 
Adams came from Jafifrey, N. H., in 1794, and settled on the east hill; 
lie was the father of Alvin Adams, the founder of the Adams Express 
Company, the latter being a native of the town. Hart Balch moved 
from Dublin, N. H., in 1788, and settled three-quarters of a mile from 
the center of the town. His son, Joel, became prominently identified 
with town affairs, and had two sons born in the town who became con- 
spicuous Universalist ministers, the Rev. Aaron Leland Balch and Rev. 
William S. Balch. 

After the close of the Revolutionary war Andrew Bradford settled in 
the eastern part of the town, residing there with his family for a num- 
ber of years. David Howard became a resident in 1 79 1, emigrating 
irom Uxbridge, Mass. David Bachelder moved into town in 1796. 
These were the principal settlers in Andover previous to the beginning 
of the nineteenth century. 

First Toivn Meeting. — The town was organized at a meeting held 
March 27, 1780, at the dwelling house of Frederick Rogers. Moses 
Warner was chosen moderator and town clerk ; James Keyes, Frederick 
Rogers, and John Simonds, jr., selectmen ; and EH Pease, highway sur- 
veyor The annual town meeting is held in Marcli of each year. T'iie 
first grand list we find is as follows, and bears date of July 29, 1782 : 
Captain John Simonds, 59 pounds, 10 shillings ; Lieutenant Samuel 
Brown, 32 pounds; Frederick Rogers, 27 pounds; John Simonds, jr., 
31 pounds; Ebenezer Simonds, 11 pounds; Moses Warner, 24 pounds ; 



624 HiSTOKY OK Windsor County. 

Jolin Chnpin, 15 pounds; Eli Pease, 20 pounds; Thomas Adams, 20 
pounds; Ezekiel Pease, 28 pounds, 10 shillings; Ezekiel Pease, jr. , 9 
pounds; Stephen Burgess, 12 pounds; Daniel Wear, 6 pounds; John 
Gowdy, 6 ; total, 282 pounds. 

We also give the first men of Andover who took the freeman's oath 
for election of representatives to the General Assembly : Ezekiel Pease, 
Solomon Howard, Joshua Jaquith, Peter Allen, Augustus Pease, David 
Howard, Frederick Rogers, Henry Hall, John Gowdy, Phineas Wheeler, 
Bunker Clark, Samuel Minard, Samuel Brown, Ebenezer Siinonds, 
Thomas French, William Brown, Alvin Simonds, Dan Foster, Captain 
John Simonds, Stephen Burgess, Thomas Adams, John Stiles, Joseph 
Howard, jr., Aaron Nichols, Abadiah Pease, John Simonds, jr., John 
Chapin, Ezra Sexton, Timothy Nichols, Dan Simonds, Ezra Chapin, 
Samuel Smith, Eli Pease, Joshua Dale, Silas Spaulding, Joseph Howard, 
Ichobald Perry, Thomas Knowlton, Joshua Jaquith, jr., Moses Warner. 

Thus we place upon the pages of history the names of those who 
were instrumental in settling the wilderness and mountains of Andover. 
We append the population of the town at the different dates of taking 
the United States census: 1800,622; 1810,957; 1820, 1,000; 1830, 
975; 1840,878; 1850,725; 1860,670; 1870,588; 1880,564. 

Members of the Constitutional Conventions. — Moses Warner, 1793 ; 
Samuel Manning, 1814; Oliver Farrar, 1822; Edward Simmons, 1828; 
Joel Balch, 1836 ; Joseph Dodge, jr., 1843 : John Adams, 1S50. 

Senator. — Henry J. Parker, 1S88. 

Representatives from Andover. — John Simonds, 1781-8^ ; Samuel 
Brown, 1783; John Simond.s, jr., 1784; Benjamin Cox, 1787 ; Freder 
ick Rogers. 1788-91, 1794 ; Moses Warner, 1792-93, 1795-97, 'Soo, 
1810; Alvin Simonds, 1798, 1801-05; Moses Rowell, 1799, 1802; 
Samuel Burton, 1804; William Stevens, 1806; C. G. Persons, 1807; 
Cyrus Smith, 1808; Joel Manning, 1812; John Wait, 1813-15; Sam- 
uel Manning, 1814-16-18; Joseph Kirk, 1817 ; Oliver Farrar, 1819- 
2^; Joel Balcli, 1820-22-23, 1835 ; Edward Simonds, 1824-28, 
1833; Orin Hazeltine, 1829-30; William Warner, 1831-32; Jerry 
Adams, 1834; John B. Manning, 1836; T. B. Manning, 1887; Joseph 
Dodge, jr., 1838-40, 1844-45, 1853, 1862-63 ; Solomon Howard, 1841- 
43, 1850, 1857; Charles Sherwin, 1846; John Adams, 1847-49; 



Town of Andover. 625 



George W. Stickney, 1848, 1858-59, 1861, 1864-65 ; A. A. Constan- 
tiiie, 1854-55 ; C. Leonard, i860; Horace Burton, 1866-67; Frederick 
A. Way, 1868-69, 1878, 1882; Albert E. Stannard, 1870-72-76; 
Henry J. Parker, 1874; Isaiah Lovejoy, 1880 ; Darwin A. Benson, 1884- 
86-88. In the years not noted the town was not represented. 

Selectmen, from the Orgauiaation of the Town. — James Keyes, 1780 ; 
Frederick Rogers, 1780, 1784-86, 1788-90; John Simonds, jr., 1780- 
86, 1792 ; Moses Warner, 1781-82, 1787-89, 1792-96, 1798-99. 1806, 
1810-11; Ezekiel Pease, 1781-83; Samuel Brown, 1782, 1784-85; 
Stephen Burgess, 1793; Thomas Adams, 1786-87; Augustus Pease, 
1787-90, 1793-95 ; Daniel Allen, 1790-91; Daniel Sherwin, 1791, 1794- 
95, 1797; Samuel Pettingill, 1791; Solomon Heywood, 1792; Samuel 
Manning, 1793; Wm. Stevens, 1796; John McNeal, 1796; Jonathan Cram, 
1797-98, 1806; David Spafford, 1797; AmasaPiper, 1798-99; James Par- 
ker, 1799; Samuel Burton, 1800-05, 1807-09; Phineas Parker, 1800;. 
Joel Manning, 1801-02; James S. Parker, 1801-03; Cyrus Smith, 
1803, 1807-08, 1813, 1817-20; John Burton, 1804-05 ; Isaac Peabody, 
1804-05; Jonathan Putnam, 1806, 1812-19; Joseph Dodge, jr., 1807- 
11; Darius Gassetts, 1809; Joel Batch, 1810-12, 1814, 1820-22, 1826, 
1829, 1835-36; John Pettingill, 1812-13; Thomas Dodge, 1814-15; 
Abner Feltt, jr., 1815-16; Abraham Brown, 1816-19, 1827-28, 1831- 
32, 1840-41 ; Jerry Adams, 1820, 1829-30; Edward Simmons, 182 1- 
25, 1828-32 ; Benjamin Morse, 1821-22, 1831-33; Samuel Clark, 1823, 
1835-36; William Dyer, 1823; Solomon Howard, jr., 1824-25, 1832- 
34, 1839, 1851; Eli Burke, 1824; William Warner, 1825-27; Orin 
Hazeltine, 1826; Edward Manning, 1827-28; Abiel Pierce, 1830; 
John B. Manning, 1833, 1847-50; Sewall Smith, 1833; Charles W. 
Chandler, 1834-36; John Adams, 1834; Joseph Dodge, jr., 1837-40, 
1842-46, 1848-50, 1853-54, 1860-63; Nathaniel Lord, 1837-38; Will- 
iam Clark, 1837; Ephraim Puffer, 1838 ; George W. Stickney, 1839- 
40, 1847-54, 1858; Henry Heald, 1841-46, 1855, 1864; Lyman Par- 
ker, 1841-42, 1856; Alden Gutterson, 1843-45 ; Charles Sherwin, 
1846-47; Franklin Austin, 1851-52, 1855-56; Joel Stannard, 1852; 
Richard Ward, 1853-44, 1858 ; Harvey Carlton, 1855 ; Lyman Shel- 
don, 1856-57, i860, 1862-63; Spencer Taylor, 1857; Jesse Andrews, 
1857, 1859; Bishop F. Howard, 1858-59, 1864-66; Sylvanus L. Marsh, 
79 



626 History of Windsor County. 

1859; Isaac B. Puffer, i860; Capen Leonard, 1861 ; Horace Burton. 
1861-63 ; L. Stearns, 1864 (elected, but did not serve) ; O. M. Leonard, 
1864-65 ; William Pierce. 1865 ; Albert L. Stannard, 1866-69, 1875-76, 
1879-81; Frederick A. Way, 1866-69, 1881 ; Henry J. Parker, 1867, 
1871-74; Phineas R. Carlton, 1868-73, 1882, 1884-86; James H. 
Heald, 1870-71, 1873-74; RufusE. Edson, 1870, 1877-78, 1882, 1884; 
Samuel H. Nutting, 1872; A. J. Peabody, 1874 (resigned) ; Stephen 
Dudley, 1874; Alden Jaquith, 1875-76; Isaiah Lovejoy, 1875-81; 
A. D. L. Herrick, 1877-78; W. F. Feltt, 1879-80; Benjamin G. 
Thompson, 1883-84, 1888; C. A. Osborne, 18S5, 1888-89; Piatt T. 
Marsh, 1885-87; J. D. Taylor, 1886-87; Horace Bailey, 1887; 
William Rowell, 1888-89; Darwin A. Benson, 1889. 

Town Clerks since the Organization of the Town. — Moses Warner, 
1780-82, 1787-96, 1798-99, 1810-11; John Simonds, jr., 1783-85; 
■ Samuel Brown, 1786; Jonathan Cram, 1797; Samuel Burton, 1801-09; 
Jonathan Putnam, 1812-19; Cyrus Smith, 1820 ; Edward Simonds, i 821- 
25,1828; William Warner, 1826-27; Nathanial P. Dodge, 1829-31; 
Sewall Smith, 1832-36 ; Joseph Dodge, jr., 1837-46, 1862-63 ; John B. 
Manning, 1847-49; George W. Putnam, 1851-60; Alonzo C. Gutter- 
son, 1861-62 (removed west in the latter year); J. D. Pettingill, 1864- 
65; William Pierce, 1866-67; Lewis Howard, 1868-75; Charles M. 
Gutterson 1876 to the present time. 

Town Treasurers since the Organisation of the Tozvn. — Moses Warner, 
1780-81; Samuel Brown, 1782-85, 1798-1802; Ebenezer Simonds, 
1786; John Simonds, jr., 1787-92; Ebenezer Cummings, 1793-97; Joel 
Manning, 1804-05; James S. Parker, 1806-13; Abner Gutterson, 1814- 
18 (died in office); Joseph Stickney, 1818-29; Joel Balch, 1830-32; 
Joseph Dodge, jr , 1833-34; Alden Gutterson, 1835-36; George W. 
Stickney, 1837-38, 1 85 I, 1858-70; George W. Putnam, 1839-43; Har- 
vey Carlton, 1844-47; Henry Heald, 1848-56; Albert D. L. Herrick, 
1871-75 ; C M. Gutterson, 1876-89 The records do not state whether 
a treasurer was elected in 1803. 

Religious History. — There have been in tiiis town at different times 
societies or classes of the following religious denominations: Baptist, 
Universalist, Congregationalist, Methodist and Free Will Ba[)tist. The 
only regular organized society in the town at present « the Baptist. 



Town of Andover. 627 



This churcli was organized August 31, 1803. Previous to that time 
the inhabitants of this denomination in the town attended Rev. Aaron 
Leland's church at Chester. The first member of the Baptist church 
who moved into the town was Samuel Manning. The first Baptist min- 
ister who preached in town was Rev. Joseph EHiott. The others who 
preaclied in the town in private houses, school-houses, and in the open 
air at an early day were Revs. Higbee, Choate, Bailey, Coombs and Mc- 
Collins. 

As early as 1798 the town was divided into two parishes. On Octo- 
ber I, 1806, a council was formed of the following members of the Bap- 
tist church: Elder Jeremiah Higbee, of Alstead; Deacon Nathaniel Shep- 
herd and Joseph Hall, of Windsor ; Elder Samuel Smith, of Wardsboro ; 
Elder Ariel Kendrick, of Cornish ; and Elder Stephen Choate and Jacob 
Batchelder. At this meeting Rev. Joel Manning was ordained as the 
first minister over the church. A church building was erected in 1809, 
30 X 40 feet in dimensions, in the northeastern part of the town on what 
is known as East Hill. Rev. Mr. Manning was pastor over the church 
more than twenty years, and the following have since occupied the pul- 
pit: Revs. Rodney Manning, Calvin Monroe, Elias Hurlburt, John Pierce, 
Calvin Baker, D. W. Burrows, Harvey Crowley, Alfred A. Constantine^ 
Lyman Culver, E. F. Smith, Calvin Fisher, A. J. Walker and T. E. East- 
man. The present pastoris Rev. L .E. Kenney. A new church was 
erected at Peaseville in 1868, which is 35 X41 feet. 

A meetinghouse 44 x 52 feet was built in 1820 at the center of the 
town, and was called the Congregationalist Union church. Services 
were held there at irregular periods, and there was no settled pastor. 
The building was burned down in 1862. 

The Universalist church was organized in town in 1807. Rev. Cor- 
nelius Persons preached in this church four or five years. Services were 
held as late as 1852 and among those who supplied the desk at different 
times were Revs. Warren Skinner, Hempliill and Loveland. 

No Methodist church has ever prospered in Andover. In 18 14 or 
18 r 5 a class of about twenty members existed for a few years in the 
northern part of the town. 

During the year 1848 the Union church, 30x40 feet, was built at 
Simonsville. In the same year Elder H. R. Crain organized a Free Will 
Baptist churcli which worshipped there, but it was short lived. 



628 History of Windsor County. 

Two Mormon ministers visited the southern part of the town between 
the years 1830 and 1838, and made some converts who removed to 
Oliio. 

Schools. — The first person who taught school in Andover was Miss 
Betsey Stevens in 1793. She taught in what was known as the old Ab- 
bott house. The first schoolmaster was Antcpast Howard, who taught 
the first winter school. Previous to this, according to the town records, 
we find that at a meeting held March 3, 1788, Timothy Nichols, Ante- 
past Howard, Ezra Chapin, Thomas Adams, and John Simonds, jr., were 
appointed a committee to divide tiie town into school districts. Subse- 
quently the town was divided into three districts, and Samuel Hrown, 
Kbenezer Simonds and Joseph Howard were elected trustees. 

The first school-house, as far as can be ascertained, was built in the 
northern part of the town about 1805, and another was built a few years 
later, between Simonsville and Peaseville. There are at present seven 
school districts in the town. 

Physicians of Andover. — The only physician of prominence who ever 
practiced in Andover was Dr. Charles M. Chandler. He was a grandson 
of Judge Thomas Chandler, one of the first settlers of Chester. His father, 
Thomas Chandler, jr., was also a resident of Chester, and in tliat town 
the doctor was born. He came to Andover to practice about 1800, set- 
tling near the center of the town. He was a resident physician about 
fifty years, and died in Ludlow, January 9, 1853, at the age of eighty- 
two years. .j 

The other physicians Avho practiced in Andover were of the botanic 
school. Dr. Putnam Barton began practice in 1836, and five years later 
removed to Ludlow. Dr. Isaac Chase practiced from 184010 1844, and 
died in the latter year. 

Many natives of this town have become members of the medical fra- 
ternity in other parts of the country, among whom are the following; 
Richard Lee Howard, a successful surgeon, died in Ohio; Elias Howard 
and Wolcott Chandler, died at Natick, Mass.; Byron S. Chase, died at 
Akron, O.; David H. Chase, died in Indiana. 

Important Events. — In 1780 John Simonds erected a saw and grist- 
mill in what is now Weston. Stephen Dudley erected in the south part 
of the town of Andover, as at present constituted, the first grist-mill. 



Town of Andover. 629 



The first saw-mill was built by Moses Rowell, at the so called center of 
the town. The first blacksmith was Isaac Allen ; the first shoemaker, 
Hart Balch ; the first cloth-dresser, Orrin Hazeltine ; the first store was 
kept in the southwestern part of the town by Joseph Bullard. The first 
tannery was built by Ebenezer Farnsworth. The first mail carrier was 
Abner Feltt, who brought the mail from Bellows Falls. In 181 2 the 
town was visited by the spotted fever, resulting in eight deaths. 

From the time the town was divided in 1 800, until 1 8 19, Andover 
sent a representative one year, and Weston one the next year. In r8i8 
Joel Balch, representative from Andover, laid the matter before the 
Legislature, and the right to send a representative from each town was 
granted. 

In 1 824 the town was divided into eight school districts, each equipped 
with a school-house. There were three grist mills, three saw-mills, one 
carding machine, one fulling-mill, two stores, two taverns, and one tan- 
nery. 

The town hall was built in 1863, Horace Burton, Spencer Taylor, and 
B. F. Howard being the building committee. The sum of $1,000 was 
appropriated for the purpose by the town. 

Andover in the Wars. — There is no evidence that this town took any 
active part in the Revolutionarj' war, on account, doubtless, of its being 
so thinly settled, and so far removed from the seat of the struggle. But 
a great number of her early settlers were actively engaged in the war 
before their settlements here. Among them were Solomon Howard, 
Samson Walker, David Hazeltine, Jonas Adams, Levi Adams, Andrew 
Bradford, Hart Balch, Peter Adams, Peter Putnam, Joseph Stickney, 
Joseph Abbott, Ebenezer Farnsworth, William Pierce, Benjamin Pierce, 
David Burton, Daniel Knights, Richard Bradford, Jesse Parkhurst, 
Luther Adams, John Barton, Frederick Rogers. 

When a call was made for volunteers for the War of 1812 the town 
voted to pay its soldiers five dollars each at the start for pocket money, 
and to raise their wages to ten dollars per month. Following are the 
names of those who enlisted: Salvanus L. Marsh, Adolphus Howard, 
Samuel Dutton, John Tyrrell, Jerry Adams, Cyrus Bailey, Hart Balch, 
Ebenezer Farnsworth, John Abbott, Jake Abbott, Caleb Cram, Joseph 
Cram, David Bradford, Morris Howard, Antepast Howard, Joseph 



630 ■ History of Windsor County. 

Howard, Joseph Rullard, James Burton, William Kimball, Sibrean C. 
Taylor, Samuel Pettengill, Ira Hale, W'illiam Feltt, Andrew Bradford. 

When the war cloud of 1861-65 cast its shadow over the country 
Andover exhibited the good old patriotic spirit bequeathed to her by 
the forefathers. Atatown meeting held on June 4, 1861, Joseph Dodge 
was appointed an agent to look after the families of those that had vol- 
unteered from the town, and it was agreed to pay two dollars a month 
to such families as long as the heads were in service. In September, 
1862, $1,000 was raised by the town to pay bounties, and towards the 
latter part of the war the bounties were raised to $500. 

Following is a record of the soldiers from this town in the last war: 

First Regiment, Company E. — Isaac T. Chase, James W. Larkin, 
Charles W. Larkin, Ira E. Chase; all mustered out August 15, 1861. 

Second Regiment, Company I. — Byron C. Butterfield, discharged 
March 12, 1863 ; Henry A. Lovejoy, died December 4, 1861 ; Vernon 
A. Marsh, discharged October 17, 1862; Harland O. Peabody (corporal), 
discharged May i, 1862 ; Daniel P. Perkins, transferred to Infantry 
Corps ; Henry A. Comstock and Simeon S. Parkhurst, re-enlisted. 

Third Regiment. — Olin A. PettingiU, died February 5, 1863 ; John S. 
Marsh, killed at the battle of the Wilderness ; Ira C. Chace, re-enlisted. 

Fourth Regiment. — Ebenezer Farnsworth, re-enlisted ; Ashbel K. 
Gould, discharged from Infantry Corps January 17, 1864; Henry 
Hutchins, discharged January 4, 1863; Hollis Sheldon, promoted to 
corporal. 

Fifth Regiment, Company E. — Philo Y. Folter (corporal), discharged 
May I I, 1863. 

Sixth Regiment, Company E. — Henry C. Cleveland (sergeant), re- 
enlisted ; Orris Pier, re-enlisted; Benjamin F. Dwinnell, re-enlisted. 

Seventh Regiment, Company G. — George W. Baldwin, died August 
I, 1862; George O. Dodge (corporal), re-enlisted; Wesley M. Dodge, 
re-enlisted; James W. Larkin (sergeant), re- enlisted ; Charles H. Lar- 
kin (corporal), re-enlisted ; James H. Larkin, died October 15, 1862. 

Ninth Regiment, Company D. — Azro B. Diggins, John French, dis- 
charged December 5, 1862; Homer Hesselton, died April 12, 1863; 
Charles B. Taylor (corporal), discharged June 14, 1863. 

Tenth Regiment, Company H. — Erastus Sargent, deserted Septem- 
ber 3, 1862; Samuel V. Hall, transferred to Surgeon Corps. 



Town of Andover. 631 



Eleventh Regiment, Company G. — Henry M. Marsh. 

First Cavlary Regiment, Companies E. and F. — Roselvo A. Howard, 
died of starvation at Andersonville prison ; JuHus Cunningham, miss- 
ing in action ; JuUiis Hesselton, died February 19, 1864; Warren K. 
Spaulding ; Cyrus S. Tuttle, died at Andersonville prison; Norman K. 
Tattle ; Charles W. Bishop, died of wounds ; Hiram Gould, re- enlisted ; 
George R. Crosby, re-enlisted; John A. Twing, re-enlisted; Theodore 
Witt, missing in action ; George W. Haskell, re-enlisted, wounded ; 
William C. Joyce, re-enlisted. 

Sixteenth Regiment, Company C. — Nine months. — Edward O. Carl- 
ton, Lorenzo G. Corlidge (corporal), Nathaniel P. Dodge, Daniel C- 
Gould, Richard C. Green, George R. Hesselton, Henry M. Marsh, Har- 
land O. Peabody (sergeant), Abram Rowell, Joel R. Spaulding, killed 
at Gettysburg, Pa. 

Andover. — This hamlet, locally known as Peaseville, is situated in the 
eastern part of the town on the north branch of Williams River. It 
contains a church, a steam-mill, and about half a dozen dwellings. As 
early as 1840 Ambrose Pease opened a general store at this point, and 
from him the hamlet was named. The store was discontinued after 
several years. 

At the time of the breaking out of the late war a man named Brown- 
ell began trade here. He was succeeded by A. C. Gutterson. The 
latter removed West and sold to J. C. Pettingill, who carried on business 
to about 1856, when J. C. French took it. A few years later he dis- 
continued the business, and there has been no store here since. 

About two miles west of the present post-office of Andover, in the 
center of the town, near the Congregational Union church, the first 
post-office in the town was established. A general store was opened at 
an early day, and was conducted about the year 1840 by J. B. Manning, 
who sold out to Nathaniel Smith. The store was operated for a short 
time by A. C. Gutterson and then was made a Union store, and discon- 
tinued about 1859. The first postmaster here was Samuel Nichols, 
whose successors have been James Blood, William Warner, Sewell 
Smith, George W. Putnam, John B. Manning, A. C. Gutterson, B. Carl- 
ton, George W. Putnam (second term), J. C. Pettingill, and Abner 
Feltt, who has filled the position since 1866. 



632 History of Windsor County. 

Early Manufactiirers. — About 1851 J. Dodge & Son began in the 
middle of the town to manufacture wooden door-knobs, and afterwards 
made bedsteads. Tiiey continued till about 1 861, and two years after- 
wards the reservoir which supphed the water was washed out. 

On the nortii branch of the Wiihams River, near wliere the hamlet 
of Aiidover now is, A. Putnam erected the first mill and manufictuted 
wheels and vvheel-heads. This mill was burned, and rebuilt by Dr. 
Charles W. Chandler, for a saw and grist-mill, and was purchased in 
1866 by Abner and W. A. Feltt, and remodeled. In 1870 steam was 
substituted for water, and chair- stock, clothes-horses, mop-sticks, turned 
stock, and woodenware were manufactured. In the spring of 1871 the 
works were totally destroyed by fire, and were rebuilt the same year 
and again burned in August, 1886. 

The present manufactures of Andover are a steam-mill located on 
the north branch of Williams River, built in 1888, and operated by 
Ralpli and Hugh Harton ; a cheese factory, 30x60 feet, two stories 
high, with a capacity for five hundred cows, at Andover, and one in 
process of erection at Simonsville. 

Simonsvillc. — This is a handet located in the southern part of the 
town, on the south branch of the Williams River, and has a hotel, a 
church, and three or four dwellings. The place derives its name from 
Kdward L. Simons, who previous to 1830 built the present hotel and 
kept a general store at that point. About this time a post-ofifice was 
established here, and iMr. Simons was the first postmaster ; he was suc- 
ceeded in 1836 by his son, Leonard H. Simons. The other successive 
postmasters were as follows : Charles Sherwin, Alvah Hazcltine, Cyrus 
Smith, A. C. Gutterson, Otis Claj^ \\. B. Stannard, J. A. Cunningham, 
and the present incumbent, Mrs. Helen Peabody. In 1842 Charles 
Sherwin purchased the store, and after passing through various hands 
it was purchased in 1854 by A. C. Gutterson and Otis Clay ; the former 
disposed of his interest to the latter about two years afterwards. Mr. 
Clay sold out in i860 to H. O. Peabody, who carried on the business 
about a year, when it was discontinued. 

About 1879 H. H. Stannard opened a small store for the sale of grocer- 
ies, stationery, etc., which he at'terwards sold to J. H. Cunningham, who 
sold it to H. O. Peabody, who carries it on at the present time in con- 



Old Families. 633 



nection with the hotel. In 1871 Albert E. Stannard and Ora Abbott 
built a steam saw-mill at this point, and six years afterwards Mr. Abbott 
disposed of his interest to his partner. The mill was burned October 
10, 1879. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter of this work. 

Benson, Dorwin A., only son of Arza and Loui.'ia (Wheeler) Benson, was born in 
Londonderry, Vt., April .30, 1840. He became a resident of Andover in 18(JS, and mar- 
ried Rose L. Cliase, and has one child, Hettie C. 

Chase, Hiljbard, son of Bezaleel, was born in Townshend, Vt., .June 14, 1801, and mar- 
ried Cynthia Howard. He came to Andover in 1837, where he died December 4, 1876 
His children were Henry, who died at the age of si.x years; Wilham R., resides at Mer- 
iden, Texas ; Byron S., a doctor, died at Alcron, O.; Elias, lives at Long Prairie, 111.; 
Worthy, resides in Newfane, Vt. ; Cynthia S., wife of Mr. Aiken, lives in Illinois ; 
Weltliie J. (decea.sed), married V. .1, VVood ; Charles W., died in Londonderry ; Rose L., 
wife of D. A. Benson ; Eugene, died at fourteen years of age. 

Cha.se, Bezaleel, married Susannah Taft, and they h.id the following fandly : Hibbard ; 
Balis, who died in Andover; Wealthy (deceased), married Amos Howard; Alanson, 
resides at Newfane, Vt.; Winifred, lives at Wadsworth, Vt,; Sardis died at Washing- 
ton, Ind.; and Elliott, died at Jamaica, Vt. 

Fuller, Benjamin, was born in Linesboro, N. H., September 1, 1785, and came to Ando- 
ver in 1807, settling on the farm where his son, Wdliam W., now resides. He married 
Naomi Burton, of Wilton, N. H.. who was born .July 29, 1786. Their children were 
Amos, who died at Ludlow, Vt.; Francis Putnam, resides in Andover; Rodney, resides 
in Ludlow; Lewis, died in Milford, N. H.; Rebecca W., married Isaac Walker; John B., 
died iu Lowell, Mass.; Elvira (deceased), married Rev. Calvin Baker, a Baptist minister ; 
Arvilla, widow of 0. B. Craig, resides at Fort Madison, la.; Joseph LaFayette, died at 
the age of fifteen years; and William W. Benjamin died July 29, 1873. 

Fuller, William W., sou of Benjamin, was born in Andover, October 11, 1820, and 
married Rosannah Burton. They have no children, but have a legally adopted son, 
Charles A. 

Gutter.son, Samuel, was born June 7, 1738, and married Lydia Stephens. They had 
the following children: Samuel, born February 28, 170.5; John, born August 27, 1760; 
Abner, born March 27, 1768; Simeon, born December 8, 1769; Lydia, born October 17, 
1772; Sarah, born September 3, 1774; Jacob, born November 28, 1777; Abeal, born 
April 4, 1780; Molly, born March21, 1783; Josiah, born June 29, 1786. His children 
by his second wife were Anna, born December 24, 1795, and Amos, born May 7, 1798. 
He died November 23, 1818, and his wife Lydia died in December, 1787. 

Guttorson, Abner, son of Samuel, was born in Milford, N. H., March 27, 1768, and 
removed from his native town to Andover in 1794, and purchased the farm where his 
grandson. C. M. Gutterson, now resides. He married, January 25, 1795, Phebe Barker, 
80 



634 History of Windsor County. 

who was born May 27, 1707. Tliey had three children, viz.: Abner, who died in north- 
ein New York ; Phebe (deceased), married Nathaniel Lord ; and Alden. Abner died 
May 2, 1818. 

Gutterson, Alden, son of Abner. was born in Andover, October 29, 1802. and married 
Sophia Hall. Tliey had eleven cliildren, viz.: Alden Newell, died yonng; Alonzo Clin- 
ton, re.sides in Steele eonnty, Minn.; Warren John, died in Minn.; Miranda Sophia, wife 
of P. R. Carlton, of Andover ; Hiland Hall, died a bachelor in 1878, at Andover; Maria 
Caroline, wife of A. P. Fuller, of Rutland, Vt.; Mary Ann, died youno-; Henry Franklin, 
married Julia, daughter of I. \V. Richardson, of Boston. Mass.. died in Chelsea, Mass., 
and left no issue ; Emnja Jane (decease<l), married W. A. Feltt; Charles Milton ; and 
George Leslie, a dentist at South Fairhaven, Vt. Alden died January 11, 1870. 

Gutterson, Charles Milton, son of Alden, born at Andover, May- 22, 1848, married 
Rozzie Lovejoy. and has three children, Maud E., Albert L., and Jessie S. 

Larkin. James H., was born in New Hampshire. He married Mehitable Peabody, and 
their children were Lucetta M.. wife of Lelaml P'rost, of Rutland, Vt.: James W.; Mary 
D.. wife of George .S. Spencer, of Hokah, Minn.; and Charles H. James H. enlisted in 
Company G, Seventh Vermont Regiment, December 7, 1861, and died at tlie hospital at 
New Orleans, La., October lo, 1802. 

Larkin, James W.. son of James H.. was born at Andover, October 15, 1838, ami mar- 
ried Nancy M. Peabodv. He enlisted. May I, 18G1, on the first call for troops in Com- 
pany E, First Vermont Regiment, being one of four from Andover. He re-enlisted 
November 29, 1861, in Company G, Seventh Vermont Regiment, for three j'ears, but 
was mustered out February 19, 1864. to enlist as a veteran in the Seventh Vermont 
Veteran Regiment, and was finally mustered out February 21, 1866. After the war he 
returned to his native town, and subsequently lived at .Springfield and Putney, Vt., 
where he died July 20, 1880. He left three children, Eva M., Rosa M.. and Ned H., 
who, with his widow, reside in Chester. 

Larkin. Charles H., son of James II.. was born in Londomlerry. Vt., Deceniber 29 
1842. His military record is the same as that jof his brother. After the war he returned 
to Andover. He came to Chester and engaged in the mercantile business in 1882. He 
married Elva M. Gould, and has one child, Nina A. 

The Manning Family. — William M.anning, the American ancestor of the Andover 
branch of that name, came from England as early as 1634, and settled at Cambridge, 
Mass. William, son of the above, resided at Cambridge, and was nearly twenty years 
.selectman. Samuel, the son of the last William, lived at Billerica, Mas.s., ami was repre- 
sentative, town clerk, and eighteen years selectman. John, the son of Samuel, lived at 
Cambridge, and was the father of Samuel, who was born at Cambridge, April 20, 170.3, 
and .settled in Townsend, Mass., where he was twenty years town clerk, .ami fourteen 
years selectman. .Samuel died November (i, 1773. His eldest son, Samuel, was born 
March 15. 1732, resided at Townsend, and was promiiipnt during the Revolutionary war. 
He married Abigail Avery, and died January 28, 1809. His sons Samuel, Joel, Joseph, 
and Henjamin were among the early settlers of Andover. 

Manning, Samuel, son of Samuel, was born at Townsend, Mass., November 24, 1762. 
He was highly educated for the time in whicli he lived, h.aving been a scliool-teacher in 
early life, and w.-is the author of at least iwo published books, though his business was 
that of a farmer. He was founder and deacon of the first clmrch ever organized in An- 
dover. He died in town April 22, 1842. His first wife was Amy Gorham. The issue 
of this marriage w,as Hannah, who married Abiel Pierce ; Bethiah, married Benja Bald- 
win; Samuel; Amy, married Nathaniel Putnam ; Calista, died young; and Jabez Gor- 
ham, who resided chiefiy at Warwick, Ma.ss., where he died. 

Manning. Samuel, son of Samuel, was born at Andover, July 7, 1796. He was a 
farmer at Townshend, Landgrove, Vt., .and Warwick, Ma.ss., where he died Novem- 
ber 18, 1840. He married Mary Hall Holt, of Weston. Their children were William 



Old Families. 635 



Wallace; Samuel Lorenzo, died young; Caroline, mai-ried William Maudesley ; Elizii 
and Louisa, twins, died young. 

Manning, William AValhice, son of Samuel, was born at Townshend, July 11, 1826. 
He has resided principally at Weston, where he has been justice of the peace, repre- 
sentative in 1882 and 1888, and ten years selectman. He married tor his lirst wife 
Nancy Maria Riclianlson. They had two children, viz.: Fanny Maria, wife of Frank B. 
Shattuck, of Sonierville, Mass.; and William H., a resident of New York City. 

Manning, Joel, son of Samuel, was prominently identified with the Baptist Church at 
Andover. 

Manning, Joseph, son of Samuel, remained in Andover until about 1808, when he re- 
moved to Binghamton, N. Y. 

Manning, Benjamin, son of Samuel, died at Andover in 1813, and his descendants re- 
moved South and West. 

Parker, Henry J., Hon., was born in Plainfield, N. H., May 2, 1836, and is the eldest 
son of Benjamin and Betsey (Fullam) Parker. He attended" the Springfield Wesleyan 
Semniary and Kimliall Union Academy, Meriden, N. H. In early life lie was eno-aced 
in teaching, spendnig his time in Illinois, Slirewsbury, Vt., and other places. He en- 
listed in 1862. from the town of Weston, Vt., in Company H, Si.xteenth Vermont Regi- 
ment, and was discharged as a corporal at the expiration of the term of enlistment. In 
1864 he became a resident of Andover, where he has since lesided, and is engaged in 
farming. He represented Andover in the Legislatm-e in 1874 and 1875, and was Sena- 
tor from Wind.sor county in 1888 and 1889. He married Adalaide Putnam, and has one 
child, Kdwin H. 

Putnam, Peter, was born in Hancock, N. H., November 29, 1768, and came to Ando- 
ver in 1799, settling on the farm now occupied by his granddaughter, Mrs. W. W. Ward. 
He married Rachel Hills. They had three children, viz.: George Washington ; Rachel 
(deceased), married Ezra Dodge ; and Isaac Henry, died at ten years of age. Peter 
married for his second wife Sally Fuller, and died April 26, 1851. 

Putnam, George Washington, son of Peter, was born in Hancock. N H., Novem- 
ber 24, 1798, and married Lucinda HilK They had five children : George Washington, 
who resides in Ash Ridge, Wis., and has five sons, viz.: George Henry, Arthur LeGrand, 
Frederick Ellsworth, Israel Peter, Addison Lincoln ; Henry Evander, has no children, 
and lives at Los Angeles, Cal.; Rachel Lucinda, wife of P. S. Hannum, of Putney, Vt.- 
Mary Abby Jane (deceased), was twice married, first to Billings Paul, second to Zenas 
Thomas; Sarah Catherine, wife of Webster W. Ward, of Andover. George Washing- 
ton died June 5, 1873. 

Rowell, Richard, came from Temple or Wilton, N. H., to Andover, at an early date. 
He married Mary Rogers, and had the following family : Artemas, died at West Acton, 
Mass.; Roswell, died at Landgrove, Vt.; Mary, who married David Barton, and died in 
Michigan. 

Rowell, Jacob, son of Richard, was born in Andover, February 18, 1793, and married 
Mary Craig. Their children were Henry, who died in the West; Isaac, lives at Ticon- 
deroga, N. Y.; Rodney, resides at Poultney, Vt.; Mary, widow of Asa Ross, lives in 
Ludlow, Vt.; William ; Elizabeth, widow of G. L. Cass, resides at Andover ; Orlando, 
lives at Ticonderoga, N. Y.; Abram ; and Martha (deceased), married D. F. Bailey! 
Jacob died June 4, 1866. 

Rowell, Abram, son of Jacob, born in Andover, September 15, 1835, married Ada J. 
Way. Their children were Alice, who died >at the age of eight years; Fred, resides in 
Weston, Vt.; and Annie. 

Stickney, .loseph, was born at Boxford, Mass., April 13, 1762, and was the son of Jo- 
seph and Jane (Slo.ss) Stickney. He married Anna Hosmer, of Mason, N. H., and they 
had four children : Lucy (deceased), m.arried John B. Manning ; Eliza (deceased), mar- 



636 History of Windsor County. 

ried Barnard Carlton ; George Washington ; and Joseph Hosmer, a resident of Vernon, 
Wis. Joseph was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died April H, 1848. 

Stickney, George Wa.shiiigton, son of Joseph, was born as New Ipswicli, N. H., Octo- 
ber 25, 1804, and married Ko.xcealane Burton, of Weston, Vt. They had eight children, 
viz.: Nancy (deceased), married A. C. Gutterson ; Warren, died at sixteen years of atre ; 
Byron ; Jane, died ten years of age ; Cassius M., a member of the First Vermont Cav- 
alry, died in a hospital at Richmond, Va.; he married Rosalie J. Pealiody, but left no 
children; Eliza L., wife of Warren Beard, of Chester; Preston L.. lives at Hereford, 
Minn.; and Eva J., resides in Andover. 

Stickney, Byron, son of George W., was born in Andover, October 17, 1837, mar- 
ried Maranda 0., daughter of Phineas Carlton, and has two children, George P., born 
July 9, ISCIi; and Ines J., died February 14, 18!)0, aged sixteen years. 

Walker, Samson, came from Massachusetts to Temple, N. H., and to Andover in 
1800, wliere he died in April, 1827. He married Thankful Pierce, and had the follow- 
ing family: Je.sse; Pierce, died snigle; Nathaniel, died at twenty years of age; Thank- 
ful, married Ell Burnap ; llannali (deceased), married Calvin Gibson; Mary (deceased), 
married John Felton ; Sarali, married Heald ; Amy (deceased), niarrie<i John Hull; and 
Rachel (deoea.sed), married Ira Lamson. 

Walker, Jesse, son of Samson, born in Temple, N. H., died in Andover, April, 1828, 
at forty-eight years of age. He married Lois Holt. Their children were Lois (de- 
ceased), married Franklin Mansor ; Relief, widow of Isaiah Ileselton, resides in Weston. 
Vt.; Sally (deceased), married Matthew Wdkins; Jesse, resides in Wisconsin; Isaac: 
John, died at four years of age; Hannah (deceased), married Charles Graham. 

Walker, Isaac, son of Jesse, born in Andover, December 28, 1817, married for his 
first wife Rebecca Fuller, liy whom he lia'd two children. Merrill, died at the age of 
seventeen years; and Nellie, died at the age of nine years. His second wife was Azu- 
bab Stevens. Their children are Henry I.; and Eumia K.. wife of C. B. Forbes, of An- 
dover. 

Walker, Henry I., son of Isaac, was born at Andover. .\pril 3, I80I), and married 
Alice Tinner. They have but one child, All>ert Isaac. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WESTON. 

WESTON i.s tiic southwest town of Windsor county, and lies in lati- 
tude forty-three degrees, nineteen minutes, and lont^itude four de- 
grees, fourteen minutes. It is bounded on the north by Ludlow and 
Mount Holly (a town in Rutland county), east by Andover, south by 
Londonderry (in Windham county) and Landgrove (in Bennington 
county), and west by the latter town and Mount Tabor (in Rutland 
county). 

The original grant of Andover included the greater part of the town 
of Weston, but through the center of the territory thus chartered there 



Town of Weston. 637 



rose a ridge of highlands known as Mount Terrible and IVIarkham 
Mountains, which rendered communication between the eastern and 
western portions of the town exceedingly difficult and tedious. This 
was endured by the inhabitants until October 26, 1799, when an act of 
the Legislature was obtained, and the present town was formed, a tract 
of five thousand acres known as " Benton Gore" being added to the 
territory taken from Andover. For this reason the earlj' histories of 
Weston and Andover are indivisible, and hence readers are referred 
to the early history of the latter town. 

Weston is of irregular shape, being about eight miles in length and a 
little over five miles at its widest point. Lying, as it does, at the eastern 
slope of the Green Mountains, its surface is exceedingly broken and un- 
even. Still, though the land is rocky, there are many farms containing 
fine, fertile soil, but in general the land is much better adapted to graz- 
ing than to tillage. 

The only prominent water-course in the town was known to the In- 
dians by the name of Wautasticook (sometimes spelt Wautastiqueg and 
Wautastiquet). It is now called West River, and has its source in the 
northeast corner of the town, and flows through the central part, empty- 
ing into the Connecticut River in the northeastern part of the town of 
Brattleboro, Vt., having on its way passed through the towns of London- 
derry, Jamaica, Townshend, Newfane, and Dummerston, and receiving 
water from four hundred and forty square miles of territory. This river, 
with its tributaries from the east and west, form the only water-courses 
in the town. 

Organization of the Town. — The first town meeting was held at the 
dwelling house of Captain Oliver Farrar, March 3, 1800, Amasa Piper 
being chosen moderator. The following citizens were elected to fill the 
principal town offices: Alvin Simmons, town clerk ; Amasa Piper, Au- 
gustus Pease and Henry Hall, selectmen ; Augustus Pease, town treas- 
urer; David Spafiford, Oliver Farrar and Gideon Pease, listers; and 
Joseph BuUard, constable. We give below a list of those persons who 
have filled the prominent offices of the town, with the year in which 
they were elected. 

Members of the Constitutional Conventions. — Amos N. Burton, 1S28; 
Asa B. Foster, 1836; Perkins N. Willey, 1843; Stephen Smith, 1850. 



638 History of Windsor County. 

Senators: Asa B. Foster, 1851-52; John Wilder, 1858-59; Merritt C. 
Edmunds, 1874. 

Representatives from Weston. — Alvin Simonds, 1803; Cornelius G. 
Persons, 1809-11; John Wait, 1823; Henry Gray, 1824, 1827; Amos 
N. Burton, 1825-26, 1851-52; John Wilder, 1828; Henry Love- 
joy, 1829; Jonathan Webster, 1830-32; Parker Shattuck, 1833; Asa B. 
Foster, 1834-36, 1850; Perkins N. Willey, 1837-38,1855-57; Thomas B. 
Wakefield, 1839-41; Solon Richardson, 1842-43; Edward S. Barrett, 
1844; Jerry Adams, 1845 ! Stephen Smith, 1846-49; Gushing Barrett, 
1852; Asahel Ross, 1853, 1860-61 ; Caleb Fenn, 1854; James Bryant, 
1858-S9; Joseph C. Fenn, 1862-63, 1869-70; Lucius A. Gould, 1864- 
65; Simeon D. Spaulding, 1866-67, '874! Simon Wilkinson, 1868; 
Merritt C. Edmunds, 1872; Asa G. Foster, 1876; James M. Taylor, 
1878; Adin E. Bryant, 1880; William W. Manning, 1882-88; Wells A. 
Foster, 1884-86. 

Selectmen. — Amasa Piper, 1800-02; Augustus Pease, 1800; Henry 
Hall, 1800; William Howard, 1801-02; Alvin Simonds, 1801, 1804,- 
1806-07; David Spafford, jr., 1803-05; David Drury, 1803-04; John 
Hull, 1803; Samuel Peabody, 1805-07, 1812-14, 1819-20; John Win- 
ship, 1805-06; David Austin, 1807-11, 1824-25, 1827; Daniel Lamson, 
180S; Josiah Winship, 1808-10; William Y. Henry, 1809-16; Thomas 
Piper, 181 1 ; Peter Blanchard, 1812-14, 1822-23, 1829; Oliver Farrar, 
1815-18; Henry Lovejoy, 18(5-21 ; Amos N. Burton, 1818-25, 1827- 
42; Harvey Carly, 1821, 1824-26; Parker Shattuck, 1822-23, 1830- 
33; Jonathan Webster. 1826-28, 1831-33; William Turner, 1826; 
James Taylor, 1828; Silas Hill, 1829; Austin Fenn, 1830; Asa B. Fos- 
ter, 1834, 1838-40, 1849-50, 1852-54; John Wilder, 1834-37, 1843-44, 
1851-57; Stephen Dow, 1835-36; Perkins N. Willey, 1837-40, 1845- 
48, 1851-52, 1854; James Foster, 1841-43; Solon Richardson, 1841- 
44, 1849, 1855-56, 1863-65; Sumner Rideout, 1844; Samuel Peabody_ 
jr., 1845-48, 1852, 1858-62; Ives Holden, 1845-47; John Drury, 
1848-50; James Bryant, 1849; H. I. Kimball, 1850; Joel Peabody^ 
1851, 1856-57; Asahel Ross, 1853-54; Ashley Shattuck, 1855; Enoch 
Pease, 1858-60; George W. Willey, 1858-62; Thomas Richardsoni 
1861-62; Artemas Dean, 1863-64; Simon Wilkinson, 1863-64, 1866 
6^ \ Joseph C. Fenn, 1865; Charles W. Sprague, 1865, 1871-74; M. C. 



Town of Weston. 639 



Edmunds, 1866-67; John T. Bryant, 1866-67; Simeon D. Spaulding, 
1868-70; James M. Taylor, 1868-74; Charles M. Piper, 1868-70; 
Harmon Holt. 1871 ; J. Quincy A. Cragin, 1872-73; Stedman E. Car- 
penter, 1874-81, 1883-84, 1888; William H. Jaquith, 1875-79, 1882- 
83; Henry A. Hannum, 1875-76, 1887; Robert Wallace, 1877-78 
William W. Manning, 1879-82. 1884-89; George E. Coleman, 1880-82 
1885-86; Lucius F. Hart, 1883-84, 1888; Edward Wilder, 1885-86 
N. S. Colburn, 1887; W. S. Holt, 1887; W. R. Spaulding, 1889; Daniel 
L. Hannum, 1889. 

Tozvii Clerks. — At the organization of the town in 1800 Alvin Sim- 
mons was chosen town clerk and he filled tiie position until 1 80S, ex- 
cepting during the years 1803-05, when David Spafford, jr., was elected. 
The next town clerk was William Y. Henry, elected in 1808, who con- 
tinued to serve until 18 19, when Ira Lamson was elected. In the fol- 
lowing year Amos N. Burton was chosen and filled the office until 
1843, excepting the year 1826, when Harvey Caryl served. In 1843 
.and 1844 Edward S. Barrett was elected, but in the latter year, owing 
to his removal from the town, Samuel Peabody, jr., was adpointed ad 
interim, and in 1845 was elected to the office, which he continued to fill 
until his death, December 6, 1883, excepting in 1850-51, when Henry 
Kimball was elected; 1863, Joseph C. Fenn ; and the years 1864 to 
1870, during which time M. C. Edmunds occupied the position. Upon 
the death of Samuel Peabody, his daughter, Emma C. Peabody, was 
appointed ad interim, and at the next town meeting was chosen to fill 
the office. She has been elected each succeeding year. 

Town Treasurers. — The first to be elected to this office was Augustus 
Pease in 1800, and he filled the post till 18 19, when he was succeeded 
by James Taylor, who served till 1823. The next occupant was Harvey 
Caryl, and excepting the year 1826, when Amos N. Burton was chosen, 
he continued to fill the position till 1829, in which year he was succeeded 
by John Wilder, who remained till 1838. Asa B. Foster was town 
treasurer in 1838-40, and James Taylor in 1841; Franklin Farrar in 
1842-44, and Emerson Ross in 1845-47. In 1848 Asa B. Foster was 
elected to fill the position and continued to serve till 1868, excepting in 
1855, when J. Quincy A. Cragin, and in 1856, when Samuel Peabody, 
were town treasurers. Perkins N. Willey became treasurer in 1868 



640 HiSTOR.Y OF WiNDSOU CoUNTY. 

and filled the office until 1877, when Samuel Peabody was elected and 
served until his death in 1883. In 18S4 A. D. Gilniore was elected, 
but was succeeded in 1885 by Warren D. Waite, who held the office till 
1887, when the present incumbent, T. H. Richardson, was elected. 

In the War of the Union. — 1 he first action taken by the town in 
reference to givin<^ any bounties for volunteers was on August 4, 1862, 
when it was voted to re-imburse those citizens of the town who had fur- 
nished ten dollars as bounty for those who had enlisted from the town 
in the United States service. On the same date a bounty of fifty dollars 
was ofifered for volunteers to go towards filling the town quota ; this was 
on September 22, 1862, increased to one hundred dollars. In response 
to the call for 300,000 men the town offered a bounty of twenty dollars 
a month as long as any soldier should remain in the United States serv- 
ice. During the month of July, 1864, the town was obliged to vote a 
bounty of five hundred dollars to secure volunteers in response to a call 
for 500,000 men. This bounty not proving adequate, the selectmen 
were empowered to pay as large a bounty as was necessary to fill the 
quota of the town. 

The Post- Office. — The only post office in Weston is located at the 
village of Weston, which is in the southern part of the town. The first 
record of a postmaster we find is in the year 1830, when John Wilder 
occupied the office. He continued in the position till 185 i, when he 
was succeeded by James H. Foster. Since then the following have been 
postmasters: G. P. Hannum, J. F. Wallace, H. C. Piper, C. M. I^iper, 
A. H. Drury, C. W. Sprague, Seymour P. Fenn and James F. Austin. 
The present postmaster is A. D. Gilmore, who was appointed in 18S9. 

In 1797 the village consisted of three buildings — a saw-mill, a dwelling 
and a barn. There are now three churches, a graded school, about 
fifty dwellings and the usual number of stores and shops necessary for 
such a community. This has been the point for mercantile and other 
trades since the organization of the town. Among those who have been 
engaged in trade here may be mentioned Asa B. Foster, Ambrose 
Pease, Horace Brown, Matthew Wilkins, Perkins N. Willey, H. C. & 
C. M. Piper, H. I. Kimball, Austin & Fenn. The present merchants 
are Sprague & Richardson and H. A. Hannum. The manufactures of 
Weston have been rnostlj' confined to lumber and woodenware. Very 



Town of Weston. 641 



soon after the first settlement of the town her forests were invaded by 
the wood-chopper, and the wealth of the woodlands has been made 
into lumber and shipped to convenient markets. 

Schools. — This town was originally divided into five school districts 
and in 1843 there were eleven districts. At the present time they have 
been consolidated so there are only nine, each having a suitable school 
building. There is an average attendance of 250 scholars. 

Cemeteries. — As early as 180 1 the town purchased a burial-place, which 
was located about half a mile east of Weston village. The lot was 
bought of Daniel Drury for eight dollars. In 185 1 the cemetery lo- 
cated in the northern part of Weston village was laid out. Additions to 
it have since been made, and it now embraces about two acres. 

Physicians. — The first physician in the town of whom we are able to 
give any definite account was Dr. Henry Gray, who practiced in the 
town as early as 1824, and continued until about 1838. The next regu- 
lar practitioner of the old school of medicine was Dr. Timothy Carter, 
who began in 1S36, and remained here ten years. During this period 
Drs. Josiah A. Martin and David F. Willey were botanic physicians and 
practiced in the town. During the year 1846 Drs. Heman Shaw and 
C. F. Adams began practice here, the latter remaining only a year, and 
the former until 1853. Among the others who have followed their pro- 
fession in Weston were Drs M. Martin and F. Martin, both of the bo- 
tanic school, who were in Weston from 1846 to 1849; Dr. Horace P. 
Allen, of the eclectic school, practiced from 1848 to 1855 ; Dr. A. L. 
Fedd, also of the eclectic school, from 185 i to 1852; Dr. George W. 
Hunt from 1854 to 1858 ; Dr. J. M. Shaw, of the Thompsonian school, 
from 1856 to 1859; Drs. Z. G. and J. L. Harrington, the former being 
a resident of the town from 185810 1862, when he removed to the West ; 
the latter practiced from 1862 to 1864. In 1864 Dr. Merritt C. Ed- 
munds began the practice of medicine and continued until 1880, when 
he removed from the town. Dr. H. H. Howe, who is now a resident of 
the town, came to Weston in 1883. There have been other physicians 
in Weston, but their residence has been of brief duration. 

Congregational Church. — This church was organized before the town 
of Weston was set off from Andover, by a council convened September 
4-5. '799- Of this council, Rev. William Hall, of Grafton, Vt, was 

81 



642 History vf Windsor County. 

moderator, and Rev. Abel Fiske, of Wilton, N. H., scribe. The dele- 
gates were William Pierce, of Wilton ; Deacon James Ross, of Grafton ; 
and Deacon Daniel Kingsbury, of Keene, N. H. The original member- 
ship was fifteen males and fifteen females. On the organization of the 
church Christopher Martin was chosen moderator; David SpafTord, jr., 
clerk; Amasa Piper, Samuel Miller and Jonathan Cram, committee 
(probably deacons). Rev. Mr. Fiske remained for awhile as minister, 
and in two days baptized fifty children. Among the men who preached 
at an early day in Weston were the Revs William Hall, Abel Fiske, 
Peter Read, and Philetus Clark. 

Upon the organization of the town of Weston the question was agi- 
tated of building a church in the center of the town, to be called a union 
church and to be used for town purposes. It was not until 1827 that 
the building was finished at Weston village ; and on October 4, 1821, 
articles of faith were adopted by the members of the Congregationalist 
Society, and on November 19, 1828, the Rev. Stillman Morgan was or- 
dained as the first settled minister of the society, and also the first one 
settled in the town. He remained pastor for a number of years, and 
was followed by the Revs. Justin Parsons and John Jones. The follow- 
ing persons have ministered to the society since that time : Edward S. 
Barrett, from February 9, 1841, to July 16, 1844 ; Samuel H. Tolman, 
from September 20, 1844, to May 30, 1847; Waters Warren, installed 
June 6, 1847; John Walker, from April, 1849, to September, 1855 
L. S. Coburn. from fall of 1857 to September, 1866; J. W. C. Pike 
from winter of 1867 to 1869 ; Arthur H. Adams, from May to Septem 
ber, 1 87 1, when he went as a missionary to Japan; Robert Samuels 
from January 14, 1874, to May 12, 1875 ; S J. Bryant, from May to Oc 
tober, 1875 ; C J. Switzer, from fall of 1876, to May, 1877 ; J. R. Flint 
from June, 1879, to April, 1882; E. H. Sneath, from the summer of 
1882 to fall of 1883 ; George A. Dutton, from November, 1883, to 
March, 1884; J. L. Barton, came in April. 1884, but remained only a 
few months, when he went as missionary to Turkey ; David H. Strong, 
from fall of 1884 to 1887. The present incumbent, W. R. Dugan, was 
installed in October, 1888. 

The society continued to worship in the Union church until 1839. 
when the present frame meeting-house was erected in Weston village. 
It seats 200, and is valued at $4,000. 



Town of Weston. 643 



The Methodist Episcopal Church. — This church is located in Weston 
village, and was organized at an early date. It is part of the charge that 
embraced Windhall, Andover, Landgrove, Mt. Tabor, Peru and London- 
derry. They worshipped in the Union church, and in 1867 the society 
purchased the upper half of the building, thoroughly repaired it and have 
used it ever since. The lower part of the building is used for town pur- 
poses. The following clergymen have, at different times, been appointed 
by the annual conferences' as resident pastors : A. T. Bullard, Caleb 
P'ales, John English, Israel Hutchinson, J. H. Stevens, Moses Adams, 
William Wickham, Jesse Harden, Oris Pier, John L. Smith, C. D. Ingra- 
ham, Joseph Enright, Dennis Wells, Justus Barrows, C. P. Flanders, 
C. H. Waller, W. R, Davenport, F. W. Lewis. There have been others, 
but their stay was short. The present pastor is Rev. D. C. Thatcher. 
The society has about ninety members, and a Sabbath- school with 150 
scholars. 

Uiiiversalist Cktirch. — Previous to 1820 there was a society of this de- 
nomination in Weston, who were supplied by ministers from adjoining 
towns, the Rev. Warren Skinner, of Cavendish, officiating on a number 
of occasions. The Rev. S. C. Loveland was settled over the society from 
1843 to 1851. 

Baptist Church. — The early records of this church are not now in 
existence, rendering it impossible to compile its early history. In 1824 
there was a Baptist society in the town, which worshipped in the Union 
church. There is now a Baptist church in the village, but at the pres- 
ent time no services are held. The following ministers have officiated in 
this pulpit: Rev. Samuel Pollard, from 1838 to 1843 ; Rev. G. S. Stock- 
well, from 1844 to 1846; Rev. Rufus Smith, from 1846 to 185 i ; Rev 
Lucius Chickering, from 1852 to 1855 ; Rev. J. H. Wood, from 1855 to 
1859; Rev. G. J. Rugg, from 1859 to i860; Rev. T. B. Eastman, from 
1 86 1 to 1866 ; Rev. L. Kinney, from 1866 to 1869 ; Rev. Charles Brooks, 
from 1869 to 1870. 

Foster & Jaquith. — On the site now occupied by these works, which 
are situated on the east bank of the West River, about two miles north of 
Weston village, Warren S. Foster in 1865 erected a saw-mill 40 x 20 feet, 
Mr. Foster built a dam at this point, and the mill was equipped with only 
an upright saw, and a small quantity of lumber was manufactured annu- 



644 History of Windsor County. 

ally. In the winter of 1867 W. A. Foster obtained an interest, and the 
firm became W. A. & W. S. Foster, and the manufacture of ash handles 
for agricultural tools was commenced; and during the time this firm was 
in existence two one- story wooden buildings were erected, one being 
100 X 30 feet, and the other 25 x 30 feet. During the month of Feb- 
ruary, 1872, R. B. Jaquith purchased W. S. F"oster's interest, and the firm 
became Foster & Jaquith, and the business was changed to the manufact- 
ure of chair-stock in the rough. The works continued to be run" by 
water-power until 1875, when a portable twenty- five horse-power engine 
was purchased, but owing to the increase of business it requires a two- 
hundred horse-power engine at the present time. Chair stock in the 
rough continued to be manufactured by this firm until 1882, when the 
product was changed to finished chair backs. One thousand cords of 
wood are now used annually in this manufacture. The works and yard 
cover four acres, and employment is given to forty hands. The value 
of the annual product is between $35,000 and $40,000. In December, 
1 880," the firm suffered a loss of $5,000 by the burning of a portable 
Saw-mill, located in the northwestern part of the town. Spruce lumber 
is manufactured by this firm at a mill which tliey erected in the spring 
of 1889, about two miles north of their works, the product being 1,500,- 
000 annually. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter of this work. 

Cragin. — The Cragin family of Weston are ilescendants from John Cragin, a native of 
Scotland, who came to Wobnrn, Ma.<!f!„ about 1 6.52. He married Sarah Dawes, and had 
a son, John, wlio married Deborah Skilton. Tlieir son John married Judith Barker, and 
in their family was Benjamin, who married Mercy Robbins. Tlieir son ]?enjamin, born 
in Temple, N. H., May 4, 17()7, came to Weston in 1794. lie married R<!becca Farrar. 
and they had the following family: Mercy, died young; Rebecca, died young; Benja- 
min, died in Ohio ; Aaron, died in Weston ; Oliver, died in Ohio ; Rebecca (deceased), 
married Ivis Holden ; Adua, died in Ludlow. Benjamin died January 2."), 1804. His 
wife died January 31, 1834. 

Cragin, Aaron, eon of Benjamin, was born in Weston, December 31, 1769, and mar- 
ried Sarah Whitney, born October 15, 1798. He died March 23, 1881. Their children 



Old Families. 645 



wore Hon. Aaron Harrison, lawyer, Member of Congress from New Hampsliire from 
1855 to 1859, represented the State in the United States Senate two terms, at present, 
resides in Washington, D. C; Sarah Helen, wife of John Wilder, of Winchester, Mass.; 
Richard Whitney, resides in Lebanon, N. H.; and John Quincy Adams. 

Cragin, John Quincy Adaras, son of Aaron, was born in Weston, March 20, 1828, and 
married Mary E. Pierce, and has two children, Charles Henry, a resident of Cawker 
City, Kan.; and Carrie, wife of H. P. Stimson, of Kansas City, Mo. 

Poster, Jacob, was born in Temple, N. H., March 23, 1769, and came to Weston early 

in the present century. He married and had the following family : Amy 

(deceased), married Benjamin Smith; James, died in Weston, leaving no issue; John 
Kendall, died at Akron, O.; Polly, died single; Jeremiah; Laura (deceased), married 
Calvin P. Mead; Lydia (decea.sed), married Gilman Austin; Jonas; Jonathan, resides 
in Akron, O.; Andrew Jackson; and Isaac, died young. Jacob died April 12, 185.'1 

Foster, Jeremiah, son of Jacob, was born in Weston, Feliruary 14, ISO", and married 
July 11, 183.3, Mary Temple, who w.as born February 7, 1813. They had three children, 
viz.: Jeremiah M., died March 20, 1887; Edwin K., a resident of East Corni,sh, Me.; and 
Wells Atwood. Jeremiah died Septemlier 30, 1841. 

Foster, Wells Atwood, son of Jeremiah, was Ijorn in Weston, April 8, 1837, and mar- 
ried Lovine Lois Benson. They have two children, viz.: Ella V., wife of Walter M. 
Wright, of Ashburnham, Mass.; and Vernie Atwood, born in Weston. August 7, 1876. 

Jaquith, RoUin B., was born in Mount Holly, Vt., March 19, 1844, and is the .second 
.son of Isaac and Mary (Cole) Jaquith. He attended the local schools, and was for a 
short time a student in the Eastman Commercial College, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. His 
father having been a farmer, he also worked on a farm until he was twenty-one years of 
age, when he engaged in the mill busines-.s, and became a member of the firm of Foster 
Si Jaquith. Mr. Jaquith is also a member of the firm of Jaquith, Bryant & Co., who 
operate a saw-mill in Peru, Vt., where 600,000 feet of lumber are annually manufact- 
ured into plain and rounded finished chair-stock. He married Miss Susan Shedd, and 
they have six children, viz.: Grace B., Harlan C, Maude L., Ray B., Arthur F., and 
Frank A. 

Peabody, Samuel, was born in Wilton, N. H., February 20, 1774, and died April 21, 
1^52. He is of the seventh generation from John Peabodv, the original English settler, 
lie married Lncina Pease and had the following family: Samuel; Ephraim, died with- 
out i.ssue; Lucina (deceased), married Smith Miles; Joel and Abial, both died without 
issue; Tirzah (deceased), married a Mr. Benton; Harriet, died single; Maria, a Mrs. 
Hough, resides in Omro, Wis.; Betsey, died single; William, died in Putnam, N. Y.; 
John, died young. Samuel died April 21, 1852. 

Peabody, Samuel, son of Samuel, was born in Weston, March 9, 1803, and married 
for his first wife Eunice &. Lovejoy. Their only child, Eunice, died at the age of sev- 
teen years. His second wife was Betsey Lovejoj'. Their cliildren were Hannah ; Eliz- 
abeth, died at fifteen years of age; Ellen Maria, died at twenty- five years of age; Alma 
Eugenia, died young; Emma Cornelia, resides at Weston ; Samuel Henry, died at seven 
years of age, Samuel died over eighty years of age, December G, 1883. 



646 History of Windsor County. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ROCHESTER. 

THAT civil sub-division of the county cxf Windsor that is known by 
the name of Rochester occupies a position at the extreme north- 
west part of the county, and is bounded only on one side, the east, by 
any of Windsor's territory. In fact, Rochester occupies a somewhat 
singular position in the county, and bears a rather peculiar relation to it. 
Although one of the towns of the county, and one of the important ones, 
too, Rochester is unfortunately separated from the main body by an ex- 
tensive mountain range, and the nearest distance to any other of the 
trading centers of the county is eleven miles, wagon travel, and that over 
and across this mountainous elevation, while the distance around the 
mountain, by reasonably good wagon rQad, is eighteen miles. Thus is 
this town practically cut off from free intercourse with the balance of the 
county. And being so situated, the good people of the town have been 
compelled to build up for themselves and maintain a municipal being of 
their own; and the result of this is that to-day Rochester, notwithstand- 
ing its isolated position as part of Windsor county, has its own firmly 
established institutions, lives within itself, so to speak, and has become 
the center of a considerable district of land, having a location and situa- 
tion similar to that of our subject. To thus build up what may be 
termed this separate jurisdiction has been of great benefit to the town, 
and by reason of it the owners and occupants of adjoining lands have 
sought for and been received into the fellowship of town union with 
Rochester ; and the result of these several annexations has been to give 
to Rochester a larger area than any other town in the county of Windsor. 
Some time ago it was written concerning Rochester, but without doubt 
in good-humored derision, that it was composed principally of mount- 
ains from the main chain through the State. The good-natured sally 
has more or less of truth in it, for the town does certainly rank among 
the more hilly ones of the county ; and while the majority of its agricult- 
ural lands are of the character that is usually termed hilly farms, there 
is still a fair portion of the town's area that is comparatively level, and 



Town of Rochester. 647 



in a remarkable degree, and better than which cannot be found in the 
county. But it is a fact that Rochester is one of the mountain towns of 
the county, and has its territory more within the range of the Green 
Mountain system or chain than any other in the county. 

The town, too, with its many other peculiarities of situation and con- 
dition, is by far the most irregular in bounding lines of any in the county; 
but this is accounted for by the fact of the several annexations of parcels 
of land, formerly the territory of adjoining towns, the owners of which 
were desirous of becoming attached to some district where the advan- 
tages of good local government and good schools might be available to 
themselves and their families. The village of Rochester was the only 
desirable trading center in all this region, and as the neighboring resi- 
dents were in the habit of trading and doing all possible of their busi- 
ness within the town, it was wholly natural that a desire for annexation 
should be created ; in accordance witli wliich the several unions were 
made. 

As the town was originally chartered, it contained an aggregate of 
23,040 acres, an amount not unlike many otiier towns, nor was the form 
of the town dissimilar to that of others The first addition to its extent 
in area was made in pursuance of an act passed in 1806, by which there 
was taken from Pittsfield, in Rutland county, and added to Rochester, 
lands to the amount of 1,175 acres. The second annexation was made 
in 18 14, by an act of the Legislature, which took from the town of 
Goshen 300 acres, and added them to the territory of Rochester. Ten 
years later, or in 1824, 1,500 acres were surrendered by Braintree, in 
Orange county, and added to the" town of Rochester. This accounts for 
the peculiar projection to the northeast from this town. And at the 
same time 300 more acres were annexed from Pittsfield. In 1834 the 
town of Hancock, in Addison county, yielded 160 acres; and finally, in 
1847, the mountain town of Goshen, also of Addison county, contributed 
to the -town of Rochester to tlieTarge extent of 1 1,300 acres of land. The 
result of these several annexations has been to swell the area of Roches- 
ter from its chartered areage to its present aggregate of 38.325 acres, 
thus making' it by considerably the largest town of Windsor county. 

There appears to have been made no permanent settlements within 
the limits of the town of Rochester, as originally chartered, prior to the 



\ 



648 ■ History ok Windsor County. 

year 1780; and it appears, furthermore, that his excellency, Benning 
VVeiitworth, governor of New Hampshire, had not, during his exercise 
of authority and jurisdiction over this region, taken into consideration 
the advisabihty of surveying and chartering these particular lands to any 
of his favorites, nor to have found proprietors who were willing to ac- 
ciiiire tliese lands by purchase and hazard their improvements and set- 
tlement within the time required b)' the laws governing New Hampshire 
province. And there appears no record to show that the authorities of 
the royal province of New York ever attempted to exercise the right 
claimed by them over the lands now included within the old town of 
Rocliester, as well as the lands of the whole State. But the habit and 
rule with New York was to oppose the settlement made by virtue of the 
New Hampshire charters, and not to make grants generally, at least in 
this locality, of unoccupied or unchartered lands. Therefore, there being 
no settlement nor charter of the territory of this particular locality, there 
could not of course have been any controversy over the title to the 
town's land. 

The town of Rochester was brought into existence by virtue of an 
act of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, passed on the 6th 
day of November, 1780, at the session held in Bennington; and the 
grant then made was subsequently confirmed by a charter to Dudley 
Chase and others, his associates, which bore the date of July 30, 1781. 
In this respect, that is, the granting and chartering of Rochester, this 
town forms an exception to the rule or custom or means by which the 
great majority of the towns of this county were created; for they were 
generally erected by a charter either from New Hampshire or New 
York-. Hut the towns so created were those formed prior to 1780, and 
generally prior to the time when Vermont declared her independence, 
in 1777. 

But the granting and subsequent chartering of Rochester was unlike 
the grants made by New Hampshire in that it was for a substantial con- 
sideration, while the purchase price expressed in the provincial charters 
was generally nominal, the customary ear of Indian corn, or one pepper- 
corn, if demanded, and the annual payment of one shilling proclamation 
money, and the like; none of which considerations had lasting force by 
reason of the decree of the king in 1764, that ended the New Hamp- 




i2ry^^^/''7"2^>''?^^ t^'^l-t^fy^'^ 



Town of Rochester. 649 

shire jurisdiction and passed the same over to the authority of New 
York. But it has been said that the grant of Rochester to its proprietors 
fronn the government of Vermont was upon an express and substantial 
consideration, and such was the case, for the General Assembly on the 
9th of November, 1780, passed a resolution of which the following is a 
true copy : 

" Resolved, That the proprietors of the Township oi Rochester, Granted 
to Asa Whitcomb, Esq. & Company, sixty-four in Number, as described 
on the plan No. 3, pay for each Right in said Town Nine pounds L. 
Money on the 15th day of March next, and settle the Same within three 
years after the present war will admit of Settlement with Safety. The 
reservations to be specified in the Charter of Incorporation." 

From the foregoing resolution it will be seen that the si.xty-four pro- 
prietors of Rochester were required to pay into the treasury of the State 
the sum of nine pounds for each right, or for the sixty-four rights the 
aggregate sum of £^'J^ for the purchase price of the town, however un- 
desirable may have been the lands for the purpose of settlement. This 
would usually appear to be an extraordinary consideration to be paid 
for lands so remote from settled and desirable towns which had been 
previously granted for more nominal prices, but it was not a' condition 
exacted exclusively from the proprietors of Rochester, for the Legisla- 
ture at the same session granted many other towns, and from each was 
required like payment, although the amount differed in various cases. 
On the 7th of November, 1780, only two days before the above quoted 
resolution was passed, a similar one was adopted by which the proprie- 
tors of Pittsfield, sixty-five in number, were in the same manner required 
to pay nine pounds for each of their rights. And the sixty-one propri- 
etors of Braintree, the town just north of this, were likewise directed to 
pay nine pounds for each right. 

But it did not necessarily follow that the consideration money was to 
be paid by the proprietors in cash ; and although the above resolution 
gives no alternative or option, it was nevertheless the case that but little 
of the specified sum was paid in actual money, but rather in such com- 
modities as the State authorities then most needed, as will be seen by 
the resolution passed at the session of the Governor and Council and the 
General Assembly held at Windsor, on the 19th of February, 1781, as 



650 History of Windsor County. " 

follows : " Resolved, That the Committee for receiving the Granting fees 
for the Lands Granted Last October are directed to receive from the 
Proprietors of tiie Township of Rochester Two Hundred Bushels Wiieat 
into Some proper Stores at Norwich, Hartford and Windsor, at 6 shill- 
ings pr. Bushel Towards said Granting fees." This was a payment on 
the part of the proprietors of ninety pounds, or nearly one -eighth part 
of their consideration money. 

The first resolution, that specifying the amount of payment, also pre- 
scribes, as will be seen, that the settlement of the town shall be made 
" within three years after the present war will admit of settlement with 
safety " ; but it appears that notwithstanding the fact that the war was 
then in progress, and at its height, that settlement and improvement in 
the town had already commenced, and in fact was in progress when the 
grant was issued. The pioneers in this direction were John Sanger, Joel 
Cooper, Timothy Clements, James Guggin, and John Emerson, who 
came to the town, or what became the town, built cabins, cleared forests, 
and made improvements at various points along the valley of the White 
River, during the summer of 1780. This being done, the party " broke 
camp," intending to visit their homes and return again to the town dur- 
ing the fall, and therefore left all their camp equipage, together with a 
horse and a borrowed " two-year old heifer," at the place of their labors. 

But their intentions to return were defeated, or at least the return 
was delayed, on account of the Indian depredations in the vicinity dur- 
ing the fall of that year. The reader will remember that it was during 
the month of August, 1780, that a party of Indians made a sudden 
attack upon the settlement at Barnard and carried three men of the 
town into captivity. And on the i6th of October of the same year a 
still more serious attack was made upon Royalton, which resulted in 
tlie almost total destruction of the town, and the capture of a large 
number of the inhabitants. Reports of these depredations coming to 
the knowledge of the pioneers of Rochester, had the effect of delaying 
their return to the place, lest they, too, should be subjected to a similar 
attack, their improvements destroyed, and themselves killed or led away 
captives by the merciless and blood-thirsty savages. And it was well 
that these sturdy men delayed their return, for when they finally arrived 
in the town they found that the place had been visited by the Indians, 



Town of Rochester. 651 

and there were unmistakable evidences of white rascals in company 
with tliem. The cabins were not destroyed, but some of the cooking 
utensils had been broken, and the borrowed heifer had been killed. 
The horse was said to have made his way back to his owner at Barnard. 

In 1781 the pioneers vigorously prosecuted their work of clearing the 
land and putting it in condition for cultivation ; sowed seed and planted 
crops, and built the first log house in the town, to which they gave the 
name " House Commons." During the next year, 1782, a number of 
families came to the town for the purpose of permanent residence; 
among them were those of James Guggin, DavidJZiirrier, John Sanger, 
Timothy Clements, Daniel Emerson, and Mr. Haskell. Currier and his 
family occupied the House Commons. The wives of these first heads 
of families, Mrs. Ruth Guggin, Mrs. Rebecca Currier, Eunice Sanger, 
Jemima Clements, and Mrs. Eunice Haskell, for their courage in making 
so unpromising a wilderness the homes of themselves and their children, 
and for bearing so patiently the hardships of life in such a region, were 
remembered substantially by the proprietors at a meeting held in July, 
1784, for each of them was voted a hundred- acre lot in the second 
division of such lots. And to the first-born children, Frederick and 
William Currier, twin sons of Lieutenant David Currier, the proprietors 
generously voted a hundred-acre lot. Also to Dorcas Currier, who 
seems to have been of great service to the handful of pioneer families in 
the care of their sick, was voted a fifty acre lot. 

In 1783 the town of Rochester seems to have experienced a change 
of jurisdiction, but not a change of such character as would in any man- 
ner affect the rights or interests of any of the proprietors of or dwellers 
in the town. The change was simply one of jurisdiction, by which 
Rochester was annexed to the county of Windsor, and became one of 
its towns. The act by which this was effected is not readily to be 
obtained, but was presented to the Legislature at the session held at 
Windsor on the 25th day of February, in the year named, the pub- 
lished record of the proceeding as that time being as follows : " An 
Act annexing the Town of Rochester to the County of Windsor, for the 
Time being, having passed the House, was received and read ; and the 
Question being put whether the same be concurred, it passed in the 
Affirmative." Thus it was by virtue of the act referred to in the fore- 



652 History of Windsor County. 



going extract that the town of Rochester became one of the civil divi- 
sions of Windsor county; and wiiether or not this act was ever made 
permanent is not known, nor is it of any particular importance. Cer- 
tain it is, iiowcver, that by it Rochester was annexed to the county, and 
there it has ever remained, altliough the extract itself says the annexa- 
tion is for the " time being." 

The town of Rochester did not attract much attention from tlie 
authorities of the State prior to its organization as a town, which 
occurred during the year 1788. The settlement in this locality did not 
commence as early as in towns further to the east, along the valley of the 
Connecticut, nor as early as in some of the towns in the White River val- 
ley; and it of course had no representation in the General Assembly of the 
State until it had a local organization. Therefore, not being in a proper 
position to ask from the State authorities, nothing was received. But it 
did so happen that in 1786, or rather 1785, the surveyor-general of the 
State cut certain highways and ran town lines in several towns of the 
State, and the expenses of this proceeding were charged against the 
towns in which the work was done, or which were supposed to be bene- 
fited by the work. Rochester was one of the towns so assessed, the 
particular record of the proceeding being as follows: " Having Liqui- 
dated the counts Exhibited by the Surveyor- General for running Town 
lines, Cutting roads, etc.. Resolved, That the following sums annexed to 
each respective Town be assessed equally on the Several proprietors for 
defraying said expenses," etc. The aniount charged against the proprie- 
tors of Rochester on account of this work was twenty- four pounds, 
seven shillings, and nine pence. 

But it cannot be said nor inferred that the early settlers of Rochester 
were not informed as to what was transpiring in the affairs of the State at 
large with reference to Vermont's obtaining admission to the Union of 
States. In 1788 the town elected its first representative to the General 
Assembly, — Enoch Emerson, — and from all that can now be learned con- 
cerning him he must have been the leading and most influential man of 
the town in his time. Besides being the first town representative he is 
found to have served the town in that capacity in twenty-two sessions of 
the General Assembly, his last term being in 1822. He also represented 
the town in the convention of the delegates of the people of the State of 



Town of Rochester. 653 



Vermont, held at Bennington on the loth of January, 1791, at which 
time it was formally announced that New York had fully and freely con- 
sented that Vermont be admitted to the Federal Union, and withdrew 
all opposition to that admission ; and the convention of assembled dele- 
gates ratified the constitution of the United States, and signed their in- 
dividual names to the resolutions then adopted, which were transmitted 
to the General Assembly of this State and to the President of the United 
States. But to the resolutions there adopted and signed by 105 dele- 
gates the name of Enoch Err.erson does not appear, as he was one of the 
four dissentients, the others being Daniel Heald of Chester, Moses War- 
ner of Andover, and Benjamin Perkins of Bridgevvater, ail of them from 
towns of Windsor county. 

And Enoch Emerson, besides being a leader of the town in its politi- 
cal and governmental affairs, was one of the progressive spirits that con- 
tributed largely to building up the industries of the locality- He built 
the first saw-mill and grist mill in the towns, in the year 1786 and 1787 ; 
and to him, in 1788, the proprietors voted to give a "sufficient title to 
all the land voted to be laid out for the encouragement of building mills 
aforesaid in the name and behalf of the proprietors." This entitled Mr. 
Emerson to two hundred and ten acres of land, and the mill privileges. 
And that Mr. Emerson was a conspicuous person in town affairs is fur- 
ther attested by the fact that there was hardly an office in the gift of the 
town that he did not at some time or another hold. 

For all time in the history of Rochester previous to 1788 its affairs 
were in the hands of the proprietors, but in the year named the town was 
possessed of a suflficient number of inhabitants to entitle it to organiza- 
tion. The warning, for the first town meeting was signed by Asa Whit- 
comb, at Stockbridge, on the 30th of April, 1788, and the meeting in 
pursuance of it was holden at the dwelling of Ebenezer Burnhani, on the 
I5tli day of May thereafter. The principal town officers then chosen 
were as follows : Moderator, Lieutenant David Currier ; town clerk, 
CaptainTimothy Clements ; selectmen, Timothy Clements, Enoch Emer- 
son and Aaron Wilbur, who were also chosen surveyors, called " layers 
out" of highways; constable, Moses Currier; collector, Joseph Boice. 

In 1 79 1 the first Federal census was taken, and by that enumeration 
the actual number of inhabitants was two hundred and fifteen, or about 



6s4 HisTOKY OF Windsor County. 

thirty or forty families. Nine years later, or in 1800, the growth of the 
town is evidenced by the fact that the population had more than doubled, 
there then being five hundred and twenty- four inhabitants. In 18 10 the 
total had increased to nine hundred and eleven, but during the decade 
then past the town was enlarged by the acquisition of over a thousand 
acres from Pittsfield, with its resident population. In 1820, including 
whatever of population was acquired by the small annexation from 
Goshen in 1814, Rochester's inhabitants numbered eleven hundred and 
forty-eight. In 1830 the total had increased to thirteen hundred and 
ninety-two, and that inclusive of the population acquired by the annex- 
ation of parts of Pittsfield and Braintree in 1824. In 1840 the census 
reports showed no material increase, tiie enumeration then made giving 
the town thirteen hundred and ninety-six inhabitants, and that notwith- 
standing the fact that one hundred and si.xty acres of land, with its popu 
iation, probably not over half a dozen, wasannexed in 1834. In 1850 a 
total population of fourteen hundred and ninety-three was reached, but 
even this was not a natural increase, for, in 1847, eleven thousand three 
hundred acres were set off from Goshen and added to Rochester. Had 
it not been so this year's census would have shown a material decrease. 
In i860 the maximum number of inliabitants was attained, fifteen hun- 
dred and seven ; but in 1870 it had fallen to fourteen hundred and forty- 
four, and in 1880 to thirteen hundred and sixty-two. At the present 
the most careful estimates by well informed residents of the town place 
its total population at from twelve hundred and fifty to twelve hundred 
and seventy-five. 

The town, as has already been stated, was settled, or at least its set- 
tlement was commenced, during the year 1780, and such commodities 
as the pioneers then most required were either brought with them or 
some one of their number was delegated to go to the more advanced 
settlements on the east and purchase whatever was required by the 
people. The comforts of life were indeed few, and luxuries they had 
none. The first public improvement was made during the years 1786 
and 1787, when Enoch Emerson built the saw and grist-mill; and dur- 
ing the year first named pioneer Ebenezer Burnham donated to the pub- 
lic four acres of land for the purposes of a meeting-house, church-yard 
and common. The land was accepted, and the meeting-house was built 



Town of Rochester. 655 

during 1793, or about that time. Another of the first events was the 
coming of the first blacksmith to the town, this honor , being accorded 
to Ebenezer Morse. The first physician was Dr. Retire Trask, who 
came with his wife to the town in 1790. His wife was something of a 
doctress, and between them the health of the people was assured. Tiie 
doctor built what was known as the " old Webber house," in the south 
part of the village of Rochester. The worthy doctor and his wife held 
undisputed sway in their special calling in the town for nearly twenty- 
five years. In 1791 the first provision was made for schools in the 
town, which was divided into four districts, known respectively as the 
" Lower District," the " Branch District," the " Middle District," and 
the " Upper" or " Northern District." Tlie first school was taught in 
the lower part of the town at the dwelling of Enos Morgan. The first 
teacher of " the young idea " was Rev. Howe, and, if record and tradi- 
tion are correct, the reverend pedagogue had an exceedingly persuasive 
way of instilling knowledge into the young minds under his care — beat- 
ing it into them, so to speak. In i8oi the town was re-divided and six 
school districts formed; and again, in 1810, into eight districts. In 
18 14 the first school census of the town was made, showing a total of 
four hundred and forty-one scholars in the several districts. 

The Rev. Mr. Howe, in addition to his employment as teacher, here- 
tofore mentioned, was engaged at the town's expense to preach, and in 
1793 the town "voted to give the Rev. Mr, Howe three bushels of 
wheat per day for his labor among us in the ministry of the Word so 
long as he shall preach among us. Also, keep, or pay for keeping, of 
said Mr. Howe's horse during the time he shall preach among, or with 
us." But prior to Mr. Howe's ministry in the community Rev. Mr. 
Washburn had labored in the same field. In 1794 the town meeting- 
house, built on the common donated by Ebenezer Burnham, was first 
used. It was generally described as the Potash Meeting-House, from 
the fact of there being near it an old potash factory. Rev. Mr. Ran- 
som was another of the early preachers in the town 

The first church society in the town was the Congregational, organ- 
ized September 11, 1 801, and of which Enoch Emerson and Daniel Shaw 
were the first chosen deacons. From this primitive organization has 
grown what there is of Congregationalism in the town at the present 



656 History of Windsor County. 

time ; and the original society itself may truthfully be said to have had 
its origin in the early meetings and preaching supported at the town's 
expense, although they were not intended to be, nor were they at all, de- 
nominational. The majority of the early residents of the town had been 
brought up and instructed in that church belief, and it was only natural 
that they should adhere to it and build up that society as the first of the 
town. In 1808 the town voted that the meeting- house be opened to 
the use of any denomination when there was no preaching of the Con- 
gregational "order." In 1812 the church of this society was com- 
menced, and was finished and occupied the next year. Rev. Salmon 
Hurlbut was settled over this church as pastor in 1822. Two years pre- 
vious to this, or in 1820, the society had one hundred and eight mem- 
bers. 

The Methodist church and society of the town was organized in 1803, 
and Rev. Thomas Skeels was its first minister. The first meeting was 
held in the Congregational church, the town meeting-house, and the 
te.xt on that occasion was " They that have turned the world upside 
down have come hither also." The growth of this society was not rapid, 
and in I 820 it numbered but thirty-one members. The church edifice, 
a union meeting-house, was built in 1827, at the joint expense of the 
Methodist and Universalist societies, the latter having been organized in 
1822. It seems that the latter society was the stronger in the town at 
that time, or at least that its members paid more toward the erection of 
the building, and was therefore entitled to its use two Sabbaths more 
each year than the Methodists. In 1840 the number of Methodists had 
increased to 80, and at the same time the Universalists numbered 85. 
In 1849 the Methodist Society purchased the interest held by the Uni- 
versalists in the meeting-house, and the latter society at once built for 
themselves. In 1850 the Methodists numbered 50, and the Universa- 
lists 113. By this time the Congregationalists had decreased to 92. 

In 1 8 17 the Baptist Society was organized, Elder Perkins being its 
first minister. The society grew slowly, numbering but 16 in 1820, 
and it finally passed out of existence. There have also been other relig- 
ious societies organized in the town, among them more prominently 
called Piotestant Methodists and Episcopal (both during 1845), and the 
Second Adventists in 1851, but neither acquired much numerical 
strength, and continued but a short time. 



Town of Rochester. 657 

During the tliree war periods, the Revolution, the War of 181 2-1 5, 
and that of 1861-65, the town of Rochester had an existence, but dur- 
ing the first of these there could not have been any contribution of men 
on the part of the town, nor of means for the conduct of the war on the 
part of the State, except as the emergency of the occasion required that 
the State authorities should demand of the proprietors the sum of nine 
pounds for each right of land in the town, payable in money or provi- 
sions, but not so expressed for the maintenance of the State troops in act- 
ual service or in duty on the northern frontiers. By this means and the 
sale of confiscated lands the government of the State was enabled to 
keep troops in the field, and it was seldom that towns were called upon 
to raise anything other than provisions for the military operations then 
in progress. But there appears no evidence to show that Rochester was 
called upon to furnish men or any provisions other than as mentioned ; 
the struggling pioneers found in the work of clearing their lands and im- 
proving them a sufficient burden for them to bear, but, notwithstanding 
that, it was necessary to make preparations for possible emergencies, 
and the town had its quasi -mWitcLry organization, ready to repel the in- 
vasions of the Indians in case any should be made. But, fortunately, 
they were exempted from any depredations, and none in fact were made 
after the burning of Royalton in October, 1780. 

During the period of the War of 1812-15 the records of the town dis- 
close no information by which it can be learned what measures were 
taken to supply men for the service, nor what contribution was made by 
the town for the support of the troops of the State. That men from 
Rochester were in the army there can be no doubt, but who they were, 
or the extent of their service, is not readily ascertained. 

One of the earlier chapters of this volume is devoted to the record 
and history of the men of Windsor county in the war of the Rebellion, 
showing the services of each regiment that contained any considerable 
contingent of volunteers from any section of the county. And in the 
same connection will also be found a roll of the soldiers from each of 
the towns of the county, as contained in the reports of the adjutantand 
inspector-general of Vermont. Therefore it will be unnecessary in this 
place to pursue that subject at greater length, or to give any other par- 
ticular account of the performance on the part of the town relative to 

83 



658 History ok Windsor County. 

the furnishing of men, or the money with which bounties were paid. 
But there is one thing — one event — that demands at least a brief notice 
on these pages ; and that, the erection of a beautiful and ap[)ropriale 
monument, during the year 1868, commemorative of the lives and deeds 
of Rochester's heroic sons, who participated in tiie conflicts of the war. 
This magnificent tribute stands in the pretty village park, twenty-three 
feet in height, and is surmounted by an eagle, carved in granite, of which 
material the whole structure is made. 

TozvH Representatives in the General Assembly. — 1788-90, Enoch 
Emerson; 1791, Benjamin Eastman; 1792-1804, Enoch Emerson; 
1795, Benjamin Eastman; 1796-1806, Enoch Emerson; 1807, 
Oliver Mason; 1808, Enoch Emerson; 1809-11, Leonard Richard- 
son; 1812, Enoch Emerson; 1813-15, Oliver Mason; 1816, Enoch 
Emerson; 1817, Daniel Huntington ; 1 8 18, Enoch Emerson ; 1819-21, 
William Powers ; 1822, Enoch Emerson ; 1823-4, Ephraim D. Briggs ; 
I 825-6, Lyman Emerson ; 1827, Daniel Huntington; 1828-9, Lyman 
Emerson; 1830, Ephraim D. Briggs; 183 1-2, Stillman Emerson ; 1833, 
Lyman Emerson; 1834-5, John Trask ; 1836-7, Joseph F. Tilden ; 
1838, John Trask ; 1839-40, Thomas Barnes; 1 841-2, Barney Cooper; 
1843-4, Thomas B. Martin. 1845, Thomas B. Harvey; 1846, William 
B. Henry; 1847, none; 1848, James Wing, 2d; 1849-50, John W. 
Chaffee; 1851-2, David Eaton; 1853-4, William B.Henry; 1855-6. 
James Wing; 1857-8, Sumner A. Webber; 1859-60, Joseph L. Morse ; 
1861-2, Artemas Cushman ; 1863-4, William M. Huntington; 1865-6, 
Chester Pierce; 1867-8, Christopher A. Webber; 1869-71, Charles 
Morgan; 1872-3, Silas H. Morse; 1874-5, Philander Baker; 1876-7, 
Julius A. Eaton; 1878-9, none reported; 1880-1, Albert Richmond; 
1882-83, J. O. Sherburne; 1884-85, C. D. Hubbard; 1886-87, J. W. 
Campbell; 1888-89, G. L. Chaffee; 1890, Fayette A. Kezer. 

Old F"amilies. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer to 
a later chapter of this work. 



Old Families. 659 



Austin, Truman D., was born in Rochester, December 24, 1837, the eldest in a family 
of three children of Joseph and Judith (Lyon) Austin. John, his great-grandfather, 
moved from the East and settled in Rochester on a farm now owned by Walter Scott, 
situated on what is known as Austin Hill. He died in Rorhester,April, 1838. His son 
Rol.iert married, first, Betsey Carpenter and had children as follows: Joseph, Benjamin, 
Elvira, Armenia and Eliza. He married, second, Polly Eastman. Their two children 
were .John and Harriet. He married, third, Pliebe Mosher. They had one child, Phebe 
Jane. Robert died in Rochester, November, 1801. Of his children, Joseph, father of 
Truman D., and the eldest by the first marriage; was born in Rochester, February 4, 
1809. He married, first, Judith Lyon. Their children were Truman D.,Mary Elizabeth, 
died single, and Milan D., lives in Breckinridge, Minn. He married, .second, Mary Lucas. 
They had no children. His third wife was Betsey King. The children by the latter 
union were George E.; Amelia R., the wife of Stillman J. Perkins, died in Minnesota; 
Mary E., married, first, Charles Livermore, and second, Henry Livermore. She lives in 
Hopkinton, N. Y. Harriet died young, and Joseph Adelbert lives in Rochester, .loseph 
ilied March G, 18G2 ; Judith, his wife, February 29, 1842. Truman D. Austin married, 
December 14, 18G1, Clara M., daughter of Abraham and Lucy (Pickett) Hook. She 
was born July 18, 1843, in Washington, N. H. They have three children: Henry T., 
born September 29, 18G2 ; Emma J- born July 28, 18G5; Fred H., born November 17, 
1870. All lived at home. Mr. Austin owns and occupies the farm on Austin Hill, in 
Rochester, formerly owned by his fatner. He has served the town as lister and select- 
man. 

B.ailey, Thomas, came from Westminster, Vt., in 1790, and located at the North Hol- 
low, in the town of Rochester. Of his ten children, seven reached adult age and were 
as follows: Hubbard; Ira. died in Granville, Vt.; Clark, died in Hancock, A^t.; Ora; Ma- 
tilda; Daniel, died tinmanied; Sally (deceased), married J.ames Bemis. Ora, of this 
family, was born in Rochester in 1792, and died March 27, 1804. He married Hannah 
Thatcher, and had the following family: Harriet, died twenty-eight years of age; So- 
phronia, wife of James West, of Alexandria, Neb.; James, died aged two years; Clark, 
died at Randolph, Vt.; George, resides at Onarga, HI,; Sarah (deceased), married James 
Pond; Lorenzo Dow ; Diantha and Adolplius, twins. The former is the wife of William 
Gove, of Alexandria, Neb., the latter died young. Lorenzo Dow, son of Ora, was born 
in Rochester. November 3, 1828, and married March 16, 1852, Rosalinda, daughter of 
Calvin and Cynthia (Morse) Pond. She was born in Rochester, November 23, 1827. 
They had two children, Luton Elmer and George Ora, born in Rochester, June 13, 1871. 
Luton E. was born in Rochester.April, 181)2, and married, .January 1, 1880, Luna, daugh- 
ter of Curamings and Diana (Richmond) Martin. She was horn in Rochester, May 25, 
1803. They have two children, Jessie Ro.se and George Dow. Lorenzo Dow died Sep- 
tember 9, 1884. 

ChafTee, Henry H., was born in Rochester, December 12, 1840, the eldest in a family 
of four children of John and Ro.selle (Lowell) Chaffee. John, his grandfather, born in 
Connecticut, married Sally Evans, and had eight children, viz.: Fanny, wife of William 
Hunter, ilied in Rochester in 1849; Marcia, widow of Washington Tower, lives in 
Rochester; Lyman went West as a teacher, and was never heard from; Leonard, died 
in Rochester in 1848; Amos, also died in Rochester in 1848; Anna, widow of E. K. 
Richmond, lives in Newport, Vt.; anil Esther, wife of William Stone, lives in Roches- 
ter. John, his father, was born in Rochester, May 11, 1813, and married Roselle Lowell, 
January 1, 1840. Their four children were Henry H.; Alice R., wife of Gilman Wright, 
lives in Rochester ; Edna J., wife of Dr. H. S. Noble, of Middletown, Conn,; she is 
the principal of the Detroit Triiining School of Elocution and English Literature; Ed- 
win J., a Univer.salist clergyman, in Galesburg, III. John died in Rochester, April 17, 
1883. His widow resides with her son, Henry H. Ttie latter married, January 1, 1867, 
Augusta, daughter of Thomas and Ann Eliza (Stevens) Smith. She was born May 7, 
1847. Their four chililren are Nellie, teacher in the Detroit Training School; Alice, 



66o History of Windsor County. 

teacher in the same institution ; Harry, a student in that institution ; an<l Annie, dieJ 
aged six. 

ChafTee, Henry H., entered as corpora) in Company E, Fourth Vermont Volunteers, 
August 30, 18(11, and received his discharge as sergeant of the same company June 26, 
1865. He lost his right arm at the battle ot Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1S(J4. Mr. 
ChatFee owns and occupies the Chaffee homestead farm in Rochester. He has served as 
lister of the town many years, and as selectman four year.s. 

Oushman, Major-General Arteraas, was born in Braintree, Vt., September 15, 18011. 
He descends in the eighth generation from Robert Cushman, who embarked with his 
only son Thomas, then a lad fourteen years of age, in the Mnyjlower, but after three 
day.s' sailing returned to England in the Speedwell, on account of the iuefl'iciency of the 
latter vessel to make the voyage. He was the leader of the party who were obliged to 
return, hut in the following year he embarked again on the Fortune, and arrived al I'ly- 
mouth in November, 1C21. He went back to England on the return trip of the Fort- 
une, as agent of the colony, with the intention of returning to America, permanently, 
but he ilied there in January or February, 1G25. During his short stay at riymouth, 
though not a clergyman, he preached December, 1621, " the first sermon in New Eng- 
land that was printed." Te.xt, 1. Cor., x. 24: " Let no man seek his own, but every man 
another's wealth." The sermon was first published in London in 1G22, and reprinted in 
Boston in 1724. His son, Thomas, born ItiOS, was left by his father on his return to 
Enghuid in the care of Governor Bradfonl. He married, in 1635 or 163G, Mary Aller- 
,tori, and died in I'lymoulh, December 10, 1691. His wife surviveil him nearly ten years. 
He was prominent in the colony, and was popularly known a.s " Elder Thomas." Of his 
eight cliildren the Rev. Isaac Cushman was born in Plymouth, February 8, 1647, married 
Mary Rickard, Ijorn 1654, died September 27, 1727, aged seventy-three. He dicil Octo- 
ber 21, 1732, aged eighty-four, ami wa.s thirty-.seven years in the ministry. Ichabod, his 
son, born October 30, l<iS(), married, (irst, Esther, daughter of Jonathan Barne.s. He mar- 
rieil, second. Patience Holmes. He lived in Plymouth and Middleboio. His estate was 
settled by his widow, Patience, in 1736. William, second son by the last marriage, was 
born October 13, 1715, died August 27, 176S, He married, first, December 2.5, 1731, Su- 
sanna Sampson, and second, Priscilla Cobb, in 1751, and had five children by the first 
wife, and seven by the last. William, the third child by the first marriage, born April 12,- 
1741, married March 4, 1762, Susanna Pratt. They had four children, of whom .\rlcmas, 
born at Middleboro, April 7, 1781, married July 10, 1803, Phebe Spear, of Braintree, 
born March 6, 1783. He died in Braintree in 18.52. Their children were Holmes, Ma- 
jor-General Artemas, William, Content, Phebe, Philenda, Emily M., Minerva E., and 
Earl. Artemas lived in Braintree till he was ten years of age. He was educated in the 
schools of Rochester, and taught school six years. He then began merchandising in 
Warren, V^t., where he remained twelve years. He commenced mercantile business in 
Rochester in 1845, and continued in it until 1868. Since then he h.as employed his time 
in looking after his landed and other property interests. He has always taken an active 
part in the military and civil affairs of the State. In 1828 he was commissioned as brig- 
ade-inspector (rank ot major) in the militia of Vermont; in 1830 the commission of lieu- 
tenant-colonel, in 1835 colonel, in 1841 brigadier-general, and in 1847 was elected major- 
general. He held the ollice of justice of the peace from 1835 to 1851 ; member of the 
Hou.se of Representatives in 1835-36, 1842. 1861-62; member of theConstilutional Con- 
ventions of 1836 and 1847; and State Senator in 1846-47 ami 1876-77. He married 
November 3, 18.53, Clara, daughter of Henry and Ann (Rogers) Chan<iler. born August 
17, 1826. They have two children, Henry Herbert, born April 17, 1860, married October 
22, 1889, Jessie Tupper, born June 28, 1865; he is a merchant in Rochester ; and Lizzie, 
born April 11, 1865, married October 7, 1886, Charles E. Townsend of Burlington, Vt. 
They have an infant child, born May 28, 1890. 

Hubbard, Benj.amin F., born in Granville, Vt., September 27, 1829, the youngest 
in a family of seven children of Arna and Philomela (Gilligan) Hubbard. The children 



Old Families. 66 i 



were Harvey, lives in Willimantic. Conn.; Joseph, died aged twenty-one ; Charles, was 
killed, ageil thirty-seven ; Rufus, lives in Ramlolph, Vt.; Benjamin F.; and two who died 
young. Benjamin F. married April 19, ISIS, Nancy E., daughter of Hezekiah and Nanoy 
(Martin) Howe. The mother oE Mrs. Hubbard was born in Rochester, the daughter of 
Major Thomas and Nancy Martin ; the former died suddenly, and his widow died at the 
ho[ne of Colonel Thomas Martin in Rochester. Mrs. Huljbard was born in Westford, 
Chittenden county, Vt., .luly 24, IS^S'. They had two children of their own, viz.: 
Benjamin F., born February 8, 18.54, married July 4. 1881, Welthea'A., dausjhterof Aus- 
tin and Sylvia A. (Wright) Field, who have had two children, an infant, born October S, 
1883, died unnamed, and Eva May, born September 13, 1887 ; Hattie E., born Septem- 
ber 27. 18G2, died August 3, 1S75 ; and one adopted child, Samuel Wing, Ijorn January 
29, 1876. Benjamin F. died July 4, 1887. He moved from Granville and .settled on 
the farm in Rochester still owned by his widow and son, Benjamin F. By a fall from 
a bridge in 1863 he received an injury which crippled him for life. He was a prominent 
man in the M. E. Church of Rochester, and was one of its stewards. 

Huntington, Dr. Daniel, was born in Lebanon, N. H., July 17, 1781. James Hunt- 
ington, his fatlier, a sergeant in the War of the Revolution, married Hannah Curtis, and 
they had eleven children, of whom seven reached adult age. The latter were all mar- 
ried, and, except one, raised families. Three besides the doctor became residents of 
Rochester, viz.: Mrs. Frank Washburn, John and James D. The doctor studied medi- 
cine with, Dr. Joseph A. Denison, of Royalton, and commenced the practice of his pro- 
fession in Stockbridge in 1805. In 1807 he went to Albany, N. Y., where he remained 
one year. In 1808 he settled in Rochester and continued the practice of his profession 
in that town until his death, which occurred September 13, 1854. He married Mary 
Davis, born in Bascowan, N. H., March 26, 1771, and they had the following children, 
viz.: Daniel N., born January 1, 1815, living in Malone, N. Y., a justice of the peace there 
for tvventy-flve years; John died in Rochester, March 12, 1853 ; Mary G-., born June 15, 
1816, was the wife of Uriah Rice, and died in Carlton, O., in 1848; William M., born in 
Rochester, October 21, 1819; Olive G., horn in Rochester, October 21, 1820, wife of 
George G. Wilson, living in Malone, N. Y.; Sarah .T.ine, born June, 1824, wife of F. F. 
Washliurn, of Rochester; James D., born November 1 1827, died February 3, 1887. 
Dr. William M. Huntmgton has always been a resident of Rochester. After the district 
school he attsnded the Br.andon Seminary. He began the study of medicine in 1840 
with Dr. Daniel Barne.s, of Brandon, and continued with him one year. He then studied 
with his father three years. He attended his first course of lectures in Hanover, N. H., 
and was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of New York 
March 4, 1845, and has practiced his profession in Rochester ever since. The doctor 
represented the town in the Legislature in 1863 and 1864. He married, June 18, 1848, 
Arvilla, daughter of William and Lijcy (Chandler) Baker. Mr.s. Huntington was born in 
Rochester, February 28, 1827. They have but one child living. Dr. William Daniel 
Huntington, born in Rochester, June 15, 1857. He was educated in the Barre iVcademy, 
and was graduated from the University of Vermont in 1881. He studied medicine with 
his father, and with the exception of one year in Niles, Mich., and one year in Chicago, 
he has practiced his profe.ssion in companv with his father, in Rochester. He married 
Lizzie A. Pater, who was born in Bmliugton, January 7, 1860. They have one child, 
William M., born April 17, 1888. Dr. William is a member of the National Medical 
A.ssociation, a member of the Vermont State Medical Society, also a member of the 
White River Valley Medical Society. Dr. William D. is also a member of the State and 
White River Valley Medical Societies. Both the doctors are members of Rural Lodge, 
No. 29, P. and A. M., of Rochester, also of Mouut Zion Commandery of K. T. Dr. 
William D. is a member of the Shrine. 

Kezer, Fayette A., waS born in Wentworth, N. H,, May 1, 1848, the second in a 
family of three children of Ferdin.and C. and Hann.ah (Weeks) Kezer. Lemuel, his 
grandfather, born in New Hampshire, married Eliza Preston. Their children were 
Eliza Ann, born in Wentworth," December 18, 1809, died November 21, 1828; Emele 



662 History of Windsor County. 

and Emeleos, twins, born November 5. 1811, died, the former November 15, 1811, tlie 
latter November 111, 1811; Ferdinand Colnmbus and Fayette Columbia, twins, born 
Aiij;iisl2y, 1812; Hortensia M., born November 2,1814, died January 9, 1815. Ilortensia, 
wife of Kzra Currier, died in Wentwortb. Lemuel died November 18, 1815; bis wife 
.lune 18, 1847. Ferdinand C. was born in Wentwortb, Aup;ust 2!), 1812, and married 
May 17, 184i), Hannah Weeks, born March 11. 181!). Their three children were 
Kliza A., born January 3, 1845, married June 20, 18fi4, Jeremiah Howard, a farmer 
livin;^ in Rochester, and have two children, John L. and Cora B.; Fayette A.; and Mary 
Conielia, bora May 1, 1848, died October 4, 1853. His wife. Hannah Weeks, died in 
Wentwortb, N. H.. May 30, 1857. He married second. May 12, 1858, Marcia Currier, 
of Wentwortb. and by this marriage had one child, Adams C, who dieil January 2il. 
1882. Ferdinand C. died in Kochester, September 15, 1883. His second wife died in 
Rochester, March 29, 1881. F^ayette A. was si.xteen years of age when his father moved 
from New Hampshire and settled in Rochester on the farm now owned and occupied 
by J. F. How.ard, his son-in-law. In 18G9 Fayette A., in company with his father, 
purcha.sed the grist and saw-mil!s located in the village of Rochester, and upon the 
death of his father Fayette A. liecame tlie sole owner and continues to operate them, 
making a specialty of ash dowels for bendnig purposes, \ised for rattan and reed chairs. 
Mr. Kezer represented the town of Rochester m the General A.ssembly of the State of 
V^erruont in the year 1890. He married, June 17, 1874, Laura, daughter of John and 
Olive (Walbridge) Pierson, who was born in Rochester, February 28, 1850. They have 
two children, Frank F., born June 21, 1878, and Alice, born February 7, 1883. 

Messer. — The families of this name in Rochester are descended from Richard Mes,ser, 
who married Hannah Shotwell. Their son. Abial, born December 27, l(i70, married 
Abigail Marsh and had a son, Richard, born November 9, 1695, who married Mchitable 
Smith. From the last named mariiage came Samuel, born June 30, 173(i, who married 
Sarah Howe. Jacob, a son of the last named couple, was born in Methuen, Mass., 
September 22, 1778. He married Septembui- 23, 1802, Catharine Smith, who was born 
at Now London, N. H., March 15, 1783. He became a re.sident of Rochester in* 1804, 
but died at Northumberland, N. Y., January 11. 1814. His wife died April 18, lS(i3. 
Their chil<lren were Deiadamia (decea.sed). born June 15, 1803, married James Kimball; 
Lyman ; and James S., born April 1, 181 1, emigrated to Illniois, where be died. 

Mos.ser, Lyman, son of Jacob, born in Rochester, June 24, 1805, married December 

13, 1833, Mary Morse. She was burn March 4, 1808, and died January 4, 1S82. Of 
their eight chiMren, all of whom were born in Rochester, one died m infancy. The 
others were Jacob, bom January 17, 1839, was a member of Company E, Fourth Ver- 
mont Volunteers, and died at Mana.s.sas Junction, Va , February 13, 18G2; Julius C, 
was born November 27, 1840, and lesides at Rochester; Alpha, was liorn July H, 1S42, 
ami resides at Rochester; Alton, was boi-n June 27. 1.S44, and resides at Lincoln, Vt.; 
M.'u-y F., was born April 29, 1S4(), and died March 16, 1808; Maria F., was born March 

14, 1S4S, married Jo.seph G. Sargent, and resides at Bethel, Vt.; Clarence, was born 
March 28, 1854, and resides at Hundjoldt, la. Alpha, of the above famil)'. married, July 
5, 1871, Liz/.ie P. Bond, who was bora in Thotford, Vt., January 15, 1843. They liave 
one child, Annie L., who w.-is born September 8, 1874. Mr. Messer is a farmer, and 
also Master of the Vermont State Grange ; was engaged in teaching in his early life in 
the common schools in \'ermont and also in Illinois. He was for two j'ears master of 
the Armstrong Grammai' School at Manchester, N. H., has been connected with the 
press for many years and is a member of the editorial staff of the New England Farmer, 
[lublisbed in Boston, Mass. 

Pierce. Chester, was born in Royalton, Vt., January 2, 1819, the youngest in a family 
of thirtecMi chddren of William and Hannah (Baker) Pierce. Joseph, his grandfallier, 
moved with bis family from Connecticut, settled in Royalton, and he and bis wife died 
there. Their chiMren were William, Elisha, Ebenezer, Mrs. Mary Tracy, Susan and 
Lucy. William, born in Connecticut, September 5, 1770, was under age when his father 



Town of Chester. 663 



moved to Royalton. He married December 27, 1 796, Hannah Baker, born March (i, 
1777. Their thirteen children were Esther E., Desire W., William, Be.«ter, Ira, John, 
Levi W., Geortte, Hannah, Charles, Harvey B., Harriet and Chester. William died in 
Royalton, July 18, 1854, and his wife October 3, 1863. Chester mari'ied, first, October 
26, 1842, Caroline R.. daughter of Epliraini D. and Eliza (Hodgkins) Briggs, born June 
24, 1822, in Rochester. Edward L., born July 26, 1843, is their only child. He mar- 
ried Julia A. Ashley. They have two'children, Leslie Dean and Chester Earl. Caroline 
R., the first wife, died March 1, 18(i!.l. Chester married second, December 18, 1883, 
Ellen L., daughter of James M. and Hannah (Jewett) Ashley, born March 30, 1843, in 
Barnard. There are no children by this union. Mr. Pierce lived in Royalton until he 
was twenty-two years of age. When eighteen years of age he became clerk in the 
store of George Lyman in Royalton and continued with him three years, salary one 
shilling per day. He was employed one year thereafter as clerk in the store of Denison 
& Gleason, Royalton. For the ne.xt two years he carried on merchandismg in Bethel, 
in company with H. N. Smith, under the firm name of Pierce & Smith. In the spring 
of 1843 they divided their stock, Mr. Pierce removing to ifjochester, where, in company 
with B. D. Briggs, his father-in-law, he continued in trade eleven year.s, under the film 
name of Briggs & Pierce. At the end of this time Mr. Briggs withdrew, and for the 
ne.xt thirteen years it was conducted by Mr. Pierce alone. He then sold out to Harkin, 
Pierce & Tilden, and withdrew from active mercantile business, and has devoted his 
time to the care of his property. Mr. Pierce has served as selectman, town auditor for 
thirty years, and represented the town in the Legislature in 1865-66, and was State 
Senator in 1886, on the committees of banks, elections, and House of Correction. 

Sparhawk, Rev. Samuel, was born in Rocliester, Vt., Januar}- 1, 1802, and was (be 
second .son of Ebenezer and Azubah (Jellerson) Sparhawk. His father was a native of 
Templeton Mass., and was among the first settlers of Rochester. He had nine children, 
one of whom died in infancy. The others were George, who died in Rochester; Pris- 
cilla (deceased), married Rev. Daniel Warren ; Mary (deceased), married Luther 
Tucker; Naomi (deceased), married Luther Tucker; Ebenezer, died in Rochester; 
Louisa (deceased), married Eilward Terry ; Martha (deceased), married William Allen ; 
and Samuel. The latter attended Chelsea Academy, and was ordained a minister in the 
Congregational Church at Pittsfield, Vt. He preached four years at Pittslield, sixteen 
years at West Randolph, three years at Randolph Center, three years at Gaysville, and 
five years at Pittsfield, where he died November 9, 1879. He married, November 6, 
1830, Laura, daughter of Israel and Sarah (Cook) Fitts. She was born at Leicester, Vt., 
January 5, 1805. They had eight children, viz.: Priscilla, died three years of age; 
George, a doctor, resides at Burlington, Vt.; Luther T., an artist, resides at West Ran- 
dolph, Vt.; Martha, born in Rochester, Vt, February 15, 1834, wife of Guy E. Graham, 
of Bethel; Mary, died seventeen years of aae ; Sarah, died in infancy ; Ellen, married, 
first, Charles Gibbs. second, George Rockwell, who resides in Medford, Mass.; Samuel 
Henry, a doctor, who resides in St. Johnsbury, Vt. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

HI.STORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER. 

THE town of Chester is located in the southern part of the county, 
and is bounded on the north by Cavendish and Baltiniore; east by 
Springfield ; south by Grafton and small parts of Rockingham and 
Windham ; and on the west by Andover and a part of Ludlow. It is 



664 HisTouY ()!• Windsor County. 

situated in latitude forty-three degrees, seventeen minutes, and longitude 
four degrees, twenty-one minutes, and is six miles west of the Connecti- 
cut River. 

The surface is considerably diversified with hills and valleys, but the 
soil is generally good, and tiie uplands yield excellent pasturage. The 
intervals are rich and fertile, producing good crops of rye, corn, barley, 
oats, peas, beans, potatoes, etc. The roads are remarkably well laid, 
level and well wrought for such an uneven town. The timber is of hard 
wood, with some hemlock, spruce and pine. 

Williams River is formed in the town by the union of three branches, 
which unite about a mile southeast of Chester village, affording good 
mill sites. About a mile north of the village a mineral spring was dis- 
covered in i860, the waters of which are said to contain valuable 
medicinal remedies. 

Early Grants. — One of the first towns in Windsor county to be char- 
tered by Benning Wentworth, governor of New Hampshire, was what 
is now comprised in the town of Chester. The grant was dated Feb- 
ruary 22, 1754, and comprised 23,040 acres west of the Connecticut 
River, beginning at the northwest corner of Rockingham and extend- 
ing six miles in a westerly direction ; thence six miles due north ; thence 
six miles due east; and from that point six miles south to the point of 
commencement. The grant was to be divided into sixty four equal 
parts and tlie following are the names of the original grantees : John 
Baldridge, Francis Smith, jr., Benjamin Flagg, Ebenezer Stearns, Na- 
thaniel Child, Richard Ward, Thomas Bell, Sampson Sheafife, Ebenezer 
Carlisle, James Hamilton, Thomas Wheeler, Jeremiah Beath, James 
Stoodley, Jonathan Gates, John Wentworth, Charles Davenport, David 
Bellows, Isaac Stearns, Jacob Smith, Thomas Cowden, Daniel Haywood, 
Luke Brown, Israel Jennison, Samuel Clark Pain, Jonas Rice, Ebenezer 
Wiswall, Abel Haywood, Theodore Atkinson, Alexander Clark, Jacob 
Holmes, Abraham Wheeler, Charles Davenport, jr., John Stearns, Dan- 
iel Haywood, jr., Richard Wiberd, Benning Wentworth, Francis Smith, 
Matthias Stone, Cornelius Stowell, William Mahan, John Roberts, Na- 
thaniel Adams, Samuel Smith, Samuel Dunkirk, John Winters, Moses 
Peters, John Richey, James Carlisle, John Downing, Daniel W'arner, 
William Clark, Jeremiah Rice, Charles Adams, Will Johnson, John Kel- 
lison, Matthew Livermore, Samuel SoUey, Palmer Goulding. 



..^^^ 




Albert F. Baldwin. 



Town of Chester. 665 



The grant thus given was named in the charter Flamstead, and 
through neglect of the proprietois to fulfill the conditions stated in the 
charter their rights were forfeited. A second charter was granted No- 
vember 3, 1 76 1, the name of the town being changed to New Flam- 
stead. The boundaries were tlie same, but it was to be divided into 
seventy- four equal shares. The following were the persons named in 
the last charter: Daniel Haywood, Jonathan Gates, John Stowell, Abie! 
Haywood, Charles Davenport, Adonijah Rice, Jeremiah Beath, Charles 
Davenport, jr., Benjamin Richardson, Asa Moore, Israel Jennison, Joseph 
Rugg, Cornelius Stowell, I.saac Stevens, William Crawford, Ephraim 
Doolittle, Charles Adams, John Brooks, Benjamin Williard, Jacob 
Smith, John Davis, Noah Brooks, Ebenezer Wiswall, Matthew Liver- 
more, Nathan Baldwin, Palmer Goulding, jr., Theodore Atkinson, 
Aaron Kimball, Palmer Goulding, Richard Wiberd, Joseph Williard, jr., 
John Goulding, Simon Davis, Windsor Goulding, Peter Brooks, Simon 
Davis, jr., Benjamin Winchester, Ignatius Goulding, Luke Brown, Rob- 
ert Gray, Peter Goulding, Theodore Atkinson, jr., Ephraim Stearns, 
Abel Goulding, Ephraim Brown, John Fisk, John Green, Edward 
Brown, Berizillia Rice, Ephraim Curtis, Thomas Barrett, Pyrus Rice, 
Nathan Williard, James Barrett, David Moore, William Oaks, Samuel 
Brown, jr., Jacob Holmes, John Morris, Hezekiah Stowell, Samuel 
Brooks, Solomon Woodward, Benjamin Whitney, jr., Jacob Holmes, jr., 
Samuel Dunkirk, Jabez Sargeant, and Silas Moore. These were each 
entitled to one share and Benning Wentworth was allotted three shares. 
One share was set aside for the benefit of the schools of the town, one 
share for an incorporated society for the propagation of the gospel in 
foreign parts, one share for the first settled minister, and one share for 
tlie Church of England. 

Proprietors Meeting. — The original proprietors were mostly residents 
of Worcester, Mass., and the adjacent towns, and according to the con- 
ditions of the charter held their first meeting on the third Tuesday in 
December, 1761. The meeting was held at the house of Luke Brown, 
in Worcester, the organization of the town was completed and a full 
board of town officers elected as follows : Luke Brown, John Goulding 
and Cornelius Stowell, selectmen ; John Goulding, town clerk; Palmer 
Goufding, treasurer and collector; Cornelius Stowell, constable. 

84 



666 History of Windsor County. 

At the regular annual meeting held in March, of the following year, 
the same officials wore re elected. Several of the meetings were held, 
and at the annual meeting held March 22, 1 763, the name of Thomas 
Clumdler, sr., first appears on the records. This man was interested at 
this time in the settlement of Walpole, N. H., and soon after this turned 
his attention to the colonization of New Flamstead. At the meeting 
held in 1763 Thomas Chandler, sr., Jabez Sargeant and John Chandler 
were chosen selectmen and assessors ; Thomas Chandler, jr., town clerk 
and constable ; John Chandler, surveyor of highways ; Thomas Chand- 
ler, sr., hay ward. 

The next annual meeting seems to have been held in Walpole, N. H., 
and the following changes were made in the town officials : In place of 
John Chandler, Joshua Warner was elected selectman and assessor; 
Uavid Warner was elected constable in place of Thomas Chandler, jr. ; 
Jabez Sargeant, hayvvard, and Joshua Johnson, sealer of weights and 
measures. 

The first town meeting held within the limits of the town was in 
March, 1765, at the dwelling of William Warner. In the warrant for 
the meeting we find propositions for the location of a suitable place for 
a meeting-house and burial-place, the granting of a ta.x for making and 
clearing highways, and to prevent obstructions from being placed in the 
water courses of the town. There seems to have been no action taken 
on any of these matters by the town, which was, no doubt, on account 
of the land difficulties at that time. This was, in fact, the last meetini; 
held under the New Hampshire charter, or by the town of New Flam- 
stead. Tile following were elected to fill the town offices at the abo\'e 
meeting: Thomas Chandler, sr., Jabez Sargeant, Edward Johnson, 
Josiah I'-arwell and Nathan Earle, selectmen ; Thomas Ciiandler, jr., 
town clerk ; Thomas Chandler, sr., town treasurer ; John Chandler, 
constable. 

Under the New York Charter. — The land difficulties having been 
decided by George HI. in favor of New York, Gov. Tryon, of that prov- 
ince, on July 14, 1766, granted a third charter for the territory then 
Icnown as New Flamstead. Under this charter Thomas Chandler and 
thirty four of his associates became j)roprietors of the town, and its 
name was changed to Chester. Under this charter, or by authority 



Town of Chester. 66^ 



derived from it, the lands of Chester are now held. The first meeting 
held under this charter was on the first Monday in June, 1767, when 
the town was organized, and a full quota of officers elected. Thomas 
Chandler was elected supervisor and town clerk. From this time until 
1772 there is no record of the election of any town officers, but during 
that time the records are in the handwriting of Thomas Chandler, and 
he, no doubt, occupied the position of town clerk and supervisor. 

The county of Cumberland was erected by the provincial govern- 
ment of New York, July 3, 1766, and the act made provision for a 
court-house and jail. At a meeting of the supervisors it was voted to 
levy a ta.x of two hundred pounds on those residing or sojourning in the 
county for constructing a court house and jail. Chester being consid- 
ered the most convenient town in the county, and being centrally 
located, it was chosen for the shire town. By another act a Court of 
Common Pleas and General Sessions were established to hold two ses- 
sions yearly in Chester ; Thomas Chandler, sr., was appointed chief 
judge of the County Court, and his son, John Chandler, clerk. 

In 1768 a new charter was granted to Cumberland county, and Ches- 
ter was again decided upon as the location of the county buildings. 
Although there were objections to Chester as the county town, both on 
account of its distance from the Connecticut River and its backwardness 
as compared with other settlements, yet these objections were for the 
time effectually silenced by Judge Chandler, who promised that lie 
would, " at his own expense, build a good and sufficient court-house 
and jail at Chester." How well his promise was kept will appear by the 
annexed extract from an old document. The time to which the 
description applies is the latter part of the year 1770. That which 
" then was called a jail," says the old document, " was a place made in 
the corner of a dwelling, or hut, the walls of which house were made 
of small hackmatack poles locked together at the corners by cut- 
ting notches into the poles and laying them notch into notch, so as to 
bring the poles as near together as conveniently might be. The cracks, 
or vacancies between pole and pole, were filled with tow, moss, or clay. 
The chamber floor was laid with shingle boards, which were not 
nailed, but laid loose. Such was the house, a corner of which then had 
the name of jail, which jail corner may be justly described as follows: 
Small palisades, or poles of the diameter of about six inches each, were 



668 History of Windsor County. 

set up, one end of them on the lower floor, and the other end reaching 
one of the joists, on which rested the upper floor. These poles resting 
against the joists hindered them from falling forward into the jail part, 
and another pole at some inches distant was pegged up with wooden 
pegs, which pole was fixed about parallel with the joist, and prevented 
the palisades from falling outward from the jail apartment ; and as many 
of the palisades were not fastened at the top or bottom, nor the 
chamber floor nailed, it was always in the power of any man who might 
be put in the jail apartment to push away the loose upper floor boards 
and move away the palisades and be at liberty." The jail stood where 
the late Coleman Sanders resided. 

In the summer of 1771 the inhabitants began the erection of another 
jail, which was never finished, but the old jail was strengthened. Judge 
Chandler, in 1771, began the erection of a court-house, which, accord 
, ing to his description, was " 30 feet long, 16 feet wide, and i i feet 
posts," and was planned so as to be " convenient " when finished. Tiiis 
building was provided with a " sufficient lobby, or room fit for a jury, 
with a fire-place in it," and was covered with the same kind of roofing. 
It was leased to the county for a term often years, and as much longer 
as they might choose to use it. But the people, who had become dis- 
pleased with Chandler's efforts at jail building, were now doubly in- 
censed at his failure at court- house construction. Before the commence- 
ment of this last failure efforts had been made to remove the shire town 
from Chester, and, after much agitation, some rioting, etc., the supervis- 
ors, at a meeting held at Chester, May 26, 1772, chose Westminster for 
the shire town of Cumberland county. Thus ended the history of Ches- 
ter as a county seat, and we conclude the history of this period with a 
sketch of the man who was, without doubt, one of the most prominent 
citizens of Vermont at this time. 

Thomas Chandler, sr. — Among those who bore an active part as pio- 
neers of Vermont, not many endured such hardships and overcame so 
many of the difficulties of the wilderness as Thomas Chandler. He was 
a son of John Chandler, and was born at Woodstock, Conn., July 23, 
1709. At the close of the French war his attention was turned to the 
rich lands lying between Lake Champlain and New Hampshire, and from 
1761 to 1763 he was a resident of Walpole, N. H., his name appearing 



Town of Chester. 669 



on the records of that town as selectman. In 1763 he removed to New 
Flamstead (now Chester), accompanied by his two sons, John and 
Thomas, jr. From this time he was identified with the early history of 
the town, and held important political positions. He was moderator of the 
last meeting held by the proprietors on March 12, 1765, and it was 
mainly through his efforts that the new charter was secured from the 
province of New York. Early in 1766 he received a commission cm- 
powering him to administer oaths of office, and was probably at the same 
time made justice of the peace. He was appointed colonel of a military 
organization on the " Grants" in the same year. On the formation of 
Cumberland county he was appointed (July 17, 1766) the first judge of 
the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland county; also surro- 
gate for the same. He was the first town clerk, and held the office until 
March 3, 1777. Owing to the position taken by Judge Chandler at the 
time of the "Westminster Massacre," he made enemies, but in looking 
back, and taking into consideration the excitement prevailing among the 
inhabitants at that time, we are led to believe that his actions were gov- 
erned by what he thought was his duty. Whatever his faults may have 
been, he deserves to be remembered as one of the earliest and most in- 
fluential settlers of eastern Vermont. 

Owing to causes which cannot be ascertained he became impoverished 
in his old age, and in October, 1784, a petition was presented to the 
General Assembly, expressing a willingness on his part to deliver up his 
estate for the benefit of his creditors, and prayed, in view of his advanced 
age and infirmities, that he be discharged from the common gaol at 
Westminster, where he was confined as a prisoner. The act releasing 
liim was passed June 16, 1785, but on the 20th of the same month he 
died in prison. 

Owing to the prevailing belief that any person who should remove his 
body would thereby become liable on the judgment under which he was 
confined, and an illegal intermeddler with his estate, the body lay sev- 
eral days in the cell. It was finally buried in the night in a grave which 
was begun within the jail limits, and extending obliquely under the in- 
closure so as to receive the body in tlie old Westminstercluirch-yard — an 
excusable violation of the law. 

Early Settlements — The first settlement in this town was begun in 
the early part of 1764, by Thomas Chandler and his sons, John and 



670 History ok Windsor County. 

Thomas. They were soon afterwards followed by Jabez Sargeant, Ed- 
ward Johnson, Isaiah Johnson, Charles Mann, William Warner, Ichabod 
Ide and libenezer Holton. These persons were from Woodstock, Conn., 
and Worcester and Maiden, Mass. From this time forward the settle- 
ment increased so rapidly that on the i6th of January. 1771, the town 
had one hundred and fifty-two inhabitants, and was the fourth largest 
town in what is now Windsor county. Among those who afterwards 
settled m the town was Daniel Heald, who came from Concord, Mass., 
wliere he resided at the beginning of the Revolutionary war and was a 
soldier in the battle at Concord Bridge. In 1776 he built a log house 
in Chester, and was a resident of the town until his death in 1833. 

William Atwood came from Rhode Island and located on a farm where 
Chester village now stands in 1774. Hugh Henry became a resident of 
the town prior to 1780, locating about a mile east of Chester village. He 
kept the first tavern in town, and was also engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness. The Field family were from Rhode Island, and located in town 
after 1785. Major Abner l""ield became- prominently identified with 
town affairs. Abraham Sawyer came from Templeton, Mass., to Ches- 
ter in 1778 and s)3ri afterwards built a saw-mill, and in iSooagrist mill. 
In 1789 he traded farms with his son-in-Liw, Daniel Davis, a Revolu- 
tionary soldier who had settled in what is now Grafton, and in that year 
the latter becamea resident of Chester. John Putnam came from Farm- 
ington, Conn., and located in the northwestern part of the town in 1783. 

In 1785 there were only three frame buildings in the South village 'and 
during that year Johnson Fuller, a former resident of Rhoile Island, 
moved into town Abram FuUcrton engaged in mercantile business 
about 1790 and was accompanied by his sons, Nathaniel and Thomas S. 
In tiie same year Ichabod Onion purchased one hundred acres of land 
at $1.50 per acre, where the South village is now located. He was from 
Dedham, Mass., and he soon afterwards established a tannery. Paul 
Tobey, a native of Massachusetts, came to Chester in 1788. 

It is impossible within the limits of this work to mention every settlc- 
mfent and when made, but we append a list of freemen of the town dated 
September 7, 1778, which is the first found in the records : Jabez Sar- 
geant, I"-zra Sargeant, Amos Sargeant, Samuel Sargeant, Jabez Sar- 
geant, jr., John Stone, Will Atwood, Abraham Sawyer, Thomas Stone, 
Israel Stone, David Brooks, Thomas Chandler, jr., Daniel Ranney, Jo- 



Town of Chester. 671 



seph Holton, Daniel Heald, Thomas Chandler, George Earll, John 
Chandler, Caleb Ciiurch, James Robinson, John Stone, jr., John Smith, 
Will Hosmer, Joseph Smith, William Gilky, William Gilky, jr., Joseph 
Sumner, Esick Earll, Joseph Hewlett, Ebenezer Johnson, Thomas Caryl, 
Job Gilson, John E. Chandler, Asahel Johnson, Oliver Atvvood, Nicho- 
las Smith, Eli Brigham, Moses Gill, Moses Gill, jr., Ezekiel Colburn, 
John Caryl, Joshua Turner, Amos Gille, Thomas Ruggs, Amos Hosmer, 
Nehemiah Field, Timothy Olcott. 

During the Revolutionary war the town did not gain rapidly in popu- 
lation. When the first United States census was taken, in 1791, Chester 
had a population of 981. It rapidly increased and in [800 there were 
1,878 inhabitants; in 1810, 2,370; in 1820, 2,493, This was the most 
prosperous period in the history of Chester. There were at this time 
four grist-mills, nine saw-mills, three fulling-mills, one oil-mill, one cot- 
ton and two woolen factories^ three carding machines, five stores, six 
taverns, one distillery and four tanneries within the limits. of the town. 
From this time the population' has steadily decreased, as the annexed ta- 
ble shows : 1830,2,302; 1840,2,305; 1850,2,001; 1860,2,126; 1870, 
2,052; 1880, 1,901. Thus Chester had only twenty-three more inhabit- 
ants in 1880 than she had at the beginning of the nineteenth century. 

Chester during the Revolutionary War. — The patriotic spirit of the 
early settlers of Chester was aroused by the action of the English gov- 
ernment toward the American colonies in 1774. At a special town 
meeting held October 10, 1774, the following resolutions were unani- 
mously adopted: 

" Resolved, firstly. That the people of America are naturally entitled 
to all of the privileges of free-born subjects of Great Britain, which privi- 
leges they have never forfeited. 

" Resolved, secondly. That every man's estate, honestly acquired, is 
his own and no person on earth has a right to take it away without the 
proprietor's consent, unless he forfeits it by some crime of his commit- 
ting. 

" Resolved, thirdly, That all acts of the British Parliament tending to 
take away or abridge their rights ought not to be obeyed. 

" Resolved, fourthly. That the people of this town will join with their 
fellow American subjects in opposing in all lawful ways every encroach- 
ment on their natural rights." 



672 History of Windsor County. 

At a county convention held at Westminster, Vt., November 30, 1774, 
Chester was represented by Jolin Smith and Thomas Chandler. The 
delegates to the convention held at Westminster, February 17, I775> 
were George Earll and Moses Gill; and to one held June 6, 1775, Lieu- 
tenant Jabez Sargeant and Thomas Chandler. The town was repre- 
sented at the convention held at Westminster in the latter part of 1775 
by Abraham Sawyer. At a town meeting held May 23, 1775, John 
Chandler and George Earll were appointed a committee to go to Albany 
to purchase arms and munition for the town. In the latter part of 
1775 Lieutenant Jabez Sargeant and Thomas Chandler, jr., were ap- 
pointed a Committee of Safety. Chester was represented by Lieuten- 
ant Jabez Sargeant at the convention held at Windsor, July 2, 1777, to 
tlraft a constitution for the independent State of Vermont. 

^Members of the Constitutional Convention. — Daniel Heald, 1793 ; 
Aaron Leland, 1814; Joshua Leland, 1822; Rufus Bruce, 1828, 1836; 
Phineas O. Sargeant, 1843; H. E. Stoughton, 1850. 

Senators. — Ptolemy Edson, 1838-39; Thomas T. Barrett, 1844-45; 
Dearborn H Milton, 1846-47; James A. Pollard, 1862-63; H. 11 
Henry, 1864; Luther Adams, 1872; Hugh Henry, 1880. 

Representatives. — ' Thomas Chandler, March and October, 1778-79, 
1780, 1787; Reuben Jones, 1781; Thomas Carroll, 1782; Daniel 
Heald, 1783, 1785-86, 1788-91, 1793, 1795-97 ; William Gilkey, 1784; 
Abner Field, 1792; Waitstill Ranney, 1794; Jabez Sargeant, 1798- 
1800, 1826-27 ; 2 Aaron Leland, 1801-07, 1 809-10, 1813 ; Thomas S. 
h'ullerton, 1808; William Hosmer, 1811-12; Joshua Leland, 181 5; 
Amos Heald, 1817; William Strong, 1818; Abner W. Field, 1819-21, 
1829, 1837; Abiel Richardson, 1822, 1830; Stephen Field, 1823-25, 
1833-34; Rufus Bruce, 1828; David Bates, 1831-32; Dearborn S. 
Hilton, 1835; Ptolemy Edson, 1836; Horace Onion, 1838; Hugh H. 
Henry, 1839, 1841-43, 1861-62 ; Gideon M.Lee, 1840; Haskell Wes- 
ton, 1844-45 ; Rodney Sherwin, 1847; A.. E. Prescott Heald, 1850; 
M. C. Richardson, 1852-53; Andrew Rankin, 1854; Granville P. 
Spaulding, 1855-56; William Rounds, 1857-58, 1863-67; A. C. How- 
ard, 1859-60; Merrick Wentworth, 1868-69; Hugh Henry, 1870-76, 
1884; N. Adams Edson, 1878; Daniel W. Davis, i88o; Fred P. 



' Speaker of the House, October, 1778-80. 
'Speaker of the House, 1S04-07. 



Town of Chester. 673 



Mather, 1882; Norman A.Smith, 1886; Herbert R. Barney, 1888. 
Town was not represented in 185 i. 

Selectmen. — Jabez Sargeant, ^777-7^; George Earll, 1777, 1779-80, 
1784; Thomas Chandler, jr., 1777, 1783-85; WilUam Atwood, 1777; 
Timothy Olcutt, 1777-80, 1782, 1788-89; Daniel Heald, 1778, 1781- 
82; John Stone, 1778; William Gilkey, 1779-81, 1784; Jabez Sargeant, 
jr., 1781-82, 1785-86; Daniel Ranney, 1783 ; Amos Gill, 1783; John 
Smith, 1785-86, 1796; William Hosmer, 1785-86; Nehemiah Field, 
1787; Elias Watkins, 1787; Abner Field, 1788-89; Jonathan Caryl, 
1788-89; Thomas Kimball, 1790 ; Abel Duncan, 1790-92, 1797-1800; 
Thomas Warren, 1790-93, 1797-99; Amos Sargeant, 1791-95; Ezra 
Sargeant, 1793-95 ; Lucius Hubbard, 1794-95; Waitstill Ranney, 1796, 
1807-08; Josiah Heald, 1796; Otis Gould, 1797-98, 18 18; Jeremiah 
Rounds, 1799, 1800-01 ; Amos Heald, 1800-01, 1808-09, 1820, 1829- 
33; Oliver Atwood, 1801-03; Ichabod Onion, 1802; Joshua Leland, 
1802-04, 1823 ; Pardon Field, 1803-06, 1818-19; Aaron Leland, 1804- 
10, 1815-17, 1821-22; Jonathan Caryl, 1805-07; Thomas C. Olcott, 
1809-10, 1814-17, 1838-40; James Miller, 1810; William Hosmer, 
1811-13; Othniel Williams, 181 1 ; Nathaniel Fullerton, 181 1-17, 1821- 
22; Abner W. Field, 1812-14; James Robinson, 1818; Hugh Henry, 
1 8 19; Jeremiah Atwood, 18 19; Solomon Willson, 1820; William 
Rounds, 1820-22, 1836; Robert W. Field, 1823-24; Ezekiel Davis, 
1823-24; Henry Chandler, 1824 ; Stephen Field, 1825-26, 1834 ; Jere- 
miah Kibling, 1825-26, 1835-42, 1844-45, 1851-52; William Henry, 
1825; Josiah Barnes, 1826-27; Ezra Sargent, jr., 1827-28, 1838-39; 
Joshua Frouty, 1827; Jesse Stedman, 1828-30; Abiel Richardson, 
1828-33; Thomas T. Barrett, 1829-30; Solomon Willson, jr., 1831-32; 
Phineas O. Sargeant, 1831-33; Holland Wheeler, 1831; Dearborn H. 
Hilton, 1834-35; Charles Lee, 1834, 1842, 1844; Ptolemy Edson, 
1835-37; Josiah Dana, 1837, 1848-49; Amos E. Heald, 1840-41; 
Orion Lock, 1841; Herman Guild, 1842, 1850-51, 1853-64; Marvel 
Johnson, 1843, 1 847; William Mason, 1843-50; Herschel Davis, 1843, 
1856-59; Hugh H. Henry, 1845-47 ; Horace Onion, 1846, 1849 ; Rod- 
ney Sherwin, 1848; Albert Onion, 1850 ; Gideon M. Lee, 1851-52; 
David A. Sherwin, 1852-65 ; Denter Field, 1853-54; Samuel A. Wes- 
ton, 1855 ; William W. Martin, 1860-61, 1865 ; Horace Deming, 1862- 

85 



674 History of Windsor County. 

63 ; A. C. Howard, 1864-65 ; S. Shenvin, 1866; Jerome O. Kingslcy, 
1866-67; Norman A. Smith, 1866-70; Walter P. Richardson, 1867-73; 
Norman F. Shedd, 1868; Lewis Hill. 1869-72; Ira H. Adams, 1871, 
1874-76, 1878-84, 1887-S8; Daniel Davis, 3d, 1872-76 ; Roswell H. 
Chandler, 1873-74; Albert F. Baldwin, 1875-76, 1878-81 ; Norman O. 
Johnson, 1877; Coleman Sanders, 1877-78; Calvin L. Hinds, 1877, 
1879-83, 1885-86; Nathan F. Hall, 1882-88; Jacob H. Marsh, 1884- 
89; Clarence Adams, 1889; Atwood Sargeant, 1889. There were five 
selectmen elected in 1777; in all other years three. Selectmen elected 
in March and held over to the following March. 

Town Clerks. — Thomas Chandler, jr., 1777-78; Daniel Heald, 1779- 
98; Aaron Leland, 1799-1819, 1821-25 ; Amos Heald, 1S20, 1826-48; 
Abel E. Prescott Heald, 1849-71; Norman A. Smith, 1872; Charles 
Robbins, 1873-87; A. D. L. Herrick, 1888-89. 

Toivn Treasurers. — Jabez Sargeant, 1777 ; Thomas Chandler, jr., 
1778; Daniel Heald, 1779-98; Aaron Leland, 1799-1S20; Thomas S. 
FuUerton, 1821-22; Amos Heald, 1823; Ichabod Onion, 1824-28; 
Nathaniel FuUerton, 1829-49; Amos E. Heald, 1850-66; Abel E. Pres- 
cott Heald, 1867-71 ; Norman A. Smith, 1872 ; Charles Robbins, 1873- 
Z"] \ A. D. L. Herrick, 1888-89. Annual elections were held in March, 
and the officers held until March following. 

Early Religious Efforts. — The same momentous question that was a 
source of trouble to her sister towns also caused dissensions in Ches- 
ter. The center of the town had to be found so a church could be built. 
As early as February 15, 1773, a special meeting was held, and a com- 
mittee appointed to locate the center. But little progress seems to have 
been made, for it was not until 1779 that there was any attempt toward.s 
building a church In the latter year a church was framed, but two 
years afterwards this was disposed of at public auction for nine pounds. 
It was then determined to build a church sixty feet long, forty feet wide, 
and twenty feet deep, and one hundred pounds were appropriated for the 
work. But two years later it was voted to divide the town for religious 
purposes in the center, thereby making a north and south parish. The 
territory north of what is now known as North street constituted one 
parish, and that part adjacent to what is now called South street the 
other. In 1788 a meeting-house was built at South street and the fol- 



Town of Chester. 675 



lowing year one was constructed at North street. The history of relig- 
ious matters of the town from that year is as follows : 

The First Congregational Church. — This was the first church estab- 
lished in Chester. An organization was effected as early as 1773, when 
the Rev. Samuel Whiting was settled by the towns of Chester and 
Rockingham for five years. He officiated one-third of the time at 
Chester and the remainder at Rockingham. The first church building 
was erected in 1789, the structure being 40 x 50 feet, and was located 
on North street, in the center of the common. After the Rev. Mr. 
Whiting's time expired the society had no regular pastor for thirty-six 
years. In 1825 Rev. Uzziah C Burnap was settled over the society, 
which position he continued to hold until 1837. During the years 
1828—29 the Congregationalists and Universalists built a union meet- 
ing-house, 66x44 feet, on South street, which is now the Congrega- 
tional church, and is valued, with its lands, at about $10,000. The old 
church was repaired in 1825, a tower being placed upon it, and was 
used for religious and town meetings previous to 1840, and soon after- 
wards was destroyed by fire. The next minister was Rev. Silas H. 
Hodges, who came in July, 1837, 'i''"^ continued until December, 1840; 
followed by Rev. A. Rankin, installed in May, 1841 ; Rev. Samuel M. 
Stone, from 1846 until 185 i ; J. De Forrest Richards, installed April 
29, 1853, and resigned September 8, 1857 1 Rev. C. D. Jefferds, ordained 
October 5, 1861, resigned October 30, 1862 ; Rev. C. C. Terry, 
installed May 26, 1864, dismissed in 1866; Rev. Edward T. Fairbanks, 
who remained about a year; Rev. Charles E. Lord, settled August i, 
1867, dismissed March 6, 1869; Rev. John G. Hale, 1870 to 1877; 
Rev. Henry L. Slack, ordained October 11, 1877, resigned February 
25, 1S83. During his pastorat'e the church in 1S79 was thoroughly re- 
modeled. Rev. W. J. Murphy, installed October 31, 1883, remained 
one year. The pulpit was then supplied from January 18, 1885, to 
December 17, 1887, by the Rev. John Cowan. The present incumbent, 
Rev. W. L. Noyes, began as supply July i, 1888, and was installed as 
pastor June 25, 1889. The present membership of the church is about 
one hundred and .sixty. 

The Baptist Church. — The first step taken to form a Baptist church 
in Chester was in 1789, at which time fifteen inhabitants of the town 



676 History of Windsor County. 

addressed a letter to Rev. Aaron Leland, who was living at Bellingham, 
Mass. Mr. Leland had just entered upon the gospel ministry, and in 
response to a request visited Chester. The church was finally organ- 
ized August 10, 1789, the following, as far as it is possible to ascertain, 
being the original members: Nchemiah Fields, David Johnson, WiHiani 
Gilkey, jr., Uriah Johnson, William Atwood, Ruth Whitmore, Sybil 
Farmer, Hannah Hulit, Rebekah Smith, and Ede Johnson. The coun- 
cil convened on that occasion was composed of delegates from Canaan 
and Lebanon, N. H., and Windsor, Westminster, Cavendish, Wood- 
stock, and Rockingham, Vt. The Rev. Thomas Baldwin was chosen 
moderator, and Rev. Jedediah Hebbard, clerk. The articles of faith 
and the church covenant adopted at this time were orthodox to the 
back- bone. Upon the organization of the church Nehemiah Fields 
was chosen both clerk and deacon, and Rev. Aaron Leland became the 
settled pastor. The first church edifice was built in 1788 and was 
40 X 50 feet. It stood near the present site of the church, and con- 
tinued to be occupied until 1835. From the outset the church pros- 
pered. On May 31, 1792, three members living at Cavendish were 
received by letter from the Baptist church of Chelmsford, Mass., and 
were allowed the privilege of receiving members as an independent 
church. In the year 1799 a revival of great power swept over the 
community. Almost every Sunday from July to the end of that year 
there is a record of baptisms, and the membership at the close of the 
year numbered ninety-three. On August 31, 1 803, churches were 
formed at Andover, Cavendish, Grafton, and North Springfield, the 
members of which, previous to this, had been under the jurisdiction of 
this, their mother church. From this time until 1811-12 there were 
few baptized. The latter year may be said to have been a revival year. 
From this time until 1821 only a few became members of the church. 
From 1820 to 1826 differences arose between different members of the 
church, and between the pastor and people. But at length a change 
came, the pastor deciding he must spend less of his time in public life. 
In 1830 eleven baptisms are recorded. The spirit grew stronger and 
stronger, old animosities were dissolved, mutual confessions were made, 
and in i83i-'32 came the greatest religious revival ever known in this 
community. In fourteen months one hundred and fourteen were bap- 



Town of Chester. 677 



tized. But in the midst of these great additions to the church the 
beloved pastor died, on August 25, 1832. 

A Sunday-school was organized in 1832, and on October 30, of that 
year, the church voted to employ Rev. Jacob S. McCoIlam for five 
months. He remairted pastor for three years. During his pastorate the 
church had the largest membership, it reaching two hundred and thirty- 
seven, and twenty nine baptisms were reported. In 1835 the present 
brick house of worship was erected. From 1835 to 1837 Rev. Ira 
Pearson was pastor, and during this time forty-six were baptized. From 
1837 to 1842 Rev. R. M. Ely was pastor. He baptized thirty-five. 
Though the baptisms were constant, yet, for all that, the membership 
decreased, owing to removals and deaths. The next two years there 
was no settled pastor, and in 1844 the Rev. Reuben Sawyer was in- 
stalled. He remained nine years, and on account of dissensions the 
membership numbered only one hundred and seven at the end of the 
year 1853. The following year Rev. Ira Pearson was called to the helm. 
He remained only a year, but good work was done and a few were bap- 
tized. In 1855 Rev. D. Burroughs occupied the pulpit, and during his 
pastorate of three years nine were baptized and $1,200 expended for 
repairs on the church. From 1858 to 1867 Rev. C. G. Gurr was the 
settled pastor. Harmony prevailed, and about thirty were baptized. In 
1867 Rev. Charles Hibbard became pastor and remained eight years. 
During the fall of 1867 Rev. A. B. Eaile labored in the community; 
fifty were baptized. Pastor Hibbard baptized one hundred and one in 
the eight years of his service. In the years 1872-73 $4,000 were ex- 
pended in repairing the church. On March 8, 1876, Rev. J. J. Town- 
send became pastor, and continued until the year 1881. During this 
time forty-eight were baptized. The next settled minister was Rev. 
A. R. Wilson, whose labors began in 1882, and continued through the 
early part of 1883. In the latter part of 1883 Rev.W. H. Stewart sup- 
plied the church. Early in 1884 Rev. E. L. Scott was installed and re- 
mained till June, 1887. After the close of Mr. Scott's ministry there 
was no settled pastor, and several different ministers supplied the church. 
Rev. F. M. Preble, of Ludlow, occupied the pulpit the greater part of 
the time. During this time the Rev. A. McGeorge, the State mission- 
ary, labored with the church a short time, and thirteen were baptized. 



678 UisToKV OF Windsor County. 

The present pastor, Rev. H. B. Tilden, began his work here in August, 
1888. We append a short biographical sketch of Rev. Aaron Leland. 

Rev. Aaron Leland was descended from Henry Leland, the pilgrim 
father of the Leland family in America, through Hopestiil, of Sherburne, 
Mass., John and Samuel, of Ilolliston, Mass., and Asa, who died in 
Chester. lie was born in HoUiston, May 28, 1768, and possessed no 
greater advantages of education than were afforded by the common 
schools of that time. He became a member of the Baptist church in 
1785, and took pastoral charge of that denomination in Chester in 1789, 
becoming its first pastor. Besides his ministerial duties he was active in 
town affairs ; was elected town clerk, and for many years represented 
his fellow-citizens in the legislative Assembly. He was speaker of that 
body four successive sessions. He was for many years judge of the 
C^ounty Court of Windsor county. In 1822 he was elected lieutenant- 
governor, which honor was conferred upon him during si.x terms. Up 
to this time iiis civil offices had not interrupted his services in the pul- 
pit, but when, in 1828, he was proposed for candidate for governor, he 
found that the long relationship with his pastoral charge must cease, or 
that he must relinquish civil service. He therefore caused his name to 
be withdrawn from the canvass. During Mr. Leland's forty-six years of 
ministerial labors lie never made use of written discourses. He was an 
agreeable companion, a liberal christian, and an honest man. He was 
one of the Fellows of Middlebury College, Vt., from 1800 to 1832, and 
that institution conferred upon him the honorary degree of Master of 
Arts in 1814. He received a similar degree from Brown University, of 
Providence, R. I., in 181 5. He died August 24, 1832, and left no issue. 

77^1? First Uuiversalist Parish. — The parent society of which tliis 
church is the outgrowth was formed on March 5, 1829, with about 
seventy members, under the name of the First Restoration Society. 
This society was organized in 1832, and the following year the pulpit 
was filled by the Rev. Warren Skinner. He was followed by Rev. 
Darius Forbes, Solomon Laws, Alonzo Williams, Levi Ballon, Darius 
Forbes (for the second term), J. O. Skinner, N. C. Hodgman, J. H. 
Willis and E. S. Foster. This society worshipped in the present Con- 
gregational church, which was built as a Union church, until 1845, 
when they erected the present stone church in North street, which has 
a seating capacity of 300. The society was re-organized in 1871, under 



Town of Chester. 679 



the Universalist General Convention, and the Rev. E. S. Foster con- 
tinued as pastor until 1874, when he was succeeded by Rev. E. J. Chaf- 
fee. The latter resigned July i, 1879, and was succeeded by Rev. 
Thomas Thompson, who continued until 1881. Since that time there 
has been no settled minister. 

Methodists. — About 1840 the members of the Methodist church es- 
tablished a society in Chester, and services were held for over thirty 
years. Among those who filled the pulpit and were settled over the 
society may be mentioned the following: Revs. Joseph P. Aspinwall, 
A. Carter, C. D. Ingraham, J. L. Roberts, C. R. Harding, A. J. Locke, 
Moses Adams, and A. Newton. 

St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church. — The first effort to establish 
a church of this denomination in Chester was in the latter part of 1867, 
when the Rev. C. H. Hale, of Bellows Falls, began holding meetings in 
the Congregational church. A Ladies' Sewing Society was formed in 
that year, and mainly through their efforts a mission, called St. Philip's 
Mission, was organized in the same year. A parish under the present 
name was organized in March, 1868, with ten communicants. Follow- 
ing are the names of the original organizers : F. E. Fullerton, John L. 
Johnson, E. W. Fitch, Merrick Wentworth, Z. G. Harrington, and W. C. 
Williams. The Rev. A. B. Flanders was settled over the parish in the 
early part of 1868, and Merrick Wentworth and Clement Leland were 
elected wardens. The parish was first visited by l^ishop Bissell in Sep- 
tember, 1868, at which time seven were added to the membership. Rev. 
Mr. Flanders continued in charge of the parish till October, 1882, when 
he resigned to accept the charge of St. Luke's Episcopal church at St. 
Albans, Vt. Services were held in the old academy building until the 
latter part of 1870, in which year the present church edifice was built 
and consecrated in May, 1871. The resident minister, the Rev. T. S. 
Ockford, was settled over the parish in February, 1883. Mainly through 
his efiiorts missions have been established at Proctorsville and Ludlow. 
The present membership of St. Luke's parish is seventy-seven. 

The Gethsemane Mission was established at Proctorsville in 1883, 
there being only three communicants. The next year the late Miss 
Sally Parker presented the mission with a small chapel. The bishop of 
the diocese visited the mission in September, 1884, when five were con- 



68o History of Windsor County. 

firmed. The present membership is eighteen. Services are held every 
Sunday afternoon, the Rev. T. S. Ockford officiating. 

Services began at Ludlow in the fail of 1889, and meetings were held 
once a month. The present membership is twelve, and services are held 
twice a month, the Rev. B. W. Atwell and Rev. T. S. Ockford alter- 
nating in the services. 

Schools. — The first action taken in reference to establishing a school 
in Chester was at a meeting held February 15, 1 773, when it was de- 
cided, and a committee appointed, to build a school house 22 x 18 feet, 
at an expense of thirteen pounds. In 1783 Thomas Caryl, Thomas 
Chandler, jr., and Amos Gile, jr., were appointed a committee to divide 
the town into school districts. In 1792 the town was divided into nine 
districts and was re-districted in 1801 into nineteen districts, each of 
which in 1824 had a suitable school building. For the sake of con- 
venience some of the districts have been united and there were, in 1890, 
seventeen school districts. In accordance witli provisions of the act 
passed by the State Legislature in 1884 in the following year a Town 
Central High School was established, which was located on South street. 

Poor Farm. — The first pauper of whom we find any record was here 
in 1786, at which time Elias Watkins received nineteen pounds from the 
town for the board of Micah Howker and wife, for the term of one year. 
The poor of the town were disposed of at public auction from this time 
to the lowest bidder for their su[)port. In 1838 the town voted to pur- 
chase a farm costing not to exceed $1,000, and Jeremiah Kibling, 
Tliomas C. Olcott, and Ezra Sargent, jr., were appointed a purchasing 
committee. For some reason this committee failed to act and two years 
later Jeremiah Kibling, Ptolemy Edson, and Josiah Dana were author- 
ized to borrow from the principal of the United States surplus fund hekl 
bythe'towna sufficient sum to establish a town farm. The town be- 
came responsible for the interest on the money thus borrowed, which 
was devoted to the school fund. In 1842 Ezra Sargent was chosen to 
take charge of the farm, with authority to stock it properly. 

The property was inventoried in 1846, and showed a value of $4,004. 
The farm is still in operation, and "the poor of the town are well pro- 
vided for. Chester received from David R. Campbell, of Windsor, Vt, 
in 1879, a donation of $5, 000 for the support of her indigent poor. Mr. 




C~ T~7j dl u^^ f^ ,j. 



■\ 



Town of Chester. 68 i 



Campbell was a native of Rockingham, Vt., and made several charitable 
gifts. He was a student of Chester Academy from 1815 to 1820, and 
had a large acquaintance in the town. 

Town Hall. — Previous to 1779 town meetings were held at the dwell- 
ings of Jonathan Tarbell and William Atwood, and after that time at the 
inn of Amos Gile and the house of Daniel Ranney. In 1787 action was 
taken by the town to build a town house at the southeastern corner of 
the burying-ground. But nothing came of that effort, and three years 
afterwards it was voted to hold town meetings alternately at the North 
and South street meeting-houses. This plan was changed in 1828, so 
that annual and freemen's meetings were held alternately at these places. 
In 1840 another change was made, and all meetings held in any one 
year were held at one of these places, and those of the next year at the 
other. At various times the building of a town hall was discussed, but 
no definite action was taken until April 17, 1884, when F. W. Marsh, 
William Rounds, and George A. Hall were appointed a committee to 
report a plan for a suitable hall and its costs. Tlie committee reported 
at an adjourned meeting, and it was voted to expend $10,000 fora build- 
ing and site. F. W. Marsh, George A. Hall, and C. L. Hinds were 
made a building committee. The lot on which the town hall is situated 
was bought in 1884, at a cost of $500, from J. R. Richardson, and the 
two-story brick building, 42 x 88 feet, was finished during the same year. 
The hall is provided with a fire-proof vault, and the citizens of the town 
may with justice feel proud of having a town building that is not equalled 
by any other in the county. On March 3, 1885, the annual town meet- 
ing was held in the new hall for the first time. 

Chester Academy. — This institution was incorporated under the laws 
of the State in 18 14. In the same year a three-story brick building was 
erected where the brick school building now stands on South street. 
The third story of the structure was erected and owned by the Masons, 
and was occupied by them as late as 1830. Ten years after the incor- 
poration of the academy the school was in a flourishing condition, with 
an attendance of sixty students. The school was then in charge of Rev. 
U. C. Burnap. There are no records of the school, and we can only 
name a few of the various principals, as follows : James O. Pratt, who 
died while in charge, in 1841, Horace Maynard, Daniel A. Heald, La- 
st; 



682 History of Winusok County. 

fayette Ranney, Baxter E. Perry, Ambrose A. Ranney, G. N. Abbott, 
E. P. Stone, A. Laws, E. W. VVestgate, F. G. Clark, Henry H. Shaw, 
Andrew F. Reed, and J. S. Chapman. School was continued in the 
academy as late as 1870, but in later years in connection with the school 
district which kept the building in repair. The Chester Academy was 
legislated out of existence November 22, 1876, and the building was 
torn down, and the material used in the erection of the present school- 
house, which was built in 1881. 

Newspapers. — Though there is no journal published in Chester at the 
present time, yet it was the third town in the county to have an estab- 
lished newspaper. In the year 1808 Charles, William, and Henry Spear, 
three brothers, came from Boston and began the publication of the 
Green Mountain Palladium; this was continued about twelve years. The 
next newspaper was the Freedom's Banner, begun by Fellows & Co., in 
1830, and published weekly for about ten years. A monthly musical 
journal was also published for three years, beginning in 1840, by a Mr. 
Silsley. 

Formation of the Fire Districts. — Under the act of Legislature passed 
in 1819, which authorized the establishment of village boundaries for the 
purpose of restricting cattle from running at large, the selectmen of 
Chester, in 1821, having been properly petitioned, established the first 
boundaries for village limits. A law having also been enacted authoriz- 
ing the creation of fire districts, a petition, signed by Ptolemy Edson, 
Joel Stannard and others, was addressed to the selectmen, in response to 
which the boundaries of fire district No. i were established in 1860-61. 

After the survey was made an organization was perfected which con- 
tinued in force three years only. Nothing further in this direction was 
(lone until 1870, when a society of ladies, who had accumulated a fund of 
$540, expressed their willingness to donate it for the purpose of com- 
pleting a fire organization. The town then voted that when the amount 
r^-ached $1,500 by private subscriptions it would appropriate $1,000 
toward buying a fire-engine and building a house. 

In response to a petition signed by P. H. Robbins, F. VV. Marsh, and 
others, the selectmen in December, 1870, made a new survey of the fire 
district, embracing the territory occupied by South street. North street, 
Chester Depot, and Sawyersville. Tiie first meeting of the new fire dis- 



Town of Chester. 683 



trict was held January 14, 1871, and the organization was fully com- 
pleted by the election of the following officers : Frederick W. Marsh, 
Granville P. Spaulding, and Russell Cobleigh, prudential committee ; 
Prescott Heald, clerk; Philemon H. Robbins, treasurer; James B. Cram, 
chief engineer. Several meetings were held, but no money was sub- 
scribed by individuals, mainly on account of the difficulty of satisfying 
everybody as to the site of the engine-house. The same spirit that in- 
spired their forefathers in reference to locating the first church in the 
town, now nearly a century afterwards appeared again over the loca- 
tion of the fire-engine. The inhabitants of South street wished to 
have the house on their side of the village, while those living at Nortii 
street and Chester Depot wanted it in close proximity to their property. 
Finally the latter citizens petitioned the selectmen to establish bounda- 
ries to be known as fire district No. 2. The survey was made May 12, 
1871, and the district was organized. It was not until 1873 that a fire 
company was formed, but during that year the Yosemite Engine Com- 
pany, No. I, was organized, and an engine-house built. 

Since the organization of the company the town has in most years e.v- 
empted its members from the poll tax, and also at different times pre- 
sented them with hose. Tiie company has an average membership of 
about forty. 

In response to a petition signed by Hugh Henry and thirty other free- 
holders, resident in that part of the original first district No. i, not in- 
cluded in the organization of fire district No. 2, dated March 16, 1880. 
the selectmen, on April 20, 18S9, made a survey and established bound- 
aries for fire district No. I, which was to include South street and Saw- 
yersville. At a meeting held May i, 1889, the organization of the dis- 
trict was perfected. The Ladies' Engine Aid .Society, which has been 
mentioned, having raised $1,700, the balance of $300 was assessed as a 
tax on the inhabitants of fire district No. I. A purchasing committee 
consisting of Fred P. Mather, Frank W. Adams, and George S. Robbins 
bought of Clapp & Jones, of Hudson, N. Y., a No. 5 village steam-en- 
gine having a capacity of 400 gallons per minute. The engine was 
named Aid No. i, and a company of twenty members was formed, and 
called the Chester Steam Fire-Engine Company. George Thompson is 
chief engineer ; F. W. Davis, first assistant; G. W. Waldron, second as- 



684 History of Windsor County. 

sistant. The first district is also equipped with two hose carriagjes and 
900 feet of hose. The engine-house is what was originally the stone 
school-house, on River street. 

Chester in the War of the Rebellion. — A public meeting was held 
May 3, 1 861, at which it was voted to pay the first volunteers to enlist 
under the first call for troops to aid in putting down the Rebellion, a 
bounty of ten dollars, and also to give them a Colt's revolver and a 
bowie-knife. The first call of the President for 300,000 soldiers was 
promptly responded to in the town, and the quota was soon filled. The 
quota under the call for nine months' men was not filled within twenty- 
six men, and a bounty of $100 was therefore offered in August, 1862. 
The families of those volunteers who were residents of Chester were to 
receive seven dollars a month as long as those enlisted were absent 
Under the call of 1863 the town offered on the 23d of November $500, 
,or twenty dollars a month for the time which each volunteer was in act- 
ual service. Up to the time of the President's call for 500,000 volun ■ 
teers, in the winter of [863-64, Chester had furnished 284 men for the 
war. This call required from the town forty-one volunteers, and there 
were furnished fifty-three, giving an e.xcess of twelve in response to all 
calls previous to February 19, 1864. To raise the thirty volunteers re- 
quired for the call for troops made in 1864 the selectmen were author- 
ized to borrow $20,000 to pay volunteers a bounty of $500 for a three 
years' term of service, and $400 for a two years' term, and $300 for a 
one year's term; for this purpose $20,000 was raised. 

To fill the quota under the last call for troops full power was given 
the selectmen to pay bounties that might be necessary, and they were 
authorized to borrow $20,000 for that purpose. The town in 1884 ap- 
propriated $2,000 to erect a soldiers' monument in honor of those who 
had served their country in her peril. This monument, which represents 
a life-size bronze statue of an infantry soldier, placed upon a granite ped- 
estal, is situated in front of the cemetery on South street. On the sides 
of the pedestal are tablets showing the names of those who enlisted from 
the town. 

G. A. R. in Chester. — Brooks Post, No. 25, was organized May 10, 
1870, with twenty-five charter members, and Hugh Henry was elected 
its first commander. Meetings were held in Odd Fellows Hall, at the 



Town of Chester. 685 



Depot, and after the fire, which caused the destruction of this building, 
in the old academy on South street. The post ceased to hold meetings 
in 1 87 1, and its charter was surrendered. 

Henry Post, No. 27, was organized on March 7, 1883, and named in 
honor of the late Hugh H. Henry. The first officers were as follows : 
Hugh Henry, commander; J. C. Jones, S. V. C; H. J. Parker, J. V. C; 
A. D. L. Herrick, adjutant; D. W. Davis, Q. M.; L. T. Park, surgeon ; 
J. J. Miner, chaplain ; M. D. Whitmore, O. D.; A. E. Reed, O. G.; 
C. H. Larkin, S. M.; C. A. Greeley, O. M.-S.; E. M. Carlisle and J. C. 
Balch, sentinels. The present membership is sixty-one. The past 
commanders are Hugh Henry, Henry A. Bond, Ambrose H. Burgess 
(deceased), D. W. Davis, W. C. Williams, and Jason C. Jones. The offi- 
cers for 1890 were: Commander, Albert D. L. Herrick; S. V. com- 
mander, Henry A. Gould ; J. V. commander, Edward C. Hutchinson ; 
chaplain, John J. Miner; quartermaster, Daniel W. Davis; surgeon, 
Silas J. Smith; officer of the day, James O. Smith ; officer of the guard, 
John M. Barron ; adjutant, Charles H. Larkin ; sergeant-major, Oliver 
Ellis ; O. M. -sergeant, Warren C. Williams ; inside sentinel, Edwin M. 
Carlisle ; outside sentinel, John Van Ornum. 

/. 0. 0. F. in Chester. — The first lodge of Odd Fellows organized 
in Chester was on March 16, 1869. It was called Center Lodge, No. 
30. The membership was thirty, and meetings were regularly held. 
During the year 1870 a fire destroyed their hall, and the lodge lost all 
of its property. Having now no hall in which to meet, the attendance 
became so small that in 1874 the charter was surrendered. 

Chester Lodge, No. 39, was instituted August 21, 1889, by Deputy 
Grand Master C. E. Eddy, with the following charter members : -J. O. 
Smith, Albert Reed, Jesse H. Hosmer, Jefferson Stoodley, Ott Holden, 
J. L. Howard, Hugh Henry, Oliver Ellis, and D. Wesley Davis. The 
following officers were elected : J. L. Howard, noble grand ; D. Wesley 
Davis, vice-grand; E. J. Davis, secretary; F.J. Smith, permanent sec- 
retary : De Witt W. Davis, treasurer. The present membership is 
twenty- eight, and meetings are held every Monday. The officers for 
1890 were D. Wesley Davis, noble grand ; H. R. Barney, vice-grand ; 
E. J. Davis, secretary ; F. J. Smith, permanent secretary ; D. Wesley 
Davis, treasurer. 



686 History of Windsor County. 

Olive Branch Lodge, No. 64, F. and A. M. — The Grand Lodge of the 
State was petitioned October 14, 1797, by Aaron Leland, Lucius Hub- 
bard, and other residents of Chester, to estabhsh a lodge of this order 
in the town The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and a lodge 
organized under the name of Olive Branch, No. 11. The lodge gained 
rapidly in membership, and in 1814 they erected the third story of the 
academy building for a hall. Communications continued to be held 
until 1830, when, owing to anti -Masonic troubles, they were discontin- 
ued. Amos Heald was the last representative to the Grand Lodge. 

There was also a chapter located here known as Washington Chapter. 
We arc unable to give any further account of this lodge, as the original 
records are lost. 

The present lodge was organized January 12, 1865, and has a large 
membership. Communications are held regularly. The following were 
the officers elected in 1 890: A. N. Chandler, W. J\I.; T. S. Ockford, 
S. W.; W. K. y\lbee, J. W.; II. R. Harney, secretary; G. F. Hadley, 
treasurer ; F. A. Davis, S. D.; F. J. Powers, J. D.; A. E, Kendall, S. S.; 
H. W. Chandler, J. S.; Thomas Ockford, chaplain; H. R. Barney, mar- 
shal ; Alden Pillsbury, tyler. 

Physicians of Chester. — The first of the medical fraternity in this 
town of whom we have any record was Dr. Reuben Jones, who moved 
here from Rockingham, Vt., as early as 1780. Like many of the early 
settlers he became involved in debt, and was confined in a New Hamp- 
shire jail. From this jail he escaped, but was re-arrested, and while 
being taken to the place of confinement, was liberated by John Caryl, 
Amos Fisher, and two of his townsmen. In 1824 Otis Gould, Nathan 
Whityig, Ptolemy Edson, Thomas T. Barrett, and Abram Lowell were 
practicing medicine in the town. The last three were engaged in busi- 
ness for a great number of years, and had a large practice. Among 
those who practiced their profession here for a short time previous to 
i860 were William C. Pierce, Amos Eastman, C. D. Cleveland, A. R. 
Edson, and B. Burton. James Robbins ■ was located at North Chester 
from 1846 to 1S64, and Lauren G. Whiting at the South village for 
twenty-five years. During this time John Newton Moore also practiced 
at the South village. Zina G. Harrington was a practicing physician 
at South street from 1862 to 1S76, and Dr. Isaac Craigue at North 



Town of Chester. 687 



street between 1864 and 1876. In the latter year W. F. Eddy began 
practice at Chester Depot, which he continued until his death. Henry 
S. Noble had an office in Chester from 1876 to 1878. W. N. Bryant 
began practice in 1879, and continued until 1887. The present phy- 
sicians are A. A. Gibson, F. P. Emerson at the South village, Walter L. 
Havens at the Depot, and C. D. Marsh at the North village. 

Laivyers of Chester. — The first lawyer to practice his profession in 
Chester was Lucius Hubbard, who became a resident as early as 1790. 
In 1824 we find there were three attorneys in tlie town. These were 
probably Mr. Hubbard, John P. Williams, and a Mr. Rockwood, who 
was brother-in-law of the Rev. Aaron Leland, Soon after this Thomas 
Robinson opened a law office in the North village, and continued to 
practice as late as 1852. At about the same time Oramel Hutchinson 
located in the South village, and continued business until about 1857. 
From 1836 to 1841 Charles Aiken had an office at the South village ; 
he removed to Greenfield, Mass., where he died. About 1841 Luther 
Adams opened an office at the North village and continued to practice 
until his death, a period of over forty years. In the forties and fifties 
the following persons practiced law in Chester for a few years: Henry 
E. Stoughton, who removed to Bellows Falls, Ira B. Persons, A. A. 
Nicholson, Ivory W. Richardson, now a practicing attorney at Boston, 
Mass., Spencer H: Leonard, H. B. Hopkins, now of Joliet, 111., and F. A 
Grant, residing at present at Des Moines, la The present lawyers 
are William Rounds, who has been located at South village since 1852 ; 
George L, Fletcher, who began to practice in 1859; and Hugh Henry, 
who opened an office in 1866. Judge Henry from 1876 to 1882 was 
associated with George A. Weston (at present practicing at Bellows 
Falls), under the firm name of Henry & Weston. 

North Chester. — The first post office established in the town of Ches- 
ter was on North street, and Lucius Hubbard was the first postmaster. 
He was succeeded by Thomas Robinson, who was followed by Phineas 
O. Sargent. As early as 1825 the post-office was removed to the South 
village. In 1824 the village, which is situated near the center of the 
town, on the north side of the north branch of the Williams River, con- 
sisted of twenty dwelling houses, a Congregational church, two stores, 
two taverns, two cabinet shops, one tannery, and one oil and grist-mill. 



688 History ok Windsor County. 

The Green Mountain turnpike passed through the village in a westerly 
direction. At the present day there is one store, a cheese factory, a 
church, and about the same number of dwelling houses as in 1824. 
The present post-office was established in 1848, and Simeon Sherwin 
became postmaster; he filled the position until 1856, when he was suc- 
ceeded by D. A. Sherwin ; then followed Henderson Blanchard, John L 
French, and George D. Barton. In 1879 the present incumbent, O. W. 
Fletcher, was appointed. 

Early in the present century the first store was kept in this village 
and was located near the present common. A man named Callendar, 
who afterwards removed to Boston, was one of its first proprietors. 
The store was afterwards run by Harry Simmons, James Robinson, 
Phineas O. Sargent, Nathan Fullerton, besides others. Among the last 
occupants of this store were D. A. Sherwin and Mason C. Richardson, 
under the firm name of Sherwin & Richardson, who began business in 
1838. The junior partner disposed of his interest in 1853, and Hen- 
derson Blanchard became a partner under the style of Sherwin 
& Blanchard. By the death of the senior partner in 1S68 the firm was 
dissolved and the business carried on by the junior partner, but was 
finally sold to John L. French antl W. E. Harvey. The latter sold his 
interest to tiie former, who ilisposed of it in 1875 to G. D. Barton. Mr. 
Barton removed to the present store, which he built in 1877, and two 
years afterwards sold out to O. W. Fletcher, who is now in business. 

In the old store-room still standing, among the first to engage in busi- 
ness were David Johnson and Joshua C. Dana, and Charles and D. K. 
Barrett. About 1856 J. L. Johnson and George H. Hadley formed a 
co-partnership. Between this time and 1878 the former had a number 
of partners, among whom were Charles Bruce, C. T. Whitmore, George 
L Baldwin, and Edward Gay. 

The cheese factory was built in 1871 by R P. Pollard, and in the same 
year the Chester Dairymen's Association was formed. The property 
was sold in 1881 to O. P. Dunn, who in 1883 sold it to M. H. Bemis. 
The Dairymen's Association continued to occupy this building till 
1888, and the Chester Cheese Company was incorporated under State 
laws. The following are the officers of the company : Merrill Stevens, 
president; F. VV. Marsh, treasurer; N. Fuller Bates, George C Allen, 



Town of Chester. 689 



Merrill Stevens, Richard Cliandler, and Charles O. Sargent, directors. 
The capacity is from 300 to 400 cows, and in 1889 97,000 pounds of 
cheese were made. 

South Village. — From reliable authorities this village consisted in 1824 
of about thirty-six dwellings. The houses were generally neat and 
some of them elegant, and were mostly built on the same street, which 
was about a half mile in length. There were two stores, two taverns, 
one church, one cotton factory, two woolen factories, two wheelwright 
shops, one chair-maker, two tanneries and one saddlery. The line of 
stages from Boston to Montreal were intersected at this village by a line 
from Hanover to Albany and Saratoga Springs. The new road from 
Chester to Manchester, Vt., was considered the best passage of the 
Green Mountains in the State south of the Onion River. This village, 
therefore, was on the great thoroughfare for travel from Maine and New 
Hampshire to Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa. At the present time 
there are about fifty dwellings, three churches and the usual number of 
business houses. There is no manufacturing carried on at this point. 
Near the center of the village is a park studded with maples, which also 
line both sides of the roadway. The village is situated in a pleasant 
valley on the north side of the middle branch of the Williams River. It 
is three-quarters of a mile south of the North village and a little south- 
east of the center of the town. 

The post-office was removed from North to South street previous to 
1824. Phineas O. Sargeant was the first postmaster at South street. 
The following have filled the position since : Joel Gould, Addison Fitch, 
Isaac Rogers, Thomas T. Barrett, Abram VVhitcomb, George L. Fletcher, 
C. S. Taylor, George L. Fletcher (second time), Charles H. Rowe, 
Charles M. Maxfield, Lucinda Hadley, George L. Fletcher (third time). 
The present incumbent, Walter J. Hadley, was appointed in May, 1889, 

Where the present tin and stove store is Isaac Allen and William 
Miller began business in 1851, the firm being Allen & Miller. The 
junior partner purchased the business in 1855, and two years afterwards 
George W. Hadley purchased an interest in the firm, the style being 
Miller & Hadley. This firm continued for a number of years, and the 
business was finally purchased by George W. Hadley. 

About 1876 William Miller and his son, William, jr., opened another 



690 History ok Windsor County. 

store opposite the Congregational church, but finally bought the old 
stand. The two Millers sold out to John Miller, who disposed of an 
interest to George F. Hadley, and the firm again became Miller & Had- 
ley. At this time lamps and gla.ssware were added. The business was 
purchased entire by George V. Hadley in 1886, and has since been con- 
ducted by him. 

The store now occupied by Adams & Parks was built by N. O. John- 
son, originally 40x40 feet in size. In 1870 Alpheus A. Adams became 
a member of the firm under the style of Adams & Johnson. The latter's 
interest was bought in 1873 by 15. A. Parks, the firm name taking the 
present style. The senior member died in 1882, and was succeeded by 
his son, F. W. Adams. In the year 1887 the store was extended one 
hundred feet, and a large line of general merchandise has since been 
kept. 

The store at the west end of the street was opened in 1849, by B. A 
Cook, as a boot and shoe store, but was afterwards changed to general 
merchandise. In 1856 Alpheus Adams became a partner, the firm name 
being Cook & Adams. Mr. Cook's interest was purchased by N. O. 
Johnson, the style being changed to Adams & Johnson. B. A. Cook 
again resumed business in 1 86 1, and sold to French & Harvey In 1865 
Alpheus Adams and George S. Robbins occupied the store, and in 1870 
Mr. Robbins purchased Mr. Adams's interest and has since conducted the 
business. 

G. L. Fletcher kept a book and stationery store between 1854 and 
1864 in the village. Among the early merchants were D. H. Hilton 
and Isaac Rogers. The firm later became Isaac Rogers & Co., and 
was purchased in 1848 by D. H. Gray, who sold out in 1853 to C. H 
Hilton & Co., who sold in 1861 to N. O. Johnson, and two years later 
the firm became Hilton & Johnson, but was subsequently dissolved. 

Since 1867 Edward E Harney has been engaged in the marble busi 
ness here. Besides those thus mentioned .A. D. Fletcher has been cii 
gaged in the custom tailoring business since 1864. The clothing trade 
is carried on by James E. Pollard, the firm formerly having been John 
son & Pollard. The trade was started by N. O. Johnson in 1868. 

J. N. Moore and C. F. Hadley were eagaged in the sale of drugs for 
a number of years. The only store of this character now is that of 




^ri'n 





Town of Chester. 691 



F. W. Pierce. Since 1863 Edmund B. Lee has kept a general store, and 
the following have been engaged in the jewelry trade: R. C. Cann, 
Charles H. Rowe, Charles H. Maxwell. The business in this line is now 
conducted by W. J. Hadley. H. B Booth has a harness shop, and Spen- 
cer Taylor is engaged in the boot and shoe trade. Since 1832 the man- 
ufacture and sale of furniture has been carried on by Charles Walker ; 
a large and convenient store has recently been built, and the business is 
now carried on by his son. The village has two millinery stores, and in 
the store-room towards the depot H. M. Guild is engaged in the grocery 
trade. 

Sawyersville, or Factoryviile, is a name given to a partially detached 
portion of the village. This in former days was quite a manufacturmg 
point. A woolen mill was operated by T. R. & J. F. Sawyer, and lum- 
ber and chair-stock were manufactured by Parmenter & Powers. The 
latter is still in operation by J. F. Powers. 

Chester Depot. — In 1852 there was only one dwelling and the depot 
building where the present hamlet is located. It has now a hotel, four 
stores, blacksmith and harness shops, and about twenty-five dwellings. 
A post-office was opened here in 1873, and S. H. Leonard was postmas- 
ter. He was succeeded in 1877 by Charles Robbins, the present official. 
In 1852 David Gray and Coleman Sanders, under the firm name of Gray 
& Sanders, built the store south of the railroad track, and opened it with 
general merchandise. Mr. Sanders continued in business until 1872, and 
had associated with him as partners at various times Charles Heald, 
Horace Parmenter, and his son, Coleman H. Sanders. The latter pur- 
chased his father's interest in 1872 and has continued the business since. 

In October, 1859, P. H. Robbins opened a hardware and grocery 
store on the site now occupied by him. For a short time George D. 
Barton was associated with him. In 1863 a partnership was formed by 
P. H. Robbins and F. W. Marsh, under the style of Robbins & Marsh, 
which continued until April, 1888, when Mr. Marsh retired. The busi- 
ness is now confined to hardware, the firm carrying one of the largest 
stocks in the State. 

In 1866 Atherton & Hail opened a furniture store, which in the 
course of a year was purchased by George A. Hall, who continued to 
run it until 1888, when he sold out to George W. Sanders. 

A general store was started just south of the depot in 1868 by Hilton 



692 History ok Windsor County. 

& Miller, which was afterwards sold to Loren Bemis. This store and 
the depot were destroyed by fire in 187 1. 

The Chester Steam- Power Company, whose plant is located at this 
point, was organized under the State laws April 11, i88i, with a capital 
of $7,000, of which amount $2,000 was subscribed by the town of Ches- 
ter. The present officers arc: 1*". W. Marsh, president ; Coleman H. 
Sanders, clerk; J. R. Richardson, Coleman H. Sanders, Ira H. Allen, 
F. W. Marsh, and M. F. Deming, directors. The plant was sub-let to 
Loring Atwood, who manufactured lumber and chair-stock. Tiiis busi- 
ness was carried on for about three years, when it was discontinued and 
the plant remained idle one year. In December, 1885, it was rented 
by Harrison J. Kendall and Stephen Houghton, and six months later the 
latter retired from the firm. Employment is given to fifteen hands, and 
chair-stock and lumber are produced. 

Located on this plant is also the American Soapstone Finish Com- 
pany, incorporated under the laws of the State of Rhode Island in 1881 
They began operations in Chester in February, 1887, and manufacture 
a patent finish for walls, material for blackboards, and mortar. From 
four to eight hands are employed, and the product for 1889 was 10,000 
barrels of plain finish, 1,000 barrels of color finish, i,ooo barrels of mor- 
tar, and twenty- five tons of blackboard material. The officers of the 
company are residents of Providence, R. I., as follows : M. J Perry, 
president; Virgil Fisher, treasurer; James Shaw, general manager. 
The Union Soapstone Company, which has operated a soapstone quarry 
situated about two miles and a half southeast of the village, has its 
work shops on the plant of the Chester Steam-Power Company. This 
company is incorporated under the laws of New Hampshire, and began 
operations in Chester in 1886, though the quarries they operate have 
been opened nearly twenty years. They manufacture laundry tubs, 
sinks, slabs, register frames, foot-warmers, griddles, stoves, water-tanks, 
etc. Employment is given to forty hands. The officers of the company 
are Charles H. Burns, president ; G. W. Cummings, treasurer. 

Gassett's (Spafford) is a cluster of dwellings about a railroad station in 
the northwestern part of the town. There is at this point a post-office, 
a general store, blacksmith shop, a cheese factory, and a steam mill. The 
post-office was established here in 1834, William H. Spafford being ap- 
pointed postmaster. He was succeeded by Francis W. Boynton. The 



^ 




W'-^\ 'y 




Cy< 



rr 



Old Families. 693 



present incumbent is J. C. Scribner. A general store was started here by 
William Miller, who sold out to Lewis Hill. The latter was bought oul 
by B. C. Sherwin. Since 1883 J. C. Scribner has conducted the 
business. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer to 
a later chapter of this work. 

Adams, Benjamin, son of Benjamin, wa,s horn in Tovvnaend, M.iss., September 17, 1780, 
and married Betsey Crowley, of AttleV)oro, Mas.i. Their children were Ro.^etta, .single, 
lives in Akron, O.; Lucinda, widow of Saninel IVIannins;, resides at Zanesville. ( ).; Oalusha, 
ilied in Cavendish; Franklin, lives in Akron, 0.; Marcellus, died in Akron, 0.; Sarah; 
•lane, widow of Loren Smith, lives at Akron, O.: Alraira, died at tliree years of age. 
Benjamin died at Akron, 0. 

Adams, Washington, son of Benjamin, was born at Cavendish, Juno 1-3, 1812, married 
Mr.s. Dene H. Hagar, nee Walker. They had two children: Marcellus, died in infancy, 
an<l Clarence, born in Cavendish, November 18, 1857. They have resided in Chester 
since 1860. 

Adams, Daniel, son of Benjamin, was born in Cavendish, Vt., July 4, 1795, and married 
Catharine Hartwell, Febrnary 17, l.'>22. He came to Chester to live in 1822, where he 
died September 24, 1872. His children were Ira Hartwell; Abigail Ann, died at nine 
years of age; Alphens A.; Susan Mary and James Johnson, both died young. 

Adams, Ira Hartwell, son of Daniel, was born in Chester, Vt, January 20, 1823, and 
married Marcella Adams. They had si.x children, Frank H., born April 26, 1853, died 
August 10, 185G; Fred D., born August 6, 1854, married Aurora S. Esty, and had two 
cliildren, Frank E, and Fred D,; Fred D. dieil at Alma, Mich., September 20, 1889, and 
his wife died September IG, 1890 ; Delos W., born September 15, 1855, married MinaM. 
Rowell and has one child, Karl R.; he is engaged at Alma, Mich., in a general store ; 
Samuel, born January 16, 1857, resides in Chester; Daniel H., born March 17, 18C0, 
lives at Ogden, Utah; and a son who died in infancy. 

Adams, Alpheus A., son of Daniel, was born in Chester, October 7, 1828, and mar- 
ried for his first wife Lucia Wheeler. Their children are Frank W., born in Chester, 
.Inne 3, 1863, married Mary B. Steele, and is a member of the firm of Adams & Davis, 
of Chester; and Maria Lucia, wife of N. B Thompson, of Grafton, Vt. Alpheus dieil 
August 10, 1882. 

Aldrich, Henry L., was born in Rockingham, Vt., September 1, 1821, and is the eldest 
son of Jonas and Louisa (Lovejoy) Aldrich. In his early life he engaged in the mercan- 
tile business at Cambridgeport and Boston, Mass. In 1845 he established an e.xpre.ss 
route in the latter city known as the Aldrich Express, which he operated successfully 
until 1859. In that year he returned to his native town, where he engaged in farmmg, 
and in 18159 he removed to Chester, where he had since resided. Mr. Aldrich married 
for his first wife Pamelia A. Cunningham, of Jefferson, Maine, by whom he had three 



694 ■ HisroRV UK Windsor County. 

chililren. one of whom died in infancy. The others were Henry O., a resident of Wall- 
inijford, Vt., and Liicinda P., who died at ten year.s of age. His second wife was .Mrs 
[yoanUia Cone, nee Woolley, of Saxton's River, Vt. 

Allen, I.saac, was horn at Mason, N. 11., September 6, 1777, and came to Windsoi 
county, locating at Andover in 1797, but removed to Chester in 1804. He married He- 
becca Dakin, and had nine children, viz.: Charles, died in Waterloo, Canada : Isaac, 
died at Schoolcraft, Midi.; Joseph, died in New York City ; Jones, died at Schoolcraft, 
Mich.; Rel)ecca, single, lives in Chester; George, died at live years of age; Amos, died 
at Kalamazoo, Mich.; Lucy (deceased), married Aldis Burgess; Mary, widow of David A. 
Sherwin, lives at Chester. Isaac died September 18, 1849. 

Baldwin, Naum, was born in Marlboro, N. H., and married Philanda Harvey. Their 
children were Edwin, who died in Oshkosh, VVi.s.; Fannie (deceased), married Orris Dwiii- 
nell; Albert R; Chariest)., died at Hartford, Conn.; Silas, resides at Grafton, Vt.; .Maria 
Rosaline, died at eight years of age. 

Baldwin, Albert I''., son of Naum, was born in Chester, February 22, 1818, and married 
Laurenza, daughter of Thomas Williain.s. Their family wasAbbie, wife of George Kob- 
hins of Chester ; Lizzie, died aged twenty-si.\ years ; George, born in Chester, March 2, 
18G1, married Jidietle Dwinnell, and has three children : Robert Dwinnell, Elizabeth, 
and Harold H. 

Brewer. — This family originally came from Ludlow, Ma.ss., to Ludlow, Vt. Eliah 
Brewer was one of the early settlers of Ludlow, Vt., and a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War. He died in 1830, and his wife, Sarah Rice, died three years later. There w;is 
a large family of children, none of whom are living. Israel, died in the West; Jason; 
Betsey, married Abel Pratt ; Sally, married James Hitchcock ; Eunice, married Levi 
Barrett; Martha, died single; Annie, married Jerry Gilbert. 

Brewer, Ja.son, married Rebecca Hall. Their family were Samuel, who died at Men- 
ilon, Vt.; Alphonso, Marcellus Hall, and Sarah Jane, widow of Elisha Orcutt, a resideni 
of Rutland, Vt. Marcellus Hall, son of Jason, born at Clarendon, Vt., September 11, 
1820, married Elzina Spaulding, and they have but one child, Marcellus S. The family 
have resided in Chester since 1854. 

Cutler, Loammi, son of Loanimi, was born in Chesterfield, N. H., May 4, 1792, and 
<lied at Chester, June 2, 1867. He became a resident of Chester in April, \S'-i3. He 
married Meriel House, and they had thirteen children, viz.: Calvin D, resides in Spring- 
field, Vt.; Sarah L., lives in Chester; Cummings, went to California in 1849, wheic it is 
supposed he died : Martha M., died single ; Elisha H., lives at West Acton, ^L•lss.; David 
H., died in llopkinton, Mass.; Sumner L., resides in California; Mary II., wife of Put- 
nam Spalding, of Chelsea, Mass.; Simeon C, died in Boston, Mass.; Chestina, lives at 
Middletown, Conn.; Susan II., died at two years of age; Amanda S., widow of Perry 
M. Rice, resides at Chester; and one child that died m infancy. 

Fisher, Jesse, a native of Massachu.setts, came to Chester in 1797, and settled in the 
northern part of the town. He married Jerusha Armsbury. Their children were Joseph . 
Herman, died single in Chester in 1822, aged twenty-nine ; Ira, died at Worcester, Mass.; 
Lyman, died in Michigan; Pitts, died in Boston; and Joanna, married Joshua Cook, 
and died in Genesee county, N. Y. Jesse died in 1882 in Chester, aged fifty-eight years. 

Fisher, Joseph, son of Jesse, was born March 10, 1793, and married Orythia Selden, 
Their children were Orythia (deceased), married William W. Earle; Joseph Selden, re- 
sides at Bonzonia, Mich.; Jesse Lyman, born October 7, 1822, married Abigail Maria 
Harrington, and has three children: Herbert Selden, an attorney at Randolph, Neb; 
Charles Everett, connected with a National L5ank at Gloucester, Mass.; and Ella Maria, 
wife of W. 0. Davis of Chester; he has .always resided in Chester; Mary (deceased), 
married Abram Whitcomb; Susan, widow of Griflin Shaw, lives at War.saw, N. Y.; 
Joanna, wife of Rev. George H. White, a Congregationulist minister, lives in (jrinnell, 
la.; George, lives in Cairo, 111.; Charles, died at Grinnell, la.; Lavinia, died young; Ed- 



Old Families. 695 



ward, born May 8, 1838, died at Chester, la. Joseph married for his second wife Cehnda 
Adara.s, by whom he had three children : Juha EHzabetii, widow of Merrill I. Howard, 
who resides at Grinnell, la.; Herman Adams lives at Tacoraa, Washington Ter.; and 
Henry died young. Joseph died September 25, 18C6. 

Fletcher, Daniel, was of the seventh generation of the Fletchers in this country, and 
was descended from the original settler, Robert Fletcher, through William, Joshua. Paul, 
John and Paul. He was born at Groton, Mass., March 13, 1763 ; was a soldier of the 
Revolution, and came at an early day to Chester. He married Susan Stone, and had 
the following family ; Willard. who died single at Freeport, 111.; Jonas ; Anna S. died 
single in Chester; Daniel L., died at Taunton, Mas-.; Susan (deceased), married Nathan 
Lake; Sally (deceased), married Amos Hulett; Ira, died single in Chester ; William, 
died single at Oswegatchie, N. Y.; Eunice (deceased), married Major Jenkins ; Lucia 
(deceased), married Ferdinand H. Miller. Daniel died June 21, 1844. 

Fletcher, Jonas, son of Daniel, was born in Chester, April 26, 1789, and married Lu- 
cinda Sawtell. He died March 5, 18G0. His family was Lucinda S. (deceased), mar- 
ried Josiah Cushman ; Foster, died at Ludlow, Vt,; Orriu, died at Quincy, 111.; Sarah A., 
died single ; George L.; Bailey N., died at Nashville, Tenn.; Daniel W., died single in 
Connecticut; William W., resides in Fitchburg, Ma.ss.; Freedom J., died single at Lud- 
low, Vt.; Orinond W., born in Chester, August 21, 1831, married Frances M. Weston, 
but has no children, and lives at North Cliester; and Oramel W., lives at Fitchburg, 
Mass. 

Fullerton, Nathaniel, was for a number of years one of the active business men of 
Chester, where he died in 1S72 at the age of iiinety-,seven years. He married Su.«annah 
Norton, and they had the following children: Henry N., Alexander N., Susan, married 
Dr. Gowdy of Middlebury, Vt., George A., Frederick Eugene. None of the family are 
living. 

Fullerton, Frederick Eugene, son of Nathaniel, was born in Chester, February 23, 
181 r, and married Miss P. A. Wentworth. They had four children : Emma Maria, mar- 
ried Frederick W. Childs, of Brattleboro, Vt.; Grace Wentworth, wife of George F. 
Hadley, of Chester; Frederick Harvey, died at nine years of age; Susan Norton, wife 
of H. G. Wiley, of Kearney, Neb. Mr. Fullerton died February 1, 1869. 

Henry, Hugh, was born in Acworth, N. H., and came to Chester, before 1780, locat- 
ing on what is known as the Henry homestead, east of the village. He died in Chester. 
June 3, 1849, aged seventy-nine years. He married Susan Dodge, and they had four 
children : Mary H. (deceased), married Lyman B. Walker, an attorney at what is now 
Laconia, N. H.; Elizabeth (deceased), married Lawrence Bigelow ; Susan, died young ; 
and Hugh H. 

Henry, Hugh H., sou of Hugh,was born in Chester, October 18, 1814, and graduated 
from Dartmouth College in 1833. He married Sarah Henry, of Charlestown, N. H. 
They had ten children : Mary H., Hugh, Martha D., Julia, Clara, Charles F., Arthur H., 
Patrick, William G., Sarah E., all of whom excepting Arthur H. and Sarah E., who are 
deceased, are residents of Chester. Hugh H. was for a number of years United States 
Marshal, and was prominent in State politics. Though a Democrat, and his town a strong 
Whig one, he represented it several times in the State Legislature, and was a Democratic 
candidate for Congress. He became a Free Soiler in 1848, and a Republican upon the 
org.anization of that party ; was later a State Senator, and at the time of his decease 
was the oldest railroad president in length of service, having been for nineteen years 
luesident of the Vermont Valley Railroad. He died in Chester, December 18, 1869. 

Hilton, Dearborn H., was born ni Andover, N. H., December 31, 1803, and married 
Eliza A. Cummings. He died July 31, 1860. They had one child, George II., born in 
Chester, July .5, 1831, and married Helen M., daughter of Dr. Abram Lowell. They 
have three children, George L., Anna M., and Dearborn H. Mr. Hilton is proprietor of 
(he summer resort, Lowell Lake Hotel, at Londonderry, Vt. 



696 History of Windsor County. 

Kingsbury, Nathan, r;ame from Shrewsbury. Vt., to Chester. His wife was a Miss 
'I'lioiiipson. Their uhiliirun were Eli P., a resident of Ludlow, Vt.; Baton atul Ira died 
in Cliesler; Wilhani Rlioda, dioil single ; and Clarissa. 

Kingsbury, William, son of Nathan, was born in Chester, May 10, 181G, and niarrifd 
Kannie E. Spring. They had seven children, viz.: Martha B. (deceased), married H. W. 
Spallbnl ; Aiariara A. (deceased), married George Nichols; Hattie M., wife of .1. 11. 
Marsh, of Chester; Sarah M., wife of H. M. Guild, of Chester ; Harland W., resides in 
Sterling, Mass.; Sewell E,, resides in West Medway, Mass.; and Homer S. 

King-ibnry, Homer S., son of William, was born in Chester, June 24, 18.53, and mar- 
ried Lorette A. Woodnury. They have ?i.\ children : Trazer W., Alfred W., Bradley L., 
James J., Bde L., and Marietta A. Mr. Kingsbury resides in Cavendish. 

M.arsli, Jacob, was born November 26, 1771, and married Lydia Kingsley. About the 
first of the present century he came to Plymouth, Vt., where he died December 1, 
1833. His children were Jacob, who died at .Sugar Grove, Pa.; Daniel, died at the age 
of thirty-two year.s, single; Levi, died at Sugar Clrove, Pa.; Ara, died in West Brattle- 
boro, Vt.; Jared ; Susan (deiieased), marrie<l David French ; Lydia (deceased), marrieil 
Samuel Earl ; Hannah, died young ; Horace, died at Plymouth, Vt.; Alden, died at 
Youngsdeld, Pa.; Laura (deceased), married Hugh Kennedy; Andelina (deceased), was 
twice married, first to Leonard Baldwin, second to David Conant; James Kingsley, 
who resides at North Hadley, Province of Quebec, Canada. 

Marsh, Jared, son of J.acob, was born in Guilford, Vt., April 2, 1800, and left Ply- 
mouth in 1807, and Ijecame a resident of Cliester. He married Almira, the widow of 
Ills brother, Horace. They had three daughters: Viola, wife of Dr. D. F. Cooledge, of 
Ludlow. Vt.; Lydia Ella, wife of Henry W. Spafi'ord, of Rutland, Vt.; Myra, wife of 
B. K. Whelden, of Ludlow. Vt. He died May 7, 1885. 

Mar.<h, Horace, son of Jacob, was born in Plymouth, Vt., March 30, 1807, and mar- 
ried Almira Eaton. They had one child, Jacob H. Horace died June 4, 1843. 

Marsh, Jacob FL, son of Horace, was born in Plymouth, Vt., April 18, 1842. Losing 
his father when he was only thirteen months old, he was brought up by his stepfather. 
He mirried Hattie M., daughter of William Kmgsbury, October 26, 1870. They have 
one child, Gertie Winifred. 

Marsh, Frederick W., the third son of Asa and Elizabeth (Il.all) Marsh, was born at 
Chesterfield, N. H., Jaimary 14, 1831. He engaged in mercantile business at London- 
derry, Vt., in 18.52, and became a partner in the firm of J. L. Pierce & Co. This part- 
nership continued until 1859. In the spring of 18()4 he became a resident of Chester, 
and in the following year became a partner with P. H. Robbing, under the firm naiuo ol 
Robbins & Marsh, which continued twenty-four years. Mr. Mar.sh married for his first 
wife Mary Jane Robinson, of Boston. His second wife was Ellen M. Allen, of Boston. 
They have one child, George F. 

Sargent, Ezr.a, a .son of Ezra, one of the early settlers of Chester, was born May 24, 
1777, ami died May 25, 1S5(>. He married Betsey Putnam and had ten children, viz.: 
Edward ().; Eliza, died young; Bliza (decea,sed), married, first, Abner Field, second, 
Ezra Dean ; Mary (dece.'i.sed), married Weber Andrews; Harriet (deceased), married 
John F. Hawkes; Alfred; Esther, widow of Sdas Richardson, resides in Waukesha, 
Wis.; Ezra Putnam, died in Chicago. III.; Julia, wife of Silas Sawyer, of Waukesha, 
Wis.; anil J. Harvey, a resident of Westminster, Vt. 

Sargent, Edward O., son of Ezra, was born in Chester, August 4, ISOl, and married 
Joainia Atwood. They li.id live children, viz.: Augusta B., wife of Abraham Dodge, 
of Chester ; Edward, re-sides in (Jmro.Wis.; Ellen, wife of N. A. Child, of TcMiplc. N. H ; 
Mary Jane, died young ; and Atwood. Edward O. died February 20, 1872. 

Sargent, Atwood, son of Edward , was born at Chester, November 20, 1841, and 
married Mary F. Wyman, of Granville, N. Y. Their four children are Ruth, Alice A., 
Mary G. and Julia. 



Town of Weathersfield. 697 

Slieiwin, David A., was born at Windliam, Vt., Ootobei' 9, 1814, and manied for his 
first wife Caroline Perry, Ijy wlioiii he had one child, Ann, who married Henderson 
Blaiichard. He came to Chester in 1838, and engaged in the mercantile business. He 
died August 20, 1865. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WEATHERSFIELD. 

THIS town derived its name from the town of the same name in Con- 
necticut, though there is a difference in the speHing of the names 
of the two towns. The fact that the early settlers were from that part of 
Connecticut establishes beyond a doubt the origin of the town's name. 
It is located in the southeastern part of the county, being north of 
Springfield, east of Baltimore and Cavendish, south of West Windsor 
and Windsor, and west of the Connecticut River. On the banks of the 
latter there are located in the town large tracts of arable lands which 
constitute some of the best farms in the State. Towards the northern 
and western parts of the town the surface becomes more broken and 
mountainous, a part of the Ascutney Mountain, which has a height of 
3,320 feet, being located in the northern portion, while the Little Ascut- 
ney Mountain with a height of 1,200 feet is situated in the northwest 
corner. In the western part of the town is located a part of the Hawks 
Mountains. Besides these there are a number of hills, the most prom- 
inent being Golden, Downer's and Camp. In the southeastern part of 
the town the Connecticut River makes a bend, which is called " the 
Bow," on account of its resemblance to an ox-bow. Throughout the 
town small water-courses abound, those located in the eastern part 
emptying into the Connecticut, while in the western portion they empty 
into the Black River, the course of the lattei extending over several 
miles of the town. 

Early History. — Weathersfield was granted by King George III., 
through Benning Wentworth, on August 20, 1761, to the following per- 
sons : Gideon Lyman, Daniel Lyman, Daniel Lyman, jr., Joseph Little, 
Samuel Miles, Samuel Miles, jr., Enos Ailing, James Rice, Joseph Trow- 
bridge, Roswell Woodward, Thomas Trowbridge, Abraham Thomp- 



698 History oy Windsor County. 

son, jr., Phineas Lyman, Abraham Thompson, Jacob Thompson, Ste- 
phen Ailing, Gideon Lyman, jr., James Stoner, Silvanus Bishop, John 
Mix, John Pierrepont, John Bradley, jr., Phineas Bradley, Elijah Lyman, 
John Cornell, Benjamin Ailing, Lemuel Hotchkiss, John Nelson, Josiah 
Bradley, Hezekiah Parinele, jr., John Austin, Israel Munson, Joel Gil- 
bert, Joseph Thompson, Caleb Gilbert, Joseph Dorman, Timothy Potter, 
Ebenezer Johnson, Silas Wright, Phineas Lyman, of Hadley, Naomi 
Lyman, John Lyman, jr., George Lyman, Benjamin Sheldon, William 
Kennedy, Reuben Wright, Eleazer Burt, Elnathan Wright, Ephraim 
Wright, jr., Theodore Aktinson, M. W. Wentworth, Bildad Wright, 
Elias Lyman, Nathaniel Phelps, Bcnning Wentworth, John Nelson, H. 
Hall Wentworth, Wiseman Claggett, Samuel Bishop, jr., Joseph Woos- 
ter, and Theodore Atkinson, jr. 

The original grant, after setting forth the boundaries, stated that it 
contained 23,000 acres, and was subject to a number of conditions, some 
of which are the following : When the town had a population of fifty 
families a public market was to be held one or more days each week, at 
a place most advantageous to the inhabitants. Liberty was given to hold 
fairs ; also, the first meeting of the grantees should be held on the third 
Tuesday in September, 1 761, Gideon Lyman being appointed modera- 
tor. Annual meetings were to be held on the second Tuesday in March 
thereafter for choice of officers. Every grantee was obliged to cultivate 
five of every fifty acres granted every five years. All the white and pine 
timber fit for masting the royal navy was to be carefully preserved for 
that purpose, nor could it be cut without a special license. A portion 
of the grant near the center was to be laid out into town lots. A tax of 
une ear of corn was levied for ten years, first payment to be made De- 
cember 25, 1762, upon the grant, and after that time each proprietor, 
settler, or inhabitant to pay one shilling for every hundred acres, and for 
a greater or less quantity the proportional part of such ta.\. The grant 
was divided into sixty-eight shares, and 500 acres were set aside for 
ciiurch and school purposes. 

The persons who received the patent were principally residents of 
New Haven, Conn., and Northampton, Mass., and in pursuance of 
the requirements of the charter their first meeting was held on Sep- 
tember 16, 1 76 1, at the dwelling house of Daniel Lyman, in New Ha- 



Town of Weathersfield. 699 

ven. Samuel Bishop, jr., was elected clerk and treasurer, and a com- 
mittee consisting of Phineas Bradley, Abraham Thompson, and Joseph 
Thompson, of New Haven, Phineas Lyman, of Hadley, and Silas 
Wright, of Northampton, were appointed to view and lay out the town 
according to the charter, and a tax of twelve shillings on each right was 
voted to defray tiiis expense, payable October 10, 1761. At another 
meeting held at the same place on December 3, 1761, a committee ap- 
pointed at the previous meeting, consisting of David Lyman and Sam- 
uel Bishop, jr., reported that they had made arrangements with Captain 
Eliakim Hale, of Wallingford, Conn., to go to Portsmouth, N. H., and 
for him to take all means possible to prevent any waste of timber located 
in the town, and to secure the same from any depredations, or from an)' 
person cutting masts for the royal navy. This action of the committee 
was approved, and money was voted to defray all expenses of the same. 
At various meetings held during the latter part of 1761, and early in 
1762, an allotment of the town was made, it being divided into three 
divisions. The first division was to consist of thirteen acres, the second 
of fifty acres, and the third of one hundred acres, and the town was 
afterwards surveyed and a plat made and duly recorded. A tax of one 
pound four shillings was levied on each right, payable January i, 1762, 
John Austin being appointed collector for the proprietors of New Ha- 
ven, and John Lyman, jr., for all others. The first annual meeting of 
the proprietors was held March 22, 1762, at New Haven. Phineas 
Bradley was chosen moderator, and Samuel Bisiiop, jr., clerk. It was 
resolved that action should be taken looking to an actual settlement of 
the town. Clearings were to be made, two public highways laid out, 
and a saw- mill built. Daniel Lyman, Thomas Wilmot and David Aus- 
tin were appointed assessors. 

For a number of years afterwards no actual settlements were made, 
though the proprietors continued to hold meetings and offer as induce- 
ment to settlers a twenty-acre lot free to any one building a house in the 
town ; also, to any one starting a saw -mill, a set of irons delivered at 
the block-house in Springfield, and a thirteen-acre lot, on condition that 
the saw-mill be kept in operation fifteen years. The rights were taxed 
at various times, but at a meeting held in March, 1764, it was voted that 
a tax of nine shillings on each right be levied for the purpose of paying 



700 HisTORY._oF Windsor County. 

Renjamin Ailing for work he had done on the road from the river up- 
wards of three miles in the town. Also to continue the road to the 
Crown Point road, and lay out highways north and south. At this time 
the famous controversy arose between the provincial government of 
New Hampshire and that of New York in reference to the territory ly- 
ing west of the Connecticut, which was decided by George III. in favor 
of New York. The provincial governor of that province thereupon 
created Cumberland county, and began issuing patents for land. A pe- 
tition was addressed by the proprietors of Weathersfield, October 17, 
1766, to Lieutenant-Governor Colden, of New York, claiming thai they 
had been to a great expense in allotting the town, had cleared and cul- 
tivated a portion of the lands, erected a number of houses, and asked to 
be protected while accomplishing the work incident to a pioneer settle- 
ment. A census of Cumberland county, taken in 1770, shows that the 
population of Weathersfield was twenty souls. 

Uy the foregoing facts it will be seen that there were but a few set- 
tlers in Weathersfield previous to 1770, and the first settlement could 
not have taken place in 1 761, as has been stated in other works. On 
April 30, 1772, the territory comprising Weathersfield, and calling for 
21,000 acres, was by letters patent, given by Governor William Tryon, 
of New York, granted to the following persons : Daniel Lyman, Medad 
Lyman, Enos Allen, James Rice, Roswell Woodward, Abraham Thomp- 
son, jr., Samuel Bishop, jr., John Mix, John Pierrepont, John Bradbury, 
jr., Phineas Bradley, John Cornell, Samuel Hotchkiss, Jonah Bradley, 
Hezekiah Parmele, jr., John Austin, Israel Munson, Joel Gilbert, Jose[)h 
Thompson, Caleb Gilbert, Abraham Thompson, and Joseph Uorman. 

The last meeting of the proprietors was held March 16, 1773, and 
Dan Tuttle, of Wallingford, Conn., was given the privilege to erect a 
saw-mill on the conditions heretofore described. Benjamin Ailing, 
Moses Ailing, Gershom Tuttle, William Rexford, and Aaron Blackslee, 
having become settlers and fulfilled the conditions, were granted the 
twenty acres promised and their titles confirmed. 

T/ie First Town Meeting. — Below is given a copy of the warrant is 
sued to call the first town meeting : 

"Record of a Warrant for a Town Meeting: — These are to notify and 
warn all the freeholders and other inhabitants of the Township of Weath- 
ersfield, that they elect and meat at Tiie Dwelling house of Garshom 






^^^^u 



Town of Weathersfield. 701 

Tuttle in The town afore said and County of Cumberland To cliuse sucli 
oflficers as are mentioned viz. one Supervisor, two Assessors, two Col- 
lectors, Two Overceyers of the poor, three Commissioners for laying out 
hiways, also so many Surveyors or overseers of hiways as the inhabit- 
ents shall see Necessary, two fence Vewers, and four Constables. You 
are to meat the third tuisday Instant to cluise said officers and the fourth 
Tuisday to send your Supervisor to the County House in Chester hereof 
fail not. Given under my hand this Eleventh Day of May, in twelfth 
yeare of his Majesty Reign Anadominy 1772. 

" Simon Stevens Justis Peace." 

In obedience to this warrant the voters of Weathersfield assembled 
on May 19, 1772, and elected the following officers: Dan Tuttle, mod- 
erator ; William Upham, town clerk; Dan Tuttle, supervisor; Elipha- 
let SpafTord and William Richardson, assessors; Benoni Tuttle and 
Gershom Tuttle, collectors ; Benjamin Ailing and Aaron Blackslee, 
overseers of the poor ; Dan Tuttle, William Richardson and William 
Upham, commissioners for laying out highways ; Benjamin Ailing, 
Aaron Blackslee and Joseph Douglass, surveyors of highways ; Will- 
iam Upham and Moses Ailing, fence viewers ; Timothy Parkhurst, Be- 
noni Tuttle, Eliphalet Spafford and Gershom Tuttle, pound-keepers. 

While the Revolutionary war was in progress the controversy over 
land titles was in a measure suspended. The affairs of the settlers were 
managed by committees in the various towns, who, when occasion re- 
quired, met in general convention to provide for common defense and 
general welfare. Weathersfield was represented in these conventions in 
1775 and 1776 by Oliver Kidder, Hezekiah Grout, Israel Bjji-Hngame 
and William Upham. The decrees of these conventions were regarded 
as law, and violations were severely punished. 

As the country became more thickly settled it was apparent that bet- 
ter organization was necessary, and a convention was called to meet at 
Windsor on June 4, 1777. Weathersfield was represented by Hezekiah 
Grout. Before this. Congress had been addressed by the settlers who 
had declared they were unwilling to any longer be regarded as subjects 
of New York. The convention favored forming an independent State, 
but when this action was submitted to the inhabitants of Weathersfield, 
June 23, 1777, they voted to yield obedience to the laws of New York, 
until by some legal authority, or by advice of the Continental Congress, 



702 HiSTOkY OF Windsor County. 

they were put into some other State. In the latter part of 1777 they 
refused to send any delegate to the county committee. But, notwith- 
standing this, the independent State of Vermont was organized and the 
town meeting of April 8, 1778, was under the laws of that State. 

The first representative to the General Assembly was Isrcie[ Burlin- 
game, elected in 1778. He held the ofifice for a number of successive 
years. 

The first State tax, which amounted to ten shillings on every one hun- 
dred acres, and in the same proportion for a greater or less quantity, 
was levied by the General Assembly of 17S1, and on May 21, 1782, at 
the house of Daniel Graves, a public vendue was held and a large num- 
ber of lots disposed of for non-payment of taxes. 

After the close of the war settlers were attracted to the town and 
VVeathersfield gradually increased in population. At a meeting held in 

1785 there were fifty-seven votes cast on important measures, and in 

1786 hogs, which had heretofore been permitted to run at large with a 
ring and yoke, were by law restricted and roamed no more of their own 
free will. The population continued to increase, and when the census 
of 1 79 1 was taken there were 1,146 inhabitants. 

The census of the three years, 1800, 1 8 10, 1820, shows a healthy 
growth, the population being in those years 1,944, 2,115 ^n*^ 2,301, 
respectively. From this time to the present there has been a gradual 
decrease, there being nothing to attract new settlers and little to retain 
her own enterprising sons and daughters. The following are the census 
returns: 1830,2,213; 1840,2,002; 1850, 1,851; i860, 1,765; 1870, 
1,557; 1880, 1,354. 

According to the taxes levied in 1889 there were 290 persons who 
paid poll tax. The area of the town was 25,192 acres. Value of real 
estate, $493,012 ; value of personal property, $213,146: making a total 
of $764,218. 

Early Settlers. — As before stated the first person located within the 
town was Benjamin Ailing, who in 1764 did some work on a road from 
the river to the center of the town. No actual settlement was made at 
this time, and it was not until 1769 that he, with Moses Ailing, Gershom 
Tuttle, William Rexford and Aaron Blackslee, made a permanent settle- 
ment, locating in the eastern and southern portions of the town. 



Town of Weathersfield. 70^ 

From the time of the first settlement to the breaking out of the War 
for Independence the town was settled slowly ; but by the town records 
we find that Captain William and Asa LTpham came from Sturbridge, 
Mass., settling in the center of the town in 1772. Also, Dan Tuttle, 
Eliphalet Spafford, William Richardson, Benoni Tuttle, Joseph Doug- 
lass and Timothy Parkhurst became residents of the town about this 
time. The next year the names of Amos Richardson, Christopher 
Brookett, Tucker Hart, Israel Burlingame, Oliver Kidder, Hezekiah 
Grout, John Marsh, Edward Grannis appear. Of these Oliver Kidder, 
Israel^urlmgame and Hezekiah Grout took a very active part in town 
affairs. The latter located in the western part of the town and his wife 
was captured by the Indians, and re.n;uned a prisoner at Montreal for 
three years, but was finally ransomed and returned home. 

William Dean, from Connecticut, settled in the northeastern part ot 
the town in 1774, and was soon afterward arrested and taken to Albany 
for violating the conditions of the charter of the town in cutting down 
pine timber without a permit from the king's officers. 

The war seems to have stopped all settlement, as only a few new set- 
tlers made their appearance between 1775 and 1780, the only new 
names found on the records being Asaph Butler, Levi Stevens, John 
White, Samuel Lewis and Abraham Downer. Of these the first two 
VI ere elected members of the first board of selectmen of the town. 

During 1780 and the two following years a number of new settlers 
located in different parts of the town. Among them were Thomas 
Hutchins, Abijah White, Josiah Hatch, Ambrose Cushman, Waters 
Chilson and Joseph Hubbard, the latter two being the first justices of 
the peace in the town. Nathaniel Stoughton came from Windsor, 
Conn., in 1780, and located in the western part of the town. About 
the same time Josiah and Daniel Dartt located in the center of the town. 
There were also a Joshua and Justus Dartt among the early settlers. 
The four Tolles brothers, Clark, David, Henry and John, located in the 
same year in the center of the town. About 1780 Oliver Diggins set- 
tled in the northwestern part of the town, and Stephen Steel and Joim 
Bennett located in the southeastern part. Edward Goodwin, in 1781, 
operated the only grist-mill. 

Oliver Chamberlain, Samuel Newton and Thomas Dunphy located in 
the southwestern part of the town in 1781, and in the same year Joseph 



704 History of Windsor County. 

Mason, Daniel Graves, Colonel Elijah Robinson, Thomas Prentice, Ger- 
sliom Clark and Hcnjainin Wooster also became residents. 

In 1782 Captain Jolm Williams came from Marlboro, Vt., and 
located about a mile from Perkinsville. In the same year the names 
Joseph Joslin, Gideon Lyman, Uaniel Habcock, Asa F"ield, Samuel 
Cummings, David Polk, John Hill and Elijah Cady appear on the 
records as being residents of the town. 

In the following year Amos Boynton, Gideon Chapin, David Paulk, 
Kenjamin Warner, Samuel Sherman and Jonathan Nye moved into the 
town, and Colonel John Boynton and Levi I'^ield located in the town in 
1784, the latter settling about two miles west of Ascutneyville. 

There were doubtless others who settled in the town during this term 
ol years, but these are the most prominent and the ones who by their 
energy and industry accomplished much of the hard, laborious work in- 
citlental to the settlement of the town. 

Early Religions Efforts and History of Chitrcltes. — As the early set- 
tlers became more numerous, endeavors were made at various times to 
establish a public house of worship in the town. If the early settlers 
wished to attend church they were obliged to cross the Connecticut 
River to Claremont, N. II. We find in the early town records certifi- 
cates from elders of the Baptist church of that place, claiming that Israel 
Burlingame, Asa Upham, William Deane, Abel Nutting, besides many 
others, were members of their congregations. 

As early as 1780 a site for a church building was chosen and efibrts 
made to build. The matter was agitated at nearly every town meeting. 
In 1 784 an invitation was extended to a Mr. Haskell to come and preach 
on probation. He did not accept and probably was not looking for 
that kind of an engagement In 1785 a call was extended to Rev. Dan 
Foster, which was accepted, and he became in 1787 the first settled min- 
ister of Weathersfield, though Rev. James Treadwell preached in the 
town between 1779 and 1783. 

Even in their religious bargains the early settlers seemed to have the 
spirit of making a good trade. Mr. Foster was to receive as a salary 
the sum of forty five pounds a year, to be paid one-third in cash ; the 
balance in beef, pork and wheat. He was to receive an annual increase of 
five pounds until the salary amounted to seventy -five pounds a year, and 
was also allowed his fire wood, or, instead of that, an additional sum of 




^>iQfhyF.Sl£e-f>ui^~^ 



^ Ci-'t^ ^-fc<;' 



/?^ 



Town ok Weathersfield. 705 

five pounds was paid. If for any cause the town did not live up to its 
agreement in the matter one hundred pounds was to be paid to Mr. 
Foster, in two years from the date of his installation. A tax of sixty 
pounds was raised to build a house for the reverend gentleman ; this 
residence was finished in the year 1785, and the first of January was 
named as the day on which he should receive his annual salary. 

Though the inhabitants had thus built a parsonage and settled a min- 
ister they had not as yet any public house of worship. During the year 
1786 certificates were recorded of Amos Boynton, Jonah Blackslee, Levi 
Hicks, Samuel Dike, John Hurlingame, John Williams, Captain William 
Upham, and many others, showing that they were good and honorable 
members of the Baptist church. 

The first church in the town was built at Weathersfield Center, the 
funds being raised by a land tax. Rev. Dan Foster continued to fill 
the pulpit until 1 799, and was succeeded by Rev. James Converse, who 
was ordained February 10, 1802, and was pastor until his death, Janu- 
ary 7, 1839. 

In March, 1821, the meeting-house was destroyed by fire, and in the 
same year the Congregational society, which had been organized, built 
a brick edifice on the same site. Rev. Nelson Bishop was settled in 
1840, but was dismissed in 1842. Since that time the pulpit has been 
supplied by Rev. C. W. Piper, Rev. Thomas H. Canfield and Rev. 
Alvah Spaulding ; but for a large part of the time there was no settled 
minister. 

From 1877 to 1889 the church was supplied by the Vermont Metho- 
dist Conference, the Revs. Olin Sherburne, L E. Rockwell," F. W. Lewis, 
and J. S. Little being resident preachers three years each, excepting 
Mr. Rockwell, who remained over two years. During their pastorates 
these gentlemen supplied the pulpit of the Methodist church at Perkins- 
ville, preaching alternate Sundays in each place. Since the spring of 
1889 the Domestic Mission Society has supplied the pulpit. The pres- 
ent membership including non-residents is forty-two. 

The East Congregational Church of Weathersfield, located at Weath- 
ersfield Bow, was organized by a council of ministers, with fifty-seven 
members, April 11, 1838. The church edifice was built the previous 
year. Rev. Benjamin Holmes was the first pastor, and was succeeded 

89 



7o6 HiSTOKV OF Windsor County. 



in 1 84 J by Rev. John Dudley. They were followed by the Rev. 
Thomas Canfield and Rev. Sidney Holnian. During the time the latter 
was pastor dissensions arose among the members and there has been 
no settled minister since, and no meetings have been held since 1878. 
By the will of Major Cliarles Jarvis the church was to receive the in- 
terest on $1,500 to support preaching, if religious services were held 
twenty-six Sundays in the year. The interest of this fund goes now to 
the Home Mission. 

Tlie Methodist Episcopal Church of Perkinsviile was organized in 1838 
with 124 members. The church was built in 1836, and Rev. Silas 
Oiiimby, the first pastor, had a class there since 1835. The church has 
been supplied by the General Conference from that time to 1889, when 
Rev. J. S. Little took charge ; but owing to decrease in menibershi[;, 
which is now fifteen, no services are being held there. 

The Baptist Church of Perkinsviile was organized May 28, 1835, by 
a council of ministers, Rev. David Burroughs being installed as pastor. 
Barney Bigelow was elected deacon, and J. M. Aldrich, clerk. The 
church building, a brick structure, was erected in 1832, and previous to 
this time was u'^ed by the Episcopal and Congregational societies. The 
first meeting of the Baptist society was held June 12, 1835, and the first 
person was baptized on the 14th of that month. The Rev. Mr. Bur- 
roughs was dismissed August 6, 1837, and Rev. William M. Guilford 
filled the pulpit till November, 1839, when he was succeeded by Rev. J 
F^reeman. In 1841 Rev. Theodore H. Lunt began to preach, and had 
charge of the congregation until the fall of 1842. An invitation was 
extended in February, 1843, to Rev. William M. Guilford, asking him 
to again fill the jjulpit, wliich he accepted and continued till 1847, when 
he removed to Newport, N. H. During this time Mr. Guilford was 
principal of the Perkinsviile Academy. The next minister was Rev. F. 
Page, from 1847 to 1849, and the following two years Rev. Luke Sher- 
win filled the pulpit. From the organization of the church to the present 
time different ministers have divided their time between the Baptist 
churches at Felchville and at Perkinsviile. From February i, 1852, to 
January 27, 1856, the Rev. Charles L. Frost suj^plied the pulpit, and for 
the next four years meetings were held only twenty-six Sundays in the 
the year, the society being under tlie charge of Rev. J. PVeeman. On 



Town of Weathersfield. jo-] 

February i, i860, Rev. Nathaniel Cudworth was installed and continued 
to preach until his death, August 2, 1870. For the two following years 
there was no settled minister. The society at this time had a member- 
ship of forty-three. The Rev. William H. Rugg began his labors in 
January, 1873, but on account of ill-health was obliged to resign Octo- 
ber 2, 1 88 1. For over two j-ears the church was then without a pastor, 
but in May, 1884, the Rev. William H. Stewart took the charge and re- 
mained until December i, 1886, when the present minister. Rev. Henry 
M. Hopkinson, was installed. The present membership of the church 
is eighty-five. 

Rev. Nathaniel Cudworth was born in Putney, Vt., January 2, 18 14, 
and was ordained to preach in his native town in 1841. Previous to 
this time he studied theology at Hamilton, N. Y., for two years, but was 
compelled to relinquish his studies on account of ill-health. Before 
coming to Perkinsville he supplied the pulpits at Putney, Jamaica, North 
Springfiekl, and Ludlow. His ill-health obliged him to cease his labors 
at the latter place, where he resided until i860. He represented tliat 
town for two years in the Vermont Legislature. He married IVIaria 
Bennett and had a son and a daughter. 

Tlie Corners Church Society. — This society worships at a meeting- 
house located at Ascutneyville, where the first meeting was held June 
27, 1846, at which time it was voted that it should be a union church 
There being $1,220 pledged towards building an edifice, a committee 
consisting of John H. Billings, James Weston, and Amasa Gay was ap- 
pointed to have charge of the construction. It was also resolved that 
tile majority of the stockholders should decide of what denomination the 
service should be. The corner stone of the church was laid August 14. 
1846, and on the 19th of November of that year it was dedicated. Elder 
Harding, of Springfield, preached the sermon. The original stockholders 
were John H. Billings, Daniel Haskell, Amasa Gay, James Weston, 
Charles Mather, Elijah Whitmore, Giles W. Clark, Reuben M. Weston, 
Jonas B. Davis, Pliny Gay, Franklin Norton, William P. Hatch, J. R. 
Haskell, Samuel Warren, Isaac Litchfield, and Lysander M. Rice. The 
Rev. Freeman became the first pastor and remained until 1850, when he 
was succeeded by Rev. Moses Kimball, who remained until 1867. Since 
that time there has been no regular minister, though services have been 



7o8 HisTORV OF Windsor County. 

held regularly. Services are held on alternate Sundays of the Congre- 
gationalist and the Methodist faiths. 

The Congregational Church of Ascutneyville was formed in 1869, and 
the Revs. J. Q. Bittinger and George Byington supplied the pulpit till 
the latter part of 1870, when Rev. Franklin Butler was hired and filled 
the position until 1875. The next incumbent was Rev. R. D. Searle, 
who remained till 1877. A grandson of Consul Jarvis, the Rev. Jarvis 
Richards, became the supply in 1879, remaining until 1880. The Rev- 
Moses Wells was in charge the early part of the year 1883, and the lat- 
ter part of the same year Rev. Frank Tomi)kins su[)plied the pulpit, con- 
tinuing until 1887, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, 
the Rev. Sanford S. Martyn. The membership is twenty-eight. 

Post-Offices, Early Stores, etc. — The first post-office established in 
Weathersfield was at " The Bow," previous to 1800. Among the later 
postmasters were Bailey Bartlett, HoUis Howard, who was succeeded in 
1861 by the present incumbent. Miss Louisa C. Danforth. 

There was a store and a tavern kept here, and George Lyman built 
the first frame house and kept the first store in the town at this point. 
There are at the present time at the Bow six dwelling houses and a 
church. 

The second post-office in Weathersfield was established at Greenbush 
in 1820, in the northwest part of the town. George Potwine was ap- 
pointed the first postmaster, and was succeeded in 1827 by Reuben 
Squires. He held the office until 1835, when John Spafford was ap- 
pointed and continued until 1841. He was succeeded by George White, 
who kept the office until 1850, when it was removed about two miles 
south and called Upper Falls. There was a store kept at Greenbush as 
early as 18 18, by Foster Henry; also a tavern as early as 181 5, b)- 
George Potwine. Isaac Eddy, an inventor, about this time erected a 
building where he experimented with perpetual motion. He afterwards 
converted it into a printing and copper-plate engraving establishment, 
publishing wall maps. This building in 1838 was made into a church, 
though there was no organized society or settled preacher. It was torn 
down a few years ago. 

When the post-office was removed to Upper I-'alls Japhet F. Warner 
was made postmaster. At this point in 1836 John Dunbar began build- 




c6 



^^^'■^j^C^Ly'y^ 



Town of Weathersfield. 709 

ing a cotton-mill, which was operated in 1844, and employment given 
to thirty hands. This mill burned down in 1848, and a store, which was 
carried on there at that time, has since fallen into decay. Roswell 
Downer became postmaster in i860, and in 1878 Charles Amsden was 
appointed and the office removed to Amsden. 

Amsden is a small hamlet located in the northwestern part of the town, 
on the west bank of a stream known as Mill Creek, which rises in the 
town of Reading and empties into the Black River about a mile and a 
half east of Perkinsville. At Amsden is located the only water privi- 
lege there is on this stream in the town of Weathersfield. As early as 
1782 Levi Stearns built a saw-mill on the east bank A man named 
Culver afterwards built a saw and grist-mill, which was improved by 
Joseph Spafford. None of these are now in existence. In 1838 Abel 
Page built a grist-mill on the west bank of the stream, which was pur- 
chased in 1848 by John Howard. On March 20, 1849, Charles Amsden 
came to work for John Howard in this mill, and two weeks later pur- 
chased the property, he being then not quite seventeen years old, and 
having only about one hundred dollars cash capital. During the follow- 
ing year he began to trade a little in the mercantile line in his mill, and 
the business rapidly increased. At this time there were but two dilapi- 
dated buildings where now stands the village of Amsden with its thirty 
buildings, twenty of which are dwelling houses occupied by Mr. Ams- 
den's employees. Mr. Amsden, by his business enterprise and energy, 
blasted away rocks, filled up frog ponds, and on the village site there 
now stands a school-house, a large store, a blacksmith shop, a saw and 
grist-mill, which was built in 1869, a little south of the old mill site, 
filled with modern machinery, a circular saw, besides wood-working 
machinery. 

On the east bank of the stream, about a quarter of a mile below the 
village site, are located three lime quarries. They run along the side 
of the stream for about half a mile, then towards the interior of the 
town about a quarter of a mile. Before 1849 little had been done 
towards developing this industry, though there b.ad been some work 
done on two of the quarries. Soon after this Mr. Amsden obtained an 
interest in the quarries and subsequentlj' purchased them entire, and has 
averaged shipments of eight thousand barrels of lime yearly, and given 
employment to about twenty hands. 



7IO History of Windsor County. 

Mr. Amsden was born in West Windsor, May 6, 1832, and married 
Abbie Craigue, and has a daughter, Mary Melvina, wife of Charles K. 
Woodruff, of Woodstock, Vt. 

Pcrkinsvillc. — A post-office is located in the southwestern part of the 
town, and in early days was called Duncanvillc, after Nahum Duncan, 
who was the first store and tavern-keeper at that point, and lived on the 
hill where George S. Alford now keeps a hotel. Perkinsville is named 
from James Perkins, a Boston capitalist, who became interested in the 
mill. The first postmaster was John Kidder. J. Field Chilson, R. 
Henry, and Martin J. Bixby (the present occupant) have filled the pe- 
tition since. There are at present, besides the interests mentioned else- 
where, a store, quite a number of dwellings, two churches, and a popu- 
lation of about two hundred in the lower and upper villages. 

Perkinsville has two water privileges on the Black River. Previous 
to 1830 there was on the privilege located at the upper village a saw- 
mill built by Benjamin Chilson, and a small woolen- mill, erected by 
Sewall Kennedy and Solomon Davis, which, in tiiat year, was enlarged 
by Mr. Perkins, mentioned above. He died suddenly on a journey to 
Boston, and the mill then passed into possession of Joseph Williams & 
Co., who manufactured a fine line of broadcloth. The ne.xt owners were 
Prentiss & Lawrence, and in 1848 Alexander Pope purchased the mill. 
He was succeeded by Ruel T. Warfield, who disposed of it to his broth- 
ers, S. R. and A. L. Warfield, and they sold to Moody Proctor. In the 
latter part of 1868 Calvin W. Shattuck, Samuel J. Whitton and Thomas 
Proctor formed a partnership and purchased the mill, but owing to losses 
sustained in the flood of 1869 this firm was dissolved and the property 
passed into the hands of Whitton & Call. On the death of the former, 
in 1873, Joseph A. Call purchased the entire plant and continued the 
business until 1886, when the mill was shut down. During this time 
light cotton goods, sheetings and print cloths were manufactured. Mm- 
ployment was given to about forty hands. There is a fall here of twenty- 
five to twenty-seven feet, it being the highest dam on the Black River. 
Mr. Call died in 1889, and in consideration of the town exempting the 
property from taxation for five years from April i, 1890, his son, Ed- 
win I. Call, agreed to start the mill at its full capacity. 

On the privilege at the lower village there was built in the fall of 1798 
a grist- mill by Captain John Williams. He sold the property in 1805 



Town ok Weathersfield. 711 

to his son, J. R. Williams, and Nahum Duncan. In 1826 the site was 
owned and occupied by Francis Nichols, who suffered loss by fire. The 
next occupants were the Woodbury brothers, John, George and Daniel. 

There was erected in 1838 by Francis Nichols and Francis Kidder a 
brick mill, 160 feet long, 40 feet wide and four stories high. It contained 
eight sets of machinery and had a capacity for manufacturing 750 yards 
of cassimere daily. Employment was given to 150 hands. The busi- 
ness was carried on in the name of the Ascutney Manufacturing Com- 
pany. This company was unfortunate and the property was bought in 
1 839 by Mr. Skinner, of Boston, for $48,000. It was totally destroyed 
by fire in November, 1839, being insured for $81,000. The privilege 
was afterwards occupied by Messrs. Nichols, Stevens and Williams, at 
different times, but was finally sold to Samuel Alford, who began the 
lumbering business. He sold to L. Darling, who manufactured stoves, 
but the buildings were again destroyed by fire. The site was then pur- 
chased by David A. Wheeler, who erected a grist-mill, which was 
burned January 8, 1883, and was rebuilt in that year by Melviu G. 
Robinson, who carries on the business at present, employing about fif- 
teen hands. The mill is filled with wood-working machinery. Chair 
and carriage-stock, lath, shingles and lumber are manufactured. 

In 1854 Martin J. Billings began prospecting for soapstone, and 
opened up the ledge located near Perkinsville, known as the upper ledge. 
Through the efforts of Asa Wentworth, of Bellows Falls, a stock com- 
pany was formed under the name of the Hawks Mountain Soapstone 
Company, who continued the prospecting and erected a steam mill in 
about 1857 at the ledge, and began to manufacture register frames, 
sinks, cisterns, and wash-tubs. They continued the business until 1864, 
when the property was purchased by L. B. Darling, of Pawtucket, R. I., 
who conducted the business under the name of the Windsor County 
Soapstone Company. Employment was given at that time to twenty- 
five or thirty hands. This company failed in 1869 and the plant, under 
a mortgage foreclosure, was placed in charge of Edward Dean and Ira 
Holden ; but the Springfield Soapstone Company was formed, bought 
the mortgages and worked the ledge for a number of years, when the 
property came into court on a question of liquidation, and has been 
workedand owned since 1884 by Charles Williams, of Manchester, N. H. 



712 History of Windsok County. 

The ledge known as the lower ledge was opened a few years after the 
upper ledge, and w,is leased by Gardner & Brown, but, the quality of 
stone being poor, it was abandoned. It is now operated by parties re- 
siding in Francestown. N. H. The manufacture of soa[)stone stoves 
was begun in Perkinsville in 1852, and continued thirty years by Henry 
& Dodge. The building used by them was formerly a fulling-mill, 
afterwards a bobbin- mill. It is located on the Black River, and is now 
used by Charles Williams in which to saw soapstone. 

Wcatlicrsficld Center, located in about the center of the town, at the 
present time consists of a few dwellings and a church. It was made a 
post-office in 1855, and James VV. Goldsmith was made its first post- 
master. He held the office till about 1883, when he was succeeded by 
his son, James H. Goldsmith, the present incumbent. In early days at 
the Center various kinds of business were carried on. More than sev- 
enty years ago a store was located on the green in front of the church. 
It was burned in 1843, at which time it was run by John Phinney. Pre- 
vious to his time it was ke[)t by Eber Gridley and Edwin Stone. A 
blacksmith shop was run by Horace Cook in 1821, and after his death 
by James W. Goldsmith. Mr. Cook also kept a tavern, and Carlos Cole 
was engaged in the same business A tannery was carried on by Mr. 
Mosely, and for a number of years a distillery was in operation. A hat- 
ter named Dickens and a shoemaker also plied their trades here. 

The following physicians resided at different times at the Center: Dr. 
> Redfield, Dr. Oliver Pierce, and Dr. Angier. A soldiers' monument 
was erected at the Center by the town. 

The fourth post-office located in Weathersfield was in the northeast 
corner of the town in about 1826, and was known by the name of " The 
Corners" ; it was called by some " Weathersfield Four Corners." Dr. 
Furber was the first postmaster, and he was succeeded by Amasa Gay. 
A store was kept there as early as 1 829 by Lemuel Hitchcock, and now 
there are about a dozen dwellings, two stores, a church, a blacksmith 
shop, and saw and grist-mill. Some twenty-five years ago, through the 
efforts of some of the inhabitants, the name of the hamlet was changed 
to Ascutneyvillc. 

Cemeteries. — The first burying- place in the town was located on the 
road near the farm owned now by Luther P. Warren. In 1887 Na- 
thaniel Stoughton and John Williams gave to the town a lot of land 



Town of Weathersfield. 713 



consisting of three acres just west of the Crown Point road for a bury- 
ing-place. This has been enlarged to eight acres and contains many 
fine monuments, among which may be mentioned those of Charles 
Anisden, Samuel Whitton, Samuel Alford, Daniel Mudgett, and Napo- 
leon B. Roundy. The first person interred in these grounds was Jane, 
daughter of Gideon and Lydia Chapin, who died on March 14, 1790, 
aged three years and twenty-four days. There are four other burying- 
places in town, viz.: one about a mile north of the " the Bow " ; one at 
Ascutneyville ; one near what was once Greenbush ; and the other about 
two miles south of Weathersfield Center. 

Schools. — The town is divided into thirteen school districts, each 
having a suitable school- house. The first schoolmaster in town was 
Captain John Cofiin, of Cavendish. The second was Dr. Redfield. 
Since 1850 every school district has decreased in population excepting 
the eighth. 

Hotels. — In the early days the traveling public were accommodated in 
various parts of the town, as before stated. The Hawks Mountain 
House, at Perkinsville, was run as a hotel for a number of years, and 
then closed and used as a private residence. Afterwards it was opened 
again by David F. Mclntire, who continued to run it until his death. 
It is now closed. Since 1886 George S. Alford has kept a hotel at 
Perkinsville. The Downer's Hotel is situated in a lovely spot in the 
northwestern part of the town, and was built in 1830 by Samuel 
Downer, who died in 1838. The house has been kept by his son Ros- 
well since 1841. 

Important Events. — The first white child born in the town was Dor- 
cas, daughter of Eliphalet Spafiford. 

By an act of the General Assembly John Hubbard was given the 
right to hold a lottery in the town for the purpose of raising ;^I50 to 
erect a brewery in Weathersfield, October 26, 1789. By a similar act 
on November 3, 1791, Abraham Downer and John Hubbard were given 
the privilege to raise ii^200 to aid them in erecting a brewery. 

During the spring and summer of 1791 there were over seventy cases 
of small-pox in the town, nine of which were fatal. In the epidemic of 
spotted fever in 18 12 the town lost seventy of its inhabitants. 

In 1 84 1 an academy was opened at Perkinsville under the superin- 

90 



714 History of Windsor County. 

tendence of A. P. Chase and S. A. Bullard. It was conducted success- 
fully for a number of years. 

On July 23, 1867, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Gowing were murdered at 
their home in the east part of the town for their money, by Iliram Mil- 
ler, who was executed for the crime at Windsor, July 25, 1869. 

On January 31, 1867, De Witt C. Gardner killed on Pine Hill, near 
Downer's, a male panther seven feet in length, two feet nine inches 
high, and weighing I2I^ pounds. 

List of Supervisors of Weathersficld during the time it was a part of 
Cumberland county, N. Y.: 1772, Dan Tuttle ; 1773, William Richard- 
son ; 1774, Hezekiah Grout ; 1S75-76, Oliver Kidder ; 1777, Eliphalet 
Spafford. 

Selectmen. — 1778, Israel Burlingame, Asaph Butler, Levi Stevens; 
1779, Israel Burlingame, Levi Stevens, Edward Grannis ; 1780, Israel 
Burlingame, Edward Grannis, William Upham ; 1781, Asaph liutler, 
Eliphalet Spafford, Ambrose Cushman ; 1782, Nathaniel Stoughton, 
Joshua Dart, Henry Tolles ; 1783, Nathaniel Stoughton, Henry Tolles, 
Joseph Hubbard; 1 784, Waters Chilson, Joseph Hubbard, Oliver Cham- 
berlain ; 1785, Hezekiah Grout, Colonel John Boynton, Colonel Elijah 
Robinson ; 1786, Colonel John Boynton, Nathaniel Stoughton, Heze- 
kiah Grout; 1787, Henry Tolles, Waters Chilson, Oliver Kidder ; 1788, 
Joseph Hubbard, Oliver Kidder, Asa Field; 1789, Waters Chilson, Jo- 
sei)h Hubbard, John Boynton; 1790, Joseph Stoughton, Joseph Hub- 
bard, Waters Chilson; 1791, Joseph Hubbard, Waters Chilson, Lieuten- 
ant Thomas Prentice ; 1792, Joseph Stoughton, Nathaniel Stoughton, 
Samuel Steel ; 1793, Joseph Stoughton, John Bennett, Gideon Chapiii , 
1794, John Bennett, Gideon Chapin, Jonathan Whipple ; 1808-09, J. 
Boynton, Zenas Clark, Aaron Hall; 1810-12, Zenas Clark, Aaron 
Hall. Silas Bigelow ; 1813-14, Oliver Whipple, John Bennett, Silas 
Bigelow; 1815, John Bennett, Oliver Whipple, Nahum Duncan; 1816- 
17, J^ihn Bennett, Nahum Duncan, Benjamin Tolles; 1818-19, Aaron 
Hall, Joshua Upham, Amos Hulett ; 1820-21, Joshua Upham, Amos 
Hulett, Henry Tolles ; 1822, Benjamin Deane, Barnabas Deane, Nahum 
Duncan; 1823-25, Benjamin Deane, Barnabas Deane, Silas_.Demary ; 
1826, Barnabas Deane, John Davis, Givens Boynton; 1S27, John C. 
Haskell, Jacob Perkins and Aaron Hall; 1828, Amos Hulett, Jacob 



Town of Weathersfield. 715 



Perkins, and John Bennett, jr.; 1829, Amos Hulett, John Ben- 
nett, jr., and Joseph R. WiUianis ; 1830, Joseph R. Williams, James 
Newton, Sewall Clement; 183 1, Joseph R.Williams, John Sherwin, 
Sewall Clement ; 1832, John Sherwin, Sewall Clement, Jonathan Law- 
rence; 1833-34, Barnabas Deane, Nathan B. Deane, Allison Richards; 
1835, Barnabas Deane, Nathan B. Deane, Amos Hulett; 1836, Men- 
zies A. Thomson, John Allison, Sewall Clement; 1837-39, Menzies A. 
Tiiomson, Charles Barrett, John C. Haskell; 1840-42, Barnabas Deane, 
Allison Richards, Charles Sherwin ; 1843-44, Allison Richards, Au- 
gustus Tuttle, J. Field Chilson ; 1845, J- Field Chilson, Charles Barrett, 
Daniel Haskell ; 1846, J. Field Chilson, David Sherman, Josiah Newell ; 

1847, David Haskell, J. Field Chilson, Chauncey M. Chamberlain; 

1848, Chauncey M. Chamberlain, Barnabas Deane, Samuel R. Kendall ; 
1849-51, Barnabas Deane, Charles Sherwin, Samuel R. Kendall; 1852, 
Napoleon B. Roundy, Franklin Norton, Alvah Chamberlain ; 1853-54, 
Napoleon B, Roundy, Franklin Norton, Alvah .Chamberlain; 1855, 
Charles Sherwin, Erastus Conner, William P. Hatch ; 1856, Barnabas 
Deane, Samuel Alford, jr., Henry S. Bovven ; 1857, Barnabas Deane, 
Augustus Tuttle, John Sherwin; 1858-59, Barnabas Deane, Henry H. 
Spafford, Edson Chamberlain; i860, Henry H. Spafford, Edson Cham- 
berlain, William Sheldon ; 1861, Edson Chamberlain, William Sheldon, 
Henry Prentice ; 1862, Edson Chamberlain, Henry Prentice, Roswell 
Downer; 1863, Roswell Downer, Phineas Leland, William P. Hatch ■ 
1864, Edson Chamberlain, S. J. Demary, James M. Stearns; 1865-66, 
Edson Chamberlain, Samuel Alford, jr., James M. Stearns; 1867, Ed- 
son Chamberlain, Walter Newell, W. J. Tolles ; 1868-69, W. J. Tolles, 
Justus Dartt, Henry S. Bowen ; 1870-72, De Witt C. Thrasher, Hor- 
ace M. IVIorton, Erastus N. Dartt; 1873, Addison Slayton, George N. 
Sheldon, Chester Adams; 1874, Addison Slayton, Chester Adams, Ed- 
win S. Jackman ; 1875-76, George Barrett, F. E. Putnam, George A. 
Weston ; 1877, George Barrett, Henry P. Tolles, William H. Boynton ; 
1878, Henry P. Tolles, Almon N. Guild, Fred W. Blanchard ; 1879-81, 
Henry P. Tolles, George C. Sliedd, Francis G. Upham ; 1882, George C. 
Shedd, Francis G. Upham, F. E. Putnam ; 1883, Francis G. Upham, 
F. E. Putnam, George W. Kenney; 1884-85, I'rancis G. Upham, 
George W. Kenney, James H. Goldsmith; 1886-87, James H. Gold- 



7i6 History of Windsor County. 

smith, C. F. Aldrich, F. A. Newell; 1888. J. W. Leland, George G. 
Wilson, Luther P. Warren ; 1889, George G. Wilson, Luther P. Warren, 
John Gould. 

To'wn Clerks. — 1772, William Upham ; 1773, Benoni Tuttle ; 1774- 
81, Israel Burlingame ; 1782, Hezckiah Grout; 1783, Israel Burlin- 
game ; 1784-91, Gershom Clark ; 1792, Thomas Prentice ; 1793-1808, 
Gershom Clark ; 1809-13, Jonathan Whipple; 1814, Eber Gridley ; 
1815-18, C. Cowles ; 1819-25, James Converse; 1826-48, Joshua Up- 
ham; 1849-62, J. Field Chilson ; 1863-68, Vincent R. Henry; 1869- 
73, Gilman Shedd, who died in office, and remainder of his term was 
filled by his son, George H. Shedd, who continued in the office to 1882 ; 
1883-85, William M. Pingry. Me died in office, and Daniel C. Rich- 
ardson was appointed, but resigned, and George Barrett served out the 
term. The present town clerk is William H. Rugg, who has held the 
office since 1886. 

Town Treasurers since 1809. — Thomas Prentice, 1809-19; Philemon 
Tolles, 1820-44; Benjamin ToUes, 1844-4S; Menzies A. Thomson. 
1849-54; Charles Barrett, 1855-56; Joshua M. Aldrich, 1857-60; 
Charles Barrett, 1861-65; Walter Newell, 1866-68; George Barrett, 
1869-74; Elias W. Ellis, 1875-76; Charles Amsden, 1878 to the pres- 
ent time. 

Representatives from Weathersfield. — Israel Burlingame, March, 1778- 
80; William Upham, October, 1778-79; Waters Chilson, 17S1-84; 
Elijah Robinson, 1782-83, 1787, 1792-94; Hezekiah Grout, 1785; 
Joseph Hubbard, 1786, 1788-89, 1790-91 ; Nathaniel Stoughton, 1795- 
97, 1802-03; Thomas Prentiss, 1798-1801 ; Gregory Stone, 1804-07; 
Reuben Hatch, 1808; Peter Robinson, 1809-12; Carlos Cowles, 1813, 
1818; Oliver Whipple, 1814-15; Lemuel Hitchcock, 1816-17; Amos 
Hulett, 1819-22 ; Daniel Bowen, 1823-24; Barnabas Deane, 1825-26, 
1832, 1834-35, 1838-39; John Brown, 1827-28; Joshua Upham. 
1829-30; Cyrus Boynton, 1831 ; Jonathan Lawrence, 1833, 1836-37; 
Stephen Prentiss, 1840-41 ; Augustus Tuttle, 1842-43 ; John Spafibrd, 
1844-45 ; Hyren Henry, 1846-47 ; C. M. Chamberlain, 1848-49 ; John 
C. Haskell, 1850-51; James Weston, 1852-53; Samuel Alford, jr., 
1854-55; Joseph M. Aldrich, 1856-57; William Newell, 1858-59; 
William M. Pingry, 1860-61, 1868; Perry Haskell, 1862-63; Hyren 
Henry, 1864-65; H. H. Spafford, 1866-67; George Barrett, 1869; 



Old Families. 717 



Charles Amsden, 1 870; Daniel A. Wheeler, 1872 ; Justus Dartt, 1874, 
1878-80; Charles L. Stearns, 1876; E. C.Robinson, 1882-84; Edwin 
S. Jackman, 1886; Albert L. Marden, 1888. 

Members of the Constitutional Convention. — Nathaniel Stoughton, 
1793; Paul Cook, 1814; Amos Huiett, 1822; William Jarvis, 1828; 
Ebenezer Shedd, 1836; Daniel Bowen, 1843 ; William M. Pingry. 1850. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter of this work. 

Boynton, Colonel John, came from Wincliendon, Mas.';., to Weather.sfield about 1770. 
He was a tall, .';pare man, with a powerful voice, which could be heard for a distance of 
two miles in common conversation. He was a colonel of a regiment during the Revo- 
lutionary War. His children were Cyrus Jewett, who died Decejnber 4, 1843, being 
eighty years of age; Beman, bora in 1768, died in 1849, he was a Baptist minister; 
Molly, died single ; David, was an elder in the Baptist Church, and died at .Johnson, Vt.; 
and Ephraim. Cyrus (son of Colonel John) was called the captain, and built the house 
occupied by Luther Warren. He married Hannah Graves, and their children were 
Lucian, who died at Springfield, 111. ; Caroline, wife of Samuel Duncan, resides in 
Mitchell, la.; Nancy, widow of Stephen Prentiss, lives at Washington, D. C; Fannie 
(decea.sed), married F. D. Nichols ; Luther; Sumner, resides in Washington, D. C: John, 
died single ; Frank, lives at Fenidale, Cat; RoUin and David, both reside at Topeka, 
Kan. 

Uoynton, Luther, son of Captain Cyrus, was born in Weathersfield, March 3, 1812, 
and married Olive Durant. They had three children, viz.: Edmund L., died at seven- 
teen years of age ; Dnrant J.; and Cjtus C, a resident of Pasadena, Cal. Luther's 
second wife was Phebe M. Manship. He died May 5, 1881). 

Boynton, Durant J., son of Luther, was born in Waitsfield, Vt., December 8, 1841, 
and married Isadore L. Field. They have no children. Durant J. was educated at the 
Springfield, Wesieyan, and Fairfield Academies; was at the University of Vermont one 
year, and in the Medical Department two years, and graduated from Pittsfield Medical 
College in 1886. He practiced his profession a brief period, but in 1870 engaged in the 
wood and timber business at North Springheld, where he now resides. 

Chamberlain. — This family can be traced back for centuries, their names being found 
on the muster rolls of William the Conqueror at the ''Battle of the Abbey." There- 
fore they are of Norman blood, and in "Burke's Peerage and Baronetage " appear a 
large number of coats of arms of the Chamberlain family. The Puritan ancestor was 
Richard Chamberlain, who located at Roxbury (now a part of Boston, Mass.) His son 
Joseph, baptized June 4, 1665, was a soldier in the Indian wars, and was at Hadley, Mass., 
in 1676. At the beginning of the eighteenth century he removed to Colchester, Conn., 
and in March, 1711, was voted by that town £1, 13s., to entertain the French ambassa- 



7i8 History of Windsor County. 

ilor who passed througli the town en route for New London, Conn. Joseph had a son 
ISoiijamin, born in 1691, who had a son Oliver, liorn Feliniary !l, 1737, and in 17iil niar- 
rieil Mary Jones. This w&s llie Weatherslield settler. He came from Wind.sor, Conn., 
to Cliarleslown, N. H.. then a military post, and was a hatter by trade. He had a 
family of ten cliildren, viz.: Wyalt. born Deccndier 2<;, 176.3, emigrated to Ohio ; Oliver, 
born July 111, 17li.^, married I'olly Slougliton ; Sally, born December 1!), 1766, married 
Samuel Cook; Levi, died young; Alva, born February 17, 1771, married Abigail 
Sloughlon, resi<led in Weatherslield ; Chauncey ; Polly, married John Boynton ; Betsey, 
married Jo.seph Joslin ; Nancy, unurieil John Bisbee; and Amasa, emigrated to Ohio. 

Chamberlain, Jotham, came from Westminster, Vt., to Weatherslield in 1802, and mar- 
ried Irene Briggs, and had the following family: Almira, died single; Edson, left no 
issue; William, left no issue; Henry, resides in West Windsor; Thomas S.; Azubah 
(deceased), married John Huntingdon; Martha, married Henry Jackson ; Mary, married 
Henry Haskell; Minerva, widow of K/.ra Perkins; the last three reside in Wisconsin; 
and Clark. Jotham died in Stockbridge in 1847. 

Chamberlain, Thomas, son of Jotham, was born in Weathersfield, October 11, 181.'), 
and married Kunice Lull, and had four sons, all of whom with him.self are residents of 
Weatherslield, viz.: Elias, Edgar T., Henry W., and Herbert A. 

Chamberlain, Edgar T., son of Thomas S., born in Granville, Vt., September II), I8-I.'j. 
married Sarah G. Tolles, and they have no children. 

Danforth. Joseph, was born in Billerica, Mas?., and came to Jafl'rey, N. II., and from 
there to Chester, Vt., and to Weatherslield about 17UU. He married Lydia Cox, and had 
the following family : Jo^eph; Thomas, who died in Boston ; Levi, died in New York 
State; Ciari.ssa (deceased), married Danford Richardson; Ann (deceased), married John 
Siiowden ; Betsey (deceased), married Asa Brown; Hannah, married Samuel Lloyd; 
Enieliiie (deoea.seil), married Rev. William Lane; Louisa, died single; John W.. died ;it 
Hartford, Conn.; William H., died in New York State. 

Danforth, Joseph, .son of Joseph, was born at Jaflrey, N. H., November 19, I7>'7, and 
died l)cceml)er .St), 1870. He married Margaret O'Brii-n, and their children were James 
and Charles, both without issue ; Louisa C, resides at Weathersfield Bow ; Sarah E., wife 
of Joseph Richardson, of Northlield, Vt.; Franklin, William, and Margaret all died young 
Dickinson, David, a native of Wtslminster, Vt , first settled in Andover, Vt., and came 
to Ludlow, Vt., in 1814, where he died. He married Rhoda Adams, and had ten chil- 
dren, viz.: Rebecca (deceased), married Parker Pettigrew ; Linda (deceased), widow of 
Silas Warren; Hannah, died single; Rhoda (deceased), married Ira Dickin.son ; So- 
phronia, dieil single; Sylvia, married Wood Barnard, living at Oberlin, O.; Laura (de- 
ceased), married Allen Streeter ; David, dieil in Weathersfield; Hubbard B., resides in 
VVi!athersfield ; Cyrus, died young. 

Dickin.son, Hubbard B., son of David, was born in Andover, Vt., May 27, 1810, and 
married Leafy Si)airord. Their children were George, a member of Company K, Si.x- 
teenth Vermont Regiment, died of sickness contracted in the army ; Orrison, resides in 
Weatherslield, is a bachelor ; and Isadore (deceased), married Charles Wardner. Mr. 
f)ickin.sou has been a resident of Weatherslield since 1830. 

Downer, Galen, son of Dr. Abraham Downer, married for his first wife a Mi.ss Dean, 
and had the following children: .Miel, Roswell, Samuel and Lucretia. His second wifi' 
was Miss Mary Brown. 

Downer, Samuel, son of Galen, was born in Weathersfield in 1800, and died in 1838. 
He married Sarah Ilead, an<l they had eight children : Harriet (deceased), married John 
Brown ; Cutler, a custom-house broker in Boston, died in thatcity ; Caroline (deceased), 
married Henry Williams; Roswell; Mary Jane and^Susan, both the latter are married 
and live in Boston ; Dean, a resident of Marshalltown, la.; and Helen, who died young. 
Downer Roswell, son of Samuel, born in Weathersfield. September 9, 1821, married 



Old Families. 719 



Harriet Parker, and had two children : Emily, the wife of Charles Allen, of Chester, 
Vt.; and Fred H., engineer on the N. Y. C. and H. R. R. R., resides at Stratsburg, N. Y. 

GowiniT. — The families in this town of this name are descended from Benjamin Gow- 
ing, who was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Chester, where he was amonj; the 
early settlers. He had a lai'ge family of children, among whom were March, Benjamin, 
Nathaniel, Samuel, Hannah, and Lucretia, who married J. M. Aldrich. 

Gowing, March, son of Benjamin, died in 1868, at the age of seventy years. Hemar- 
i-ied Betsey Whiting, and they had eight children : Valentine, died in Vermont ; Lu- 
cretia (deceased), married JonaMian Web.^ter ; Patience (deceased), mariied, first, an 
Adams, and, second, Geoige Garland ; Susan (deceased), married John Hale ; Elizabeth, 
a widovp, resides in Troy, Vt., married, first. Frank Adam.s, and second, Mr. Norris ; 
Jona,s, died in Chester; Abijah B.; and Nathaniel, deceased. 

"Gowing, Abijah B., son of March, was born in Springfield, October 16, 1816. He 
married for hisfii'st wife Lenora Lock wood, by whom lie had eight children, viz.; Delia, 
the wife of Gardner Bemis. of Charlestown, N. H.; Marcia ; Amelia (deceased), married 
Warren Paine; Mary, tlie wife of Cyrus Cobb, of Springfield; Jane, the wife of (5eorge 
Jones; Henry, resides in Reading, Vt.; Horace, lives ii Massachusetts; and Martha, 
died young. His second wife was Gratia Bemis, by whom i\e had three children, viz.: 
Fred, who married .Ada Marston, has one child, Clarence, who resiiles in Weathersfield ; 
Frank, died young; and Almon, who married Lillia K. Thayer, has one child, Jessie. 
He lives in Weathersfield. Abijah B. has been a resident of Weathersfield since 1841. 

Grout, Hezekiah, was one of the early settlers of Weathersfield, having come to the 
town from New Hampshire as early as 1772. We are uual)le to give the names of all 
of his clrildren, but he had four sons, viz.: Philander, Oliver, Seth and Kyar ; the latter 
died at Mendon, Vt. 

Grout, Seth, son of Hezekiah, married a Hagar, and had the following family: 
David, who died at Randolph, Vt.; Nelson, died in Massachusetts; Matilda (deceased), 
married Abel Spafiord ; Seth; Nancy (deceased), married Samuel Smith; and Nellie 
(decea.sed), married Marshall Whittaker. 

Grout, Seth, son of Seth, was born in Weathersfield, June 26, 1791, and died in 1831- 
He married Dolly Brown, and their children were Emeline (deceased), married Bradley 
Mitchell; Warren; and Harlan P., who resides in Weathersfield. 

Grout, Warren, son of Seth, was born in Weathersfield, June 29, 1820, and married 
Roxy P. Halsey. Their one child, Oscar, was born in Weathersfield, and niariied 
Alice Proctor. They have three children : Lena M., Dolly and Frank W. 

Grout, Oliver, son of Hezelviah, married a Morse, and of his seven children none are 
living. Their names were Dan, Harvey, Seer, Minerva, Electra, Adaline and Laura, the 
last two married. 

Grout, Dan, son of Oliver, was born in Weathersfield, in 1792, and died in 1864. He 
married Lucy Whitney, and they had si.\ children, viz.: Minerva, the wife of Alonzo 
Amsden, of Windsor; Maria (decea.sed), was twice married; Ann (deceased), was twice 
m.arried ; Volney, William Wirt and Henry. 

Grout, Volney, son of Dan, was born in Cavendi.sh, December 7, 1828, and married 
Martha Ann French. Their children are Hattie, the wife of Alvin Harlow, of Ware, 
Ma.ss.; and Clara M., the wife of Albert Billings, of Weatliersfield. Martha, wife of Volney 
Grout, died April 28, 1888. He afterwards manned Mrs. Isaiiella A. Chase, of Athol, 
Mass. The children of Alvin Harlow are Mabel, Ralph V. and Arthur W. The chil- 
dren of Albert BiUings are Helen, Sarah and Martha A. H. 

Haskell. Elijah, was a resident of Norwich, Conn., and upon his death his widow and 
.some of his children, among whom were the following sons, viz.: Gideon, Jacob, John, 
Roger, and Perez, came to Weatliersfield and settled. 

Haskell, Gideon, son of Elij.ah, was born in Norwich, Conn., November 10, 1766, and 



720 History ok Windsor County. 

tmirried Meliilable Barnard, and had the following children : Minerva, married Deacon 
.).>natliaM VVhitcorab, of Clareinont, N. H.; Fannie, married Deacon Nathaniel W'arren, 
of Wealherslield ; Emily, married Dr. Josiah Richards, of Claremont, N. II,; William, 
remaine<l upon the homestead, called " Governor's Right," located one-half in Spring- 
field, the other in Weathersfield ; Franklin, removed to Kansas, and was the fatlier of 
Hon. Dudley C. Haskell, a member of Congress from that State, who was elected to the 
4'')th Congress, and served continnonsly until his death, December IG, 1883; and Lever- 
ett, who died and left no issne. Gideon died Febrnary 25, 1842. 

Haskell, William, son of Gideon, born ni Weathersfield, Vt., January 30, 1803, mar- 
ried for his first wife Sarah Hall, by whom he had one child, Emily, wife of Deacon J. 
Warren Tolles, of Weathersfield. His second wife was Orrinda, daughter of Ebenezer 
Shcild. Their children were Charles H., died aged two years; William Henry; 
Charles W., resiiles in Grafton, Vt.; Jane E., wife of C. S. Worcester, of West Wind- 
sor ; Abby (deceased;, married Frank Dartt; Eben S., resides in Lebanon, N. H. Will- 
iam died Ai)ril 21, 1884. 

Haskell, William Henry, son of William, was born in Weathersfield, Vt., August 10, 
18^U, and married Cornelia A. Chase, of Springfield, Vt., and lias two children, viz.: 
William Henry, jr., ami Mary C. Mr. Haskell resides just over the line in the town of 
Springfield. He married second, August 2'\ 1890, Minnie L. Cobbe, of Woodstock, and 
occupies the old homestead. Mary C. married, March 18, 1800, George W. Bates, of 
Springfield, and lives on the Sallbrd place near Springfield village. 

Jackman, Abner, was born in Lunenburgh, Mass., September 20, 1758, and married 
Rebecca French, and their children were Joshua, died young; Levi, died in New Y'ork 
State; Sally (deceased), married Jo.seph Parker; Betsey (decea.sed), married Obadiah 
Streeler; Rebecca (deceased), married Erastus Dartt ; Abner, died in Illinois ; Joseph, 
died in Lincoln, Vt.; Luther, died in Colraine, Mass.; Polly (deceased), married Charles 
Barrett ; and Salome, widow of Mr. Strong, resided in Berlin, Vt., and died April 25, 
1890, .aged eiglity-two years .and eleven months 

McEwen, M.alcolm, ot Scottish descent, moved into Weathersfield at an early day, 
and married Lydia Plant. They h,ad five children, viz.: Betsey, who married Reuben 
Strovv; James (deceased), married, but left no descendants ; Archibald, became a physi- 
.-.ian, and practiced a numl)er of years in Cavendish, and left no issue; Nancy, married 
Isaac P. Strow : and Francis, who died West, leaving no descendants. 

Mor.se, Hiram S., was born in Pomfret, Vt., May 20, 1806, and was a son of Jacob 
and Rachel (Cheedle) Morse. He married for his first wife Isabella Murray, by whom 
he had si.\ children, viz.: Lorett, wife of A. W. Leighton, of Livermore, la.; Mary Aim, 
died at thirteen years of age; Adiiline, wife of E. S Jackman, of Pomfret, Vt.; Isiibel, 
wife of George A. Weston, of Fairibault, Minn.; Annette and Rosette (deceased), twins, 
the former became the wife of Rev. Eugene Daniels, a Baptist minister, the latter died 
at the age of .six years. His second wife was Charlotte L. Fish. Their children are 
Susan E., wife of George G. Wilson, of Weathersfield; and Abner H. Mr. Morse be- 
came a resident of Weathersfield in 1854, where he died May 18, 1886. 

Murray, Samuel, came from Massachusetts to West Windsor, and married S,ally Ham- 
mond. They had four children, viz.: Charle,s, who died in Weathersfield ; Isabel (de- 
cea.sed), married Hiram S. Morse; Mary Ann (dece.ised), married James Weston; and 
Allen, born in Cornish, N. H., Noveralier (i, 1819, married Elvira, daughter of John 
Preston. They had two i-hildren, Ella (deceased), and Emma, wife ot F. W. Blanchard, 
of Weathersfield. Mr. Murray has been a resident of Weathersfield since 1836. 

Squire. .Tohn, a native of Connecticut, came from Salisbury, Vt., to Weathersfield in 
1790. He married Sarah Carter, and had four children, viz.: Reuben, who died in Ver- 
mont; William, died in Penn.sylvania ; Peter; and Polly, who married Brown. 

Squire, Peter, son of John, was born in Salisbury, Vt., in 1789, and died in Weathers- 
field, June 5, 1867. He was married three times, viz.: to Esther, Betsey, and Ann, all 



Old Families. 721 



daughters of William Craigue. The children by tlie first wife were William, who died 
in Wisconsin; James, died in Boston; Betsey, widow of Hyland Lockwood, resides in 
North Caniljridge, Mass.; Moses Parker, died m Boston ; John P. and Joseph, residents 
of Boston ; and Lydia, died at the age of twenty years. The children by the second 
wife are Esther A. and Ellen M., both residents of North Cambridge. There was but 
one child by the third marriage, viz.: Horace Rollin, born in Weathersfleld, Decem- 
ber 13, 1839, and married Luella B. Scales ; has two children : Annie and Horace Har- 
rison. 

.Stoughton, Nathaniel, was born in East Windsor, Conn., March 28, 1746, and mar- 
ried for his wife Abigail Potwine, and their children were Aliigail, married Albert Cham- 
berlain ; Nathaniel, went toCJhio; Lydia, married Philemon ToUes ; Martha, married 
Jeduthum Cobb; Sarah, married, first, Luke Carter, and second, David Weatherbee; 
John ; Thomas, went to New York State, and had a son, Edwin, who became United 
States minister to Russia; Richard, died at Royalton, Vt.; William, went to Illinois; 
Alice, married Frederick France, and is the only one living, she resides at Decatur, Ind.; 
and Daniel, died at the age of eighteen years. Nathaniel died February 6, 181.5. 

Stoughton, John, son of Nathaniel, born in Weathersfiekl, December 20, 1787, mar- 
ried Betsey Watson. Tlieir children were John P., and Elizabeth, who died single. 
John died February 5, 1874. 

Stoughton, John Potwine, son of John, born December 22, 1810, married Laura Hull. 
Their children were Ruth, wife of John G. McKeen, of Russell, Kan.; Laura Ellen, mar- 
ried Leavitt Perham, of Ludlow Center, Mass.; Mary E.; Julia, wife of Lyman A. Mo- 
Iveen, of Manhattan, Riley county, Ivan.; George, a resident of Weathersfield ; Olin W,, 
a dentist at Springfield, Vt. John P. resides on the farm settled bv his grandfather in 
1781. 

Stcow, Reuben, came from New Hampshire to Weathersfield and married Betsey 
Mudgett, and had the following family : John, who died in New York State ; Reuben, 
who left no descendants ; Isaac Thompson ; William, died in New York State ; Sarah, 
married Sewall Clement ; Betsey, married Rockwell Dean ; Mary, married James Swift. 
Reuben left five chiluren, two sons and three daughters. 

Strow, Isaac Thompson, son of Reuben, died in his native town, Weathersfield, Au- 
gust 31, 1874, aged .seventy-six years. His wife was Nancy McEwen, and they had one 
child, Isaac Archibald, born May 4, 1821, who married Sarah S. Hall, and died March 18, 
1880, leaving no children. 

Streeter, John, only son of Nathaniel, was born in Rindge, N. H., and'married Eliza- 
beth Young. Their children were Josephus ; Asenath (deceased), married Alpheus 
Stephens ; Calvin, died at Mimcie, Ind.; Allen, died in Cavendish ; and Alfred is at 
present a resident of Weathersfield, Vt. 

Streeter, Josephus, son of John, was born in Weathersfield, February 15, 1808, and 
married Sarah Barnes. They had four children, viz.: Caroline, who was twice married, 
first to Edward Ste.arns, second to Hiram Heminway ; William, resides in Michigan ; 
Zeda (deceased), married David Kendall ; and Betsey, wife of John Murray, of Weath- 
ersfield. Mr. Streeter has always been a resident of his native town, excepting between 
1836 and 1865, when he resided in Indiana. 

ToUes, Captain Henry, a native of Connecticut, came to Weathersfield before the Rev- 
olutionary war. He had a family of seven children, viz.: Clark, David, Amaryllis, 
Henry, John, Benjamin, and Philemon, The latter two were twins. David married 
Elizabeth Bisbee ; Amaryllis married Lieutenant Burpy Prouty ; Henry married and 
had a family of children ; .John married Rachel Consort and had six children, David, 
.John, Fannie, Philemon, Harry, and Nathaniel ; Philemon married Lydia Stoughton. 

Tolles, Clark, soii of Captain Henry, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and mar- 
ried Sally Proctor, .and had eight children :_ Henry ; Sally, married Ames Nicliols ; 

91 



722 History of Windsor County. 

Chirk; Levi, married Mary Mosely, anil had seven children, Julia Ann, Lncian, Charles, 
Georj;e, Betsey, Kannie, and Henry: FiUcy, uiairied Henry Tirrell; Betsey, married a 
Marshall; Hannah, married Leonard Koby ; and Gershoin H., who died in the West, 
inarricnl Cynthia Niles, and hail three children, Cyrus, Leroy, and a daughter who died 
young. The only one living of this family is Lucy, who resides m Nashua, N. H. 

Tolles, Henry, son of Clark, better known as Henry, second, was boni in Weathersfield, 
April 10, 1782, and married Azubie Nichols. Their children were David, died at eighteen 
vi'ars of age; Horace C, married Sophia Wright, had nine chiMren. Horace, Henry, 
Willard, Frank James, Sarah, Hannali. Ja.wn Xenophon. and died in Nashua, N. H.; 
Ira, died at the age of seven years; Henry I'roctor; Hiram H., died at the age of twenty- 
four years; Mariam P. (deceased), married NomlasCobb ; John Warren; and Lucy Ann, 
a maiden lady residing in Weathersfield. Henry, second, died November 21, 184!). 

Tolles, Henry Proctor, son of Henry, seconci, born December 22, 1815, married for his 
first wife Elizabeth Clement, and had one chilil, Frances (deceased), married H. H. Dake. 
His .<econd wife was Amelia Tolles, and they had one child, Azubie Elizabeth, the wife 
of Williiuii 11. Stewart, chaplain of U. S. navy, lives in Swampscott, Mass., and has one 
son, Howard Proctor. Henry Proctor's third wile was Lucinda F. Beckley, and he 
married for Ins fonrth wife Abbie Emerson. 

Tolles, John Warren, son of Henry, seconil, married Emily S. Haskell, by whom he 
had two children, viz.: Sarah A., died at the age of thirty-three years, and Cliftbrd R., 
born February 5, 1855, a resident of Weathersfield. 

Tolles, Clark, .son of Clark, was born in 1787, and died October 4, 1869. lie mar- 
ried Nancy Cowles and had four children, viz.: Bedyann (deceased), married William 
Sheldon; Franklin; Eveline, the wife of Freeman Hatch, of Weathersfield ; Damietle C, 
the wife of Horace W. Gill, of Monticello, la. Clark married for a second wife Mar- 
tha Dyke. 

Tolle.t, Franklin, son of Clark, born January 19, 1818, married Martha T. Gill, and has 
three children : Louis C, and Celestia, wife of Henry T. Anken, are residents of Clare- 
mont. Neb., and Horace F., born November 28, 1852, married Mary E. Pike (deceased), 
and had one child, Franklin A.; he afterwards married Addie A. Grill, and resides in 
Weathersfield. 

Tolles, Benjamin, son of Captain Henry, was born in 1778, and marrieil Sally Bisbee, 
by whom he liail twelve children, viz.: Elizabeth, married John Stimson ; Sally, married 
Kben Sawtell; Benjamin, di"d young; Mary, married John Finney ; Amaryllis, married 
Horace Lockwood. and had three cliildren ; Hannah, married David Slinison ; Benjamin 
Bisbee, marrieii Mary Durry, had three children, went to Illinois; Amelia, married 
Hem'y P. Tolles; David, married Parthenia Dartt, had two children, Almon D. andEd- 
nali; Phdemon and Lsabella, died single; and Ahner. . Benjamin died April 13, 1854. 
.•\hnon D., son of David, married Hattie Bugbee, and has two children, Benjamin D. 
and Ednah P. 

Tolle.s, Abner, son of Benjamin, was born July 30, 1823, married for his first wife I'a- 
melia Pulsifer. and had two children, Sarah, wife of Edgar T. Chamberlain, and Alice 
L.. who died December 27. 1858, aged nine years. His .second wife was Caroline Jones, 
by whom he had one daughter, Amelia C. Abner died May 27, 1880. 

Wilson, George C, was born in Pomfret, V't., February 13, 1849, and is the youngest 
sou of Benjamin ami Am-elia (Grow) Wilson. He became a resident of Weathersfield 
in the spring of IS70 He married Su.san E. Morse and has four children, viz.: Albion B., 
iMnuia I/., George II. and Koy E. 



Town of Baltimore. 723 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BALTIMORE. 

'^T^HE town of Baltimore was created by an act of the Vermont Legis- 
£ lature, passed October 19, 1793, the territory consisting of about 
3,000 acres, and being the southeastern corner of tiie original grant of 
Cavendish. There was in 1791 a population of 275. As they were sep- 
arated from the other portion of Cavendish by the Hawks Mountain 
it was deemed necessary to form a new town for the convenience of 
the settlers. 

The town is triangular in shape, and is bounded on the northwest by 
Cavendish, east by Weathersfield, and south by Chester. It is in lati- 
tude forty-three degrees, twenty-one minutes, and longitude four de- 
grees, twenty- five minutes. The town is well wateretl with springs and 
brooks, but has no mill privileges or streams of consequence. The soil, 
which is warm, though quite stony, produces fair crops of grass and 
grain. , It has no settlement worthy of the title of village ; no post-office, 
no church, the inhabitants being obliged to step over the lines of their 
narrow territory into towns south and east for such conveniences. 

The first town meeting was held March 12, 1794, at the dwelling 
house of Waldo Cheney, and since that time they have been held regu- 
larly, and although at the present time there are only eighteen voters in 
town a full set of town officials are elected annually. 

Emigration to the town seems to have been popular in an early day, 
but in the census table which we append each decade shows a decrease 
of the population: 1791, 275; 1800, 174; 1810, 207; 1820, 204; 
1830, 179; 1840, 155; 1850, 124; i860, 116; 1870, 83; 1880,71. 
Baltimore can without doubt claim the honor of being in population 
the smallest town in the United States. 

On the organization of the town it was divided into two school dis- 
tricts, but in 1838 they were consolidated, and though at the commence- 
ment of the present century there were 115 scholars in attendance at the 
winter term, there are at present only thirteen attending. 

Small as Baltimore is she has poor to take care of, and Mrs. Phebe 
Gates had the honor of being the first pauper to become a charge upon 



724 History of Windsor County. 

the town as early as i8i6. The first justice of the peace was Isaac 
Chamberlain. 

The town incurred a debt of $i,200 during the late civil war in order 
to fill her quota, a bounty of $300 being given to volunteers. Among 
the early settlers, who were mostly from Massachusetts, we mention 
Joseph Atherton, Joshua Martin, Jonathan Woodbury, Noah Piper, 
Jonathan Boynton, Caleb Leland, Benjamin Litch, Waldo Cheney, Seth 
Houghton, Benjamin Page, Isaac Chamberlain, Stephen Richardson^ 
Amasa Gregory, Ephraim Martin, and Luther Graves. Many of these 
settlers have no descendants living at jiresent in Windsor county. 

Following is a list of representatives from this town, with the years of 
their service: Benjamin Page, 1824-26, 1828; Jonathan Woodbury, jr.. 
1836-37; Lyman Litch, 1839; Levi Harris, 1840; William Davis, 
1841-42, 1848; Jonathan M. Boynton, 1844-49; Luther M. Graves, 
1850; Phineas C. Robinson, 1861 ; Rodney L. Piper, 1862; George 
David, 1864; Joseph W. Leland, 1865 ; Charles A. Leland, 1866; Ed- 
mund L. Bemis, 1867; Lewis Bemis, 1868; A. L. Thompson. 1869; 
R. C. Sherwin, 1870 ; P. J. Johnson, 1872; Sylvester Ellison, 1874; 
Orson D. Freeman, 1876-86; Ervin C. Sherwin,. 1878-88 ; Thomas 
Preston, 1880; Orville N. P^ullam, 1882; George Davis, 1884. 

Members of Constitutional Conventions. — Joseph Atherton, 1828; 
John Piper, 1843; Levi Piper, 1850. 

Selectmen. — Waldo Cheney, 1794-98, 1S02 ; Jonathan Woodbury, 
1794-95. 1797. 1799. 1800-12, 1 8 14; Joseph Atherton, 1794-95, 
1824; Isaac Chamberlain, 1795-99; Jonathan Burnham, 1796; Joshua 
Martin, jr., 1796, 1799, 1802; Seth Houghton, 1797, 1800, 1806-10; 
Ezra Redfield, 1798; Reuben Bemis, 1800, 1S03, 1805, 1808, 1813, 
1 8 17, 1 8 19; Noah Piper, 1801 ; Jonathan Boynton, 1801, 1803, 1810- 
19; Benjamin Page, 1804-10, 1812-19, 1824-27, 1829-30; Stephen 
Robinson, 1804, 1820-23, 1830, 1834-36; Benjamin Litch, 1815, 1824- 
28; Ephraim S. Martin, 1816-18, 1823, 1831 ; Amasa Gregory, 1820- 
23, 1825, 1831; Luther Graves, 1820-22; Jonathan Woodbury, jr., 
1825-29, and 1832; Joshua Leland, 1827-30, 1832-33, 1835, 1845-46; 
Luke Harris, jr., 1831-32, 1848; Levi Piper, 1833-34, 1837-39; Ed- 
mund Batchelder, 1833; William Davis, 1833-44, 1854-57; Jonathan 
M. Boynton, 1836-39, 1845-46, 1848-50, 1855-58; Phineas C. Rob- 
inson, 1840-43, 1847; John Piper, 1840-42, 1S45-47, 185 1-58 ; Zenas 



Old Families. 725 



H. Graves, 1843-44, 1847, 1849, 1850-52, 1859-62, 1865-66, 1871-72, 
1875-76, 1882, 1885-88; Luther M. Graves, 1844, 1853; Thomas 
Preston, 1848-50, 1863-65, 1871-72, 1875-77, 1882-88; J. W. Le- 
land, 1851-54; Lyman Litch, 1858-63, 1867-68; Carter K. Piper, 
1859; Charles A. Leland, 1860-62, 1865; Joshua Leland, 1863-64; 
Joshua W. Leland, 2d, 1863, 1870, 1873-74; Rodney L. Piper, 1866- 
67; R. C. Sherwin, [866, 1870, 1873-74; Chauncey Davis, 1867-69; 
Putnam J. Thompson, 1868-70, 1873-74; Lewis Bemis, 1869, 1877, 
1884; Sylvester Ellison, 1871-72; Ervin C. Sherwin, 1875-76, 1878- 
81, 1886-89; George Davis, 1877-78, 1885; O. D, Freeman, 1878- 
79, 1880-81 ; R. A. Glynn, 1879; O. N, Fullam. 1880-81 ; F. Z. Pres- 
ton, 1882-83; S. O Bemis, 1883; D. B. Humphrey, 1884, 1889; 
C. W. Bridges, 1889. 

Town Treasurers. — Jonathan Woodbury, 1794-97; Waldo Cheney, 
1798-99; Seth Houghton, 1800; Reuben Bemis, 1801-02; Benjamin 
Page, 1803-16, 1822-26; Joshua Martin, jr, 1817; Jonathan Wood- 
bury, jr., 1818-21, 1S27-29, 1833-39; Phineas C. Robinson, 1830; 
Levi Piper, 1831-32; Jonathan M. Boynton, 1840-58; Rodney L. 
Piper, 1859-67; Joseph W. Leland, 2d, 1868-69; P. J. Thompson, 
1870; Sylvester Ellison, 1871, 1875-76; R. C. Sherwin, 1872-73; 
Thomas Preston, 1874; Robert A. Glynn, 1877-79, 1881-82; F. Z. 
Preston, 1880; E. C. Sherwin, 1883-84; G. H. Coffin, 1885-89. 

Toivn Clerks. — Joseph Atherton, 1794—97, '7991 Joshua Martin, jr., 
1798; Jonathan Woodbury, 1800-14; Jonathan Boynton, 1815-21; 
Joshua Leland, 1822; Benjamin Litch, 1823-24 ; Jonathan Woodbury, 
jr., 1825-30, 1839 ; Jonathan M. Boynton, 1831-37 ; Levi Harris, 1838 ; 
John Piper, 1840-60; Rodney L. Piper, 1861-67; George Davis 
1868-69; R- C. Sherwin, 1870-76; F. Z. Preston, 1877-86, 1888; 
G. H. Coffin, 1887 ; C. W. Bridges, 1889. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter of this work. 



726 History of Windsor County. 

, Boynton, Jonathan, was born in Fitchbur(^, Mass., in 1773, and came to Baltimore in 
1797, where he died in 18.5G. He miirrieil Sally Martin. Of their seven children, one 
died in infancy. The others were Sally (deceased), married Luke Robinson ; Betsey 
(deceased), married Jo.slma Ijehir.d ; Jo.seph, died in New York State ; Mary ((lecea.sed), 
married David Barker; Jonathan M., now living in Springfield; and Lewis, married 
Merry I'arkcr, died in Springfield. 

Boynton, Jonathan M., son of Jonathan, was born in Baltimore, November 4, 1807, 
and married Harriet Batchelder. They had five children, viz.: Ednumd, died yonng: 
Klectra, wife of J. W. Leiand, of Weathersfield ; Emerson, a sergeant in Company A. 
Third Vermont Volnntecrs, was killed at Spotsylvania Court House, Va.; Francis and 
Frederick, both <lieJ young. Jonathan M. has been a resident of North Springfield 
since 18(iO. 

Graves, Luther, was born in Leominster, Mass., in November, 1780, and came to Bal- 
timore in April, 1815. He married Dorcas Martin, and had five children, viz.: Arthnsa, 
died young; Nelson L., a Presbyterian minister, died in North Carolina ; Luther M., 
died in Massachusetts ; Luke C, died in North Carolina; and Zenas H. Luther died 
February 28, 1861. 

riraves, Zenas H., son of Luther, was born in Weathersfield, March 17, ISl.*!, and 
married Emily, daughter of Amasa Gregory. Their three children were Nelson, who 
died at the age of fifteen years; Ella and Olis C, both residents of Baltimore. 

Fiper, Noah, came from Massachusetts to Baltimore, and was one of tlie first three- 
settlers. He died September 7, 182!), aged seventy -nine years. He married Sarali New- 
ton, and had a family of eleven children, viz.: Sarah, died young; Amo.s, died in Balti- 
more; Lucretia (deceased); Ruth (deceased), married Walter Mansfield; Eunice 
(deceased), married Nehemiah Green; Rufus, died in Cavendish; Prudy(decea.scd), mar- 
ried a Mr. Green; Patty (deceased), married a Mr. Cheney; David, died in New York 
State; John, died in Baltimore ; Levi; and Wealthy (deceased), married James Phille- 
brown. 

Piper, Levi, son of Noah, was born in Baltimore, June 28, 1793, and married, Janu- 
ary 11, 181 G, Mirian Bartlelt, and had three chddren, viz.: Edwin; Adaline, wife of 
Thomas Preston, of Baltimore; Martha, died single. Levi died in Springfield, January 
.!, 1877. 

Piper, Edwin, son of Levi, was born in Baltimore, December 11, 1S17. and married 
Esther Brierly, a native of England. The following were their children : Martlia Jane, 
died at the age of two years and eleven months; Herbert, died at eleven years of age; 
Foster L.; and Mary Jane, wife of Willis C. Prescott, of West Epping, N. H. Edwin 
has been a resident of Springfield since 1842. His wife, Esther, died October 14, IS90. 

Piper, Foster L., son of Edwin, was born in Springfield, March 3, 18.50, and married 
Sarah Jane, daughter of Abel Adams. They have one sou (legally adopted), Edward C. 
and one daughter, Nellie Mav. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF POMFRET. 

GICOGRAI'HICALLY the town of I'omfret occupies a position in the 
northern part of Windsor county, being one of the second tier of 
towns south of the northern boundary of the count)', and also in tlie 
second tier of towns west from the Connecticut River. Its boundary 



Town of Pomfrei'. 727 



towns are as follows: North, is Sharon; east, is Hartford; south, is 
Woodstock and a very small portion of Bridgewater; and west is Barn- 
ard. The town is in latitude forty-three degrees, forty- two minutes 
north, and east longitude four degrees, thirty- one minutes. 

The general character of the land surface in Pomfret is quite hilly, the 
same as nearly all the other towns of the county, but there is perhaps 
less of what might be called mountain formations in this locality than is 
observable in a number of other towns. There is a gradual or general 
rise in the surface both from the north and south, each tending toward 
the central part of the town ; and the ridge thus formed, extending in a 
rather northwest and southeast direction, divides the waters of the town, 
the streams in the north and northeast sections discharging into the 
White River, while those in the south and southwest localities find their 
way into the Otta Quechee River. 

The town, however, receives no practical benefit from either of these 
large water-courses of the northern part of the county, but both touch 
it, the White River crossing the extreme northeast corner, while the 
Quechee in the same manner touches the corner farthest to the south- 
east. Three considerable tributaries of these streams just referred to 
have their main sources and course of flow in Pomfret. Of these 
Mountain Brook drains the southern central and southeast portions of 
the town. Mill Brook the northeastern part, and Broad Brook the north- 
western part. The last two named are tributaries of White River, and 
Mountain Brook of the Quechee. 

Of the several towns that comprise the county of Windsor, Pomfret 
was the seventh in the order of seniority, and the twenty-fourth town 
chartered on the New Hampshire Grants, as the region of this State was 
then known. Pomfret was chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth 
on the 8th of July, 1761, to "Isaac Dana and his associates," of whom 
there were sixty-seven, and embraced a tract of land seven miles long, 
north and south, and five and one- half miles wide, east and west, con- 
taining thirty-eight and one-half square miles, or its equivalent in acres, 
24,640. 

The proprietors of this town had no sooner received their charter 
than they at once proceeded to effect their preliminary organization with 
a view to an immediate allotment of its lands and such improvements as 
were necessary to invite early settlement and development. The first 



728 HisTOkv OK Windsor County. 

Ill -cting of the grantees was held at Pomfret, in the State of Connecti- 
cut, (this town being named from the Connecticut town of Pomfret,) on 
the 7th of September, 1761, in pursuance of a warning dated July 23, 
1761, and duly pubhshed in the Boston Gazette and County Morning 
Journal. The meeting was organized by the election of Ebenezer Will- 
iams as moderator, Isaac Dana, jr., as proprietor's clerk, Simeon 
Sessions as collector, Ebenezer Williams as treasurer, Ebenezer Will- 
iams, John Williams, and Isaac Dana as committee for the said propri- 
etors. It was then resolved " to lay out 1 00 acres to each proprietor 
according to quantity and quality, as near the town plot as should be 
found convenient, exclusive of meadow land and mountain." 

It was then voted that Amasa Sessions, William Winchester, Simeon 
Sessions, Isaac Dana, and Seth Paine, jr., and William Dana, in case Mr. 
Paine refused to act, be a committee to lay out the lots and make the 
division and partition above referred to ; also it was voted to lay a ta.x 
of eleven shillings on each right to defray the charges of the committee. 
The meeting then adjourned to re-assemble at the same house, the dwell- 
ing of Zachariah Waldo, at Pomfret, Conn., on the 25th of November, 
1 76 1. 

These preliminaries being thus settled, the committee chosen to make 
the survey and division of the town proceeded upon the performance of 
their duties; first running the boundary lines of the town, laying out a 
road through the town from north to south, and as near the center thereof 
as practicable, after which the town lots were surveyed, one acre in 
each, and then the hundred acre lots, so called, to be improved for farm- 
ing lands, with the customary reservation of lots, one for the first set- 
tled minister of the gospel, one for the society for the propagation of 
the gos[)el in foreign parts, one for the benefit of a school, and one for 
a glebe for the Church of England. This being done the committee and 
their surveyor, Theopholis Chandler, returned to Connecticut, made a 
map of the town and a report of their proceedings to the proprietors, all 
of which was approved. 

This was followed by appointing the lots to the proprietors by lot, 
that is, placing the numbers in a hat, each number corresponding with 
one on the plan, and the proprietors drawing in turn until the slips be- 
came e.xhausted. This was the customary practice in the greater part 
of the towns, and a novel scheme it was, but nevertheless entirely fair. 



Town of Pomfret. 



729 



This was called the first division of the town lands. This disposition of 
lots laid the foundation upon which rests the present titles to the lands 
of the town. Subsequent divisions were made until all the lots were ap- 
propriated. 

The next move on the part of the proprietors was directed toward ef- 
fecting permanent settlements within their granted tract, but this was a 
task easier to contemplate than to execute. In order to encourage an 
occupation the proprietors offered a bounty of one pound, ten shillings, 
" to a number of the proprietors (not exceeding ten) that shall them- 
selves, or others in their stead, first enter upon the rights, . . . and 
then labor three months between this time (March, 1762) and the first 
of November next ; . . . and those of them that shall continue to 
labor on their rights six months shall be paid one pound, ten shillings 
more, when they shall have completed their labors." 

But the temptations offered by these bounties do not seem to have 
been sufficient to effect colonization in the town. At that time this re- 
gion was almost an unbroken forest, a vast wilderness of woods and 
mountain streams. The Indians, too, were still in the vicinity, although 
none are positively known to have been in the town. There were no 
white settlements nearer than Newbury, and settlement here at that pe- 
riod meant hardships, trials and sufferings that even the most courage- 
ous pioneer frontiersman would hardly undertake. At that particular 
period the controversy between the provinces of New York and New 
Hampshire was just verging upon open rupture, and there was not a 
single consideration that would tempt the settler to the region ; and it 
was not until the year 1769 that a permanent settlement in the town was 
effected. 

During these years, the period between 1761 and 1769, the proprie- 
tors of Pomfret continued their meetings, especially between 1761 and 
1764, there being no records of any meetings between 1764 and 1769 ; 
and at every such gathering there was presented some proposition rela- 
tive to the town that occasioned the laying of a tax against each right. 
This was indulged in to such an extent that many of the lot owners be- 
came discouraged, and allowed their lots to be sold rather than stand 
tlie burden of assessments made against them. But it was not wholly 
due to this cause that the lands were so often relinquished by their 

92 



730 History of Windsor County. 

owners, for at that time it appeared to many of the proprietors that they 
would eventually lose their lands, as they supposed the New Hampshire 
charters would not stand, and that they could have no rights under them 
that New York would recognize or confirm. Under these circumstances 
they preferred that whatever investment they had already made should 
be lost rather than trust to the precarious title they deemed theirs to be. 

In the latter part of 1769, however, the affairs of the proprietors with 
reference to their chartered towns began to assume more substantial 
form, and promised a settlement of the land in the near future. Already 
in that year a number of pioneers visited the locality and made some 
clearings and built cabins or log houses for occupancy during the next 
year. In December, also, in 1769, Stephen Keyes, Simeon Sessions, 
Matthew Bowen, William Dana, Nathan Frink, Daniel Waldo, Stephen 
Sabin, John Frink, Ebenezer Demming, Joanna Sessions, John Throop, 
Jonathan Waldo, Nehemiah Ilowe, Darius Sessions, John Bosworth, 
Amos Lyon, and Samuel Dana joined in a petition for a meeting of the 
proprietors, to be held in Woodstock, Conn., on the 31st of January, 
1770, to consult and agree upon some method and measures for the set 
tlement of the town of "New Pomfret." 

In accordance with the petition the meeting was " warned," and there- 
after convened at the dwelling of widow Mary Childs, at Woodstock ; 
and the proprietors then agreed, among other things, "to go on and 
settle said township the summer next coming; to be at the expense of 
clearing a convenient road to the town, and so far into and through tiic 
same as a committee shall judge to be for the best interests of the pro- 
prietors ; to make a second division of hundred-acre lots, Simeon Ses 
sions, William Dana, and Deacon David Williams being the committee 
to attend to its performance; also voted to tax each right two dollais 
and one-half for expenses and charges; also chose Nathan Frink, Mat 
thcw Bowen, and Isaac I'cllows, assessors ; Matthew Bowen, collector ; 
and John Winchester Dana, treasurer. 

The first permanent settlement in the town of Pomfret has been cred- 
ited to the family of Bartholomew Durkee, who reached the cabins that 
had been built during 1769 on the 6th of March, 1770. They were 
followed a few days later by John Chedel and his family. But it was 
quite doubtful whether Bartholomew Durkee really was the first perma- 
nent white settler to locate within the borders of this town, for if 



Town of Pomfret. 731 



the records of the proprietors are to be relied upon that distinction be- 
lont^ed to Andrew Powers. It appears that at a proprietors' meeting 
held on the 25th of December, 1770,3 communication was read to the 
effect that Andrew Powers had made a purchase of lands from Oliver 
Willard, supposing at the time that they were located in the town of 
Woodstock, but that by the survey of the Pomfret lines Powers found 
himself within the town survey of Pomfret. Says this letter: "Since 
you have run your line between said Woodstock and your township, 
has taken in all my improvements and five more settlers which I have 
sold lots to. The measure of lands you have taken into your township 
of my purchase is to the amount of about 354 acres. ... I being 
a man somewhat advanced in years, but through Divine goodness in 
sound health and body ; likewise the rest of said settlers are healthy, 
well young men with their families; but all of us poor and (place) our 
whole dependence on said land for our living. . Now go- 

ing on the third year I have worked on said lands and have got into a 
comfortable way to live," etc. The prayer of the letter, which was in 
the nature of a petition, was that the lands occupied by Powers and his 
grantees might be confirmed and granted them under the Pomfret pro- 
prietary. And this the general owners consented to do. 

In 1773 it was found that the town had a sufficient number of inhabit- 
ants to justify a permanent local organization, independent of the meet- 
ings of the proprietors, the latter, however, being kept up until the year 
1794, but for what purpose cannot be now satisfactorily explained. The 
first meeting of the pioneers of Pomfret was held in March, 1773, at 
which time officers were chosen as follows : Moderator, John Winchester 
Dana ; clerk, John Winchester Dana ; supervisor, John Winchester Dana ; 
assessors, John Chedel and Benjamin Bugbee ; collectors, Seth Hodges 
and Jacob Burch ; overseers of the poor, John Winchester Dana and Ben- 
jamin Bugbee ; commissioners of highways, John Winchester Dana, Jacob 
Mascroft, and Benjarnin_Bugbee ; surveyors of highways, Darius Ses- 
sions and Abida Smith ; fence viewers, Bartholomew Durkee and Jacob 
Mascroft; constables, Abida Smith, Benjamin Bugbee, Darius Sessions, 
and J_ohn_jiacon. At the same time Benjamin Bugbee, Seth Hodges, 
and John Winchester Dana were made a " committee to look out a 
burying-ground " In March, 1776, in addition to the customary officers, 



732 History of Windsor County. 

the freemen chose a Committee of Safety, of which John Winchester 
Dana, Seth Hodges, and Thomas Vail were the members. 

It will be seen by reference to the several officers chosen at the first 
election by the freemen, in 1773, that a supervisor was elected, and no 
selectmen ; and assessors, and not listers. This was in accordance with 
the laws and customs of the province of New York. And it is a fact 
that the proprietors of Pomfret at that time recognized and inclined to 
the authority of that province as against the authority of New Hamp- 
shire ; and it was quite often the case that the records of the early meet 
ings of the proprietors, in alluding to this town, referred to it as " Pom- 
fret ill the province of New York." But this seems to have made no 
difference at that time, for the settlers were so few in number, and the 
town was so far from any established or popular center, that whether 
they acknowledged allegiance to New York or New Hampshire or some 
other province, such action had not the effect of attracting any consider 
able attention from the outside world. 

In April, 1778, after Vermont had been declared an independent 
State, and after the plan of its government was adojjted and put in oper- 
ation, the male population, in order to entitle themselves to the privileges 
of qualified electors, were compelled to take and subscribe the freeman's 
oath ; and those who became so qualified in Pomfret were as follows : 
Darius Sessions, Calvin Morse, Elijah Mason, Abida Smith, John Perrin, 
Captain Seth Hodges, Timothy Harding, Elijah Hoar, Zebulon Lyon, 
Heriah Green, Abel Perrin, Henry Ainsworth, Zenas Paddock, Nathan 
Chaffee, John Chedel, John Winchester Dana, John Throop, Benjamin 
Bu^bee, Abijah Child, Benajah Child, Barnes Green, William Child, Na 
thaniel Throop, Ezra Drew, Resolved .Sessions, Robert Perry, Peter Per 
rin, William Perry, Isaiah Tinkham, Benjamin Sessions, Benjamin Skinner, 
Jabcsh Vaughn, Samuel Snow, David Caplin, John^ Baco n, John Doton, 
Frederick Ware, Marshall Mason, Captain Bartholomew Durkee, Samuel 
Winslow, Jeremiah Conant, Ephraim Peake, Barnabas Washburn, Elna- 
than Allen, Nathaniel Eraser, Abijah Child, Lemuel Peake, John Eraser, 
Isaac Wilson, Asa Paine, Ether Matthews, Charles Wolcott, Asa Morris, 
Abiel Bugbee, Enoch Leonard, William Perkins, Captain Timothy 
Mitchell, Oliver Hutchinson, John Pratt, Thomas Vail, William Holmes, 
Jonathan Dana, Increase Hewitt, De-xter Hawkins, Seth Hathaway, 
Isaac Dana, Captain Solomon Leonard. 




Coleman Sanders. 



Town of Pomfret. jit, 



During the early years of the Revolutionary war Pomfret had not 
acquired a sufficient number of inhabitants to take any active part in the 
military operations that were then being carried on west of the mountains, 
and in other States than Vermont; nor had the settlers then living 
in the town the power to furnish any quota of men for active service, as 
every male person able to work had all that he could do in maintaining 
an existence in this unimproved locality. It was only by incessant and 
persistent labor that the settlers were able to provide necessary family 
subsistence, and men could not well be spared from the weak and strug- 
gling community for army life in other parts. 

But, notwithstanding their condition, the settlers were called upon to 
furnish men and means of subsistence for the military organizations of the 
State, and a number left home and entered the service. Besides this, the 
authorities of the town had a company of militia, which was commanded 
by Captain John Throop and Lieutenants Bartholomew Durkee and 
Thomas Vail. Upon the occasion of the burning of Royalton by the 
English and Indians this company was called upon to join in the pursuit 
of tlie invaders, the whole pursuing force being in command of Captain 
House. The burning of Royalton occurred October i6, 1780. Con- 
cerning the events of that attack and burning a published account says; 

" The Pomfret companj' contained several graduates of the Canadian 
war, and certainly showed soldier-like qualities by its action. Marching 
to Royalton on that i6th day of October, through the lonely forest with 
the apprehension of being ambushed at every step by an enemy of un- 
known force, and having their families exposed to they knew not what 
peril behind, could not appear exactly in the light of child's play; but 
they nevertheless proceeded straight to the place where the attack was 
made, and similar bands coming in from other towns, there were assem- 
bled at nightfall, as we read, ' several hundred resolute men.' The 
captain of the Pomfret company was John Throop, but he was a mem- 
ber of the State council which was then in session at Bennington, and 
the command devolved upon Lieutenant Bartholomew Durkee, the first 
Pomfret settler. Upon arriving at Royalton three of the company, who 
were footsore or otherwise unfitted for a long march, were dismissed, 
and at Randolph six others dropped out, the nine returning the next 
day to Pomfret. The remaining twenty- seven went on under command 
of Colonel House to Brookfield, ... at which place they were 



734 IlisToRV OK Windsor County. 

joined by Resolved Sessions with a horseback load of provisions from 
home. Returning, the company reached Pomfret on the i8th." 

Tlie members of the Pomfret company were : Lieutenant Bartholomew 
Uurkee, Lieutenant Thomas Vail, Sergeant B. Green, Sergeant E. Peake, 
Daniel Ainsworth, Samuel Alien, Sylvester Bugbee, John_^ Ijacon^ 
Benajali Cliild, William Child, Nathan Chaffee. William S. Hutchinson, 
Seth Hodges, Edmond Hodges, John Jefiferson, Israel Keith, Daniel 
Leonard, Asa Morris, l^iijah Mason, Abial Morse, John Morehouse, 
Thomas Noonan, John Perrin, Daniel Packard, William Perry, Benjamin 
Sessions, Israel Sessions, Amos Throop, Ebenezer Winslow, Asa Child, 
ICzra Drew, Jeremy Dwyer, Robert Perry, Jedediah Perry, John Wat- 
kins, Nathaniel Washburn. The entire expense of the expedition of 
this company, which was paid by the State to the men, was twenty-one 
pounds, fourteen shillings and five pence. 

As has already been stated, the town of Pomfret furnished some men, 
a few, who were with the army during tiic Revolution ; and there subse- 
quently came to live in the town other men who also had seen service 
during that struggle. Among the papers of the late Hosea Doton there 
has been found a list of names of persons, " soldiers in the War of the 
Revolution, who were at some (time) residents of the town of Pomfret, 
Vermont," as follows : 

Anron Blanchard, Jesse Bruce, Abial Bugbee, Nathaniel Carpenter, 
Jeremiah Conant, Isaac Dana. John Darling, John Dexter, John Doton, 
Bartholomew Durkee, Daniel Fraser, Increase Hewitt, Jonathan Hoit, 
Adam Howard, Joshua Lazell, Enoch Leonard, John Miller, Abial 
Morse, Joel Perkins, Robert I'erry, Jeremiah Pratt, Phineas Raj'mond, 
Nathaniel Ruggles, Christopher Smith, Samuel Snow, Benjamin Thomp- 
son, Isaiah Tinkham, Charles Wolcott, Frederick Ware, William Waters, 
William Whitman. 

Also among the collections of historical data in the possession of Mr. 
Doton there has been found a list of the persons who lived in Pomfret, 
and who were engaged in the service during the second war with Great 
Britain, known as the War of i8 12-15. The record then made is headed 
thus: "The following are the names of those who were soldiers in the 
War of 18 1 2, who at some time have been residents of the town of 
Pomfret." The names there referred to are: Moses Abbott. Levi 
Allen, Warren Blanchard, Daniel Boynton, John M. Boynton, Luther 



Town of Pomkret. 735 



Bugbee, Isaac Churchill, Colonel Daniel Dana, Elias Fales, Franklin 
Fales, Martin D. Follett, James Freeman, Richard Gladden, Calvin 
Green, Benjamin Hill, Oliver C. Leonard, Alfred Leonard, Alexander 
Milliken, Walter Morse, John Noonan, Sheldon Parker, Jabez Parkhurst, 
^Marcus Peake, Ephraim Perrin, Levi Pratt, Aaron V. Smith, Lewis 
Smith, Samuel P, Snow, Eben Snow, Anson Snow, Cyrus Snow, 
Leonard Spooner, Hull Vail, Jonathan Ware, Jonathan Ware, jr., Jona- 
than Weeks And appended to the data are these remarks: "Tyler 
Burbank was under Decatur in the war against the Algerian pirates in 
181 5 " ; and^' Richard Evans, who was an inhabitant of Pomfret for a 
long time, was a deserter from the British army in the war of the Revo- 
lution." 

In the late war, that of 1861-65, ^""^ known as the war of the Rebel- 
lion, the town of Pomfret furnished the aggregate number of one hundred 
and thirty- two men, of whom sixty- five were enlisted in the three years, 
service, twenty- two for one year, twenty-eight for nine months, while 
eight others were in the naval service. In addition to these seven more 
were in the service credited to the town, but not named. Nine men were 
drafted and paid commutation, and one procured a substitute. A com- 
plete roll of all the volunteers enlisted in Pomfret during the war will be 
found in Chapter X. of this work. 

Prominent among the volunteers from Pomfret is found the name of 
Colonel Thomas A. Seaver, the present probate judge of the county, in 
the Hartford district. Colonel Seaver entered the service during the early 
days of the war, and was commissioned captain of Company F, Third 
Regiment, May 24, 1861. From this he was promoted major August 13, 
1861; lieutenant-colonel, September 27, 1862; and colonel January 15, 
1863. He was mustered out of service July 27, 1864. 

Edward A. Chandler was commissioned second lieutenant of Company 
F, Third Regiment, May 24, 1861 ; was promoted first lieutenant De- 
cember 5, 1861 ; wounded severely April 17, 1862 ; and was mustered 
out of service July 27, 1864. 

Charles D. Stafford enlisted as a private in Company H, Eleventh Reg- 
iment, August 8, 1862; promoted corporal June 15, 1864; company 
quartermaster-sergeant September 28, 1864 ; second lieutenant May 13, 
1865; and was mustered out of service June 24, 1865. 



736 History of Windsor County. 

Harvey N. Bruce was commissioned captain Company G, Sixteenth 
Regiment (nine months' service), September 4, 1862, and was mustered 
out of service August 10, 1863. 

In the First Cavalry were First Lieutenant Alexander B. Chandler and 
Second Lieutenant Richard A. Scaver, both from Fomfret. 

Church Societies. — It is an undoubted fact that the people comprising 
the last two or three generations of mankind have not given the same 
devoted care to matters pertaining to their spiritual welfare as did their 
ancestors of the preceding century; for while the early settlers were en- 
gaged in daily and constant struggle for the necessaries of life, they nev- 
ertheless exercised the same watchful care over their own and their chil- 
dren's spiritual and religious education as was bestowed upon secular 
pursuits. One of the earliest public improvements in Pomfret was the 
construction of a log meeting house on the Chandler farm in 1774, and 
possibly before that year. This was a rude, primitive edifice, yet suffi- 
cient for the needs of the people of that period. In 1778 the question 
of building a new meeting house by the town was presented to the 
freemen, but the proposition was defeated. In 1880 a meeting was called 
" to see what the touii will give Reverent Aaron Hutchinson per Sab- 
bath to preach with them the ensuing season, and also to what method 
the town will come into in order to pay the sum they may be willing to 
give him." Subsequently Rev. Hutchinson was engaged as preacher, 
as will be noticed from an extract from the records, by which it was voted 
"to give him fifteen shillings per Sabbath that he preaches, in wheat, at 
six shillings per bushel." 

In 17S3 the societN' of the Congregational church was organized in the 
town, and during the next year the Legislature authorized the town to 
lay a tax upon the improved lands, also upon the " polls," as a means of 
providing a fund for a church edifice. But some trouble followed and it 
was not until several years had elapsed that another and more substantial 
church edifice was erected. Other societies were afterwards organized 
in Fomfret, known as Christians, Baptists and Methodists. The Chris- 
tian c'lurcli buiHing was erect-'d at Pomfret Center about the year 1832 
or 1833, but was burned some ten years later. In its place a union 
church was erected, but a lack of interest by the societies sufTered the 
building to get out of repair, services were only held occasionally, and the 
property was eventually sold or transferred to the town, but is still at the 




^^/^->-^^ {^7^^ 




Town of Pomfret. 



in 



service of any denomination which desires its use. The early pastors of 
the Congregational Society, after the primitive services of Rev. Aaron 
Hutchinson, were Elisha Hutchinson, Ignatius Thompson, and John 
Button. 

Schools. — The first efforts in the direction of establishing a school in 
Pomfret were made during the year 1786, when the following petition 
was circulated and signed: " We, whose names are hereunto subscribed 
being Sensible of the Necessity of a School for the Education of our chil- 
dren Do hereby engage unto Each other, and unto Mrs. Betty Sessions, if 
she will Engage to keep a School for us at the house or shop belonging to 
Esq'r Dana for the Space of three Months or more to pay for her Service 
one Bushel of good wheat or four shillings per Week to be paid by the 
first Day of November next. Each Signer to pay in proportion to the 
Number of Schollars he Signs for and Engages to Send to Said School, 
Sickness Excepted. 

" Pomfret, June ye 14th, 1786. And further we engage to pay Esqr 
Dana the Sum of three Shillings per week for the Board of a School 
ma'm, to be paid in Wheat at five Shillings per Bushel or other Grain 
Equivalent to be paid by the first Day of December next to be paid in 
Proportion to Each Schollar he Shall Send. Elijah Mason, three (schol- 
ars) ; John W. Dana, three ; Samuel Snow, two ; Henry Ainsworth, 
two; Israel Keith, three; Elnathan Allen, two; Jeremy Dwyer, one; 
James Rouse, two; Abraham Vail, 2; Lieut. Vail, 2; Lt. Smith, 2; Sim- 
eon Sessions, i ; Jesse Smith, i." Total, twenty-six. 

The first school-house was built of logs, in the north part of the town ; 
and as the population increased other schools were established, some- 
times in dwellings until a suitable place was provided. But the town 
was soon divided into districts, and schools maintained in them, each 
district paying the expense of its school. This is the present system 
supporting the town's schools. In March, 1805, reports from the super- 
visors of six districts gave a total of 339 " polls " (meaning children) be- 
tween the ages of four and eighteen years. In 18 14 the reports showed 
a total of 598 such "polls," and 1816, 426. At present the town has 
eight full and four or five fractional districts. 

TJie Pomfret Centennial. — In 1870 the people of Pomfret, and many 
from other towns, assembled at the Center, on the 15th of June, for the 
9:t 



738 History of Windsor County. 



celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the town. 
About nine o'clock on that day the assembled multitude formed in pro- 
cession at the church, and, under command of Major Ora Paul, Captain 
Harvey N. Bruce and Norman Paul, marched to a beautiful hillside 
•jrove, which had been prepared for the occasion. Hon. Crosby Miller 
was president of the day. After prayer by Rev. Hamilton, and singing 
by tlie choir, the president introduced Seth Conaiit, esq., who delivered 
an address of welcome. Following this, and interspersed with music, 
the following services were had : Original poem, written and read by 
Mrs. James K. Chamberlain ; centennial address, by Rev. h2lmer Hewitt, 
of Weymouth, Mass., but a native of Pomfret ; original hymn, written by 
Mrs. Chamberlain, sung by the choir. 

The ladies of Pomfret had prepared a bounteous collation for the 
guests and towns-people, to which the general attention was ne.xt di- 
rected. Four thousand people sat at the feasting tables, and still an 
abundance of food was left, so generous had been the contributions. 
After every inner want had been supplied the people returned to the 
grove, and the exercises resumed. Captain Bruce and Counselor Paul 
officiated as masters of ceremonies, and proposed toasts, which were 
given and responded to as follows: "The Town of Pomfret," res()onse 
by Hon. Crosby Miller; "The President of the United States," response 
by Ho/i. Julius Converse; "Our Country," by W. C. Whipple; "The 
Judiciary of Vermont," by Hon Jas. Barrett; "Our P'ormer Citizens," 
by E. S. Jackman ; "The Clergy," by Rev. Moses Kidder; " The P^irst 
Settlers of Pomfret," by James K. P. Chamberlain ; " The Press," by Lu- 
ther O. Greene; "The Ladies," by Norman Paul, esq. Adjourned to 
1970. 

Pomfret Representatives in Vermont General Assembly — 1778, March, 
John Winchester Dana; 1778, October, John Throop ; 1779, none 
1 780-81, John Winchester Dana; 1782, none; 1783, Abida Smith 
1784-85, William Perry ; 1786, Abida Smith ; 1787-88, John Throoj) 
1789, Abida Smith ; 1790, Beriah Greene; 1791, Abida Smith; 1792, 
John W. Dana; 1793-96, William Perry; 1797-98, Oliver Hutchinson ; 
1 799-1 800, William Perry; 1801-02, Jeremiah Conant; 1803-05, Jo- 
seph Perry; 1806-07, Elisha Smith; 1808, Daniel Dana; 1809, Igna- 
tius Thompson; 1810, Daniel Dana; 18 1 1, Ignatius Thompson; 1812- 



Old Families. 739 



13, John Bridge ; 1 8 14-15, Ignatius Thompson ; 1816-17, John Bridge 
1 8 18-21, Dexter Hawkins ; 1822, Eben Snow ; 1823, Dexter Hawkins 
1824, Eben Snow; 1825-26, John Bridge; 1827-28, Isaiah Tinkham, jr. 
1829, Henry Hewett ; 1830-31, Nathan Snow; 1832-33, Cyrus Snow 
1834-35, Isaac Tinkham, jr.; 1836, Otis Chamberlain ; 1837-38, Henry 
Hewett; 1839, Otis Chamberlain ; 1840-41, Ora Paul ; 1842-44, Gard- 
ner Winslow ; 1845, none; 1846, Robert Perry, jr.; 1847, Oliver Leon- 
ard; 1848, Martin D. Follett; 1849, Joshua Vail ; 1850, Elisha Smith ; 
185 I, Joshua Vail ; 1852, William Gibson; 1 853, William Gibson ; 1854, 
none; 1855, William Gibson; 1856, Nathan Snow; 1857, Kimball Russ; 
1858, Nathan Snow; 1859, Nathan Snow; i860, Otis Chamberlain; 
1861-63, Crosby Miller; 1864-65, Harvey N. Bruce; 1866-67, Ora 
Paul; 1868, Crosby Miller; 1869, Joseph H. Pratt; 1870-71, Joseph 
H.Pratt; 1872-73, John Brockway; 1874-75, Elias S. Wood ; 1876- 
TT, Homer W. Vail; 1878-79, Ora Paul; 1880-81, William H. Adams; 
1882-83, Charles H. Ma.xham ; 1884-85, Albro E. Perkins; 1886-87. 
Orville M. Tinkham ; 1888-89, Henry Brockway. 

Town Clerks. — 1773-74, John W. Dana; 1774-76, Abida Smith; 
1776-89, John Throop ; 1789-1806, Frederick Ware; 1806-18, John 
Miller; 1 8 18, Thomas Barnes ; 1818-21, Jo'.in Miller ; 1821-25, Eben 
Snow; 1825-34, David Chandler ; 1834-82, Otis Chamberlain ; r882- 
90, Charles H. Vaughan. Mr. Vaughan is the present clerk. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible within the compass of this work to give a 

genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 

town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and 

have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 

For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 

to a later chapter in this work. 

Bugbee Family, The. — Edward Biigbee, the anoe,stor from whom all the families in 
Pomfret and neighboring towns in Vermont descend^ emigrated from England, sailing 
from the port of Ipswich in the ship Francis, April 30, 1634. He was acoonipMnied by 
his wife Rebecca and daughter Sarali. Tliey landed in Boston anil settled in Roxbury, 
Mass. Their son Joseph was born to them June 6, 1040. Edward died January 26, 
1669. Joseph n.iarried Experience Pitclier of Dorchester, Mass., and had nine children, 
Joseph, jr.. Kel)ecca, Edward. Samuel, Abigail, Mehitable, Jonathan, Josiah and Na- 
thaniel. Joseph died at Woodstock, Conn., July 26, 1729. .losiali, son of Jonathan 



740 History of Windsor County. 

above named, married for his second wife Polyeenia Arnold, of whom her descendants 
have tlie following interesting tradition. It is" said that she was connected with the 
noljility of England, and that going aboard of a vessel aliout to sail for New England to 
bid farewell to certain of her friends, the captain suddenly and unbeknown to her 
weighed anchor and sailed away, refusing lu;r ajjpeals to be set on shore. The vessel 
hud a long, rough voyage, was chased by pirates, came near being captured, was short 
of provisions, and she was made so timid by her rough experience of the seiis that she 
never dared to return. After awhile her wardrobe was sent to her, which because of 
its elaborateness ami richness astonished and delighted the good dames of Ashtord, be- 
ing so dillerent from their home-made a[)parel. Samuel Bugbee, fourth child above, 
married Dorothy Carpenter, .January 26, 1701. They had nine chddren, Rebecca, Sam- 
uel, Dorothy, Anne, Jesse, Joseph, James, Dorothy, second, and Experience. Jesse, 
fifth ciiild of Samuel, married Experience Peake, March 14, 1733. They had 
eight children. Lucy, Anna, Lois, Jedediah, Anna, .second, Abiel, Zilpha, Abel. Jesse 
died in 17.00, Experience died J :inu.iry 8, 17!l7, at Pomfret. Abiel, sixth child above, 
married Hannah Ilarwood, Novembe lo, 1770. They had nine children, Elisha, Abiel, 
jr., David, Adin, Calvin, Hannah, Levina, Lutlier and Rufus. Abiel Bugbee, sr., wa.s n 
Revolutionary soldier, was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and had a shoebuckleshot from 
his .shoe in that engagement. He took deeds of the farms m Pomfret now owned by 
his descendants Adin and Herman Bugbee, June 17, 178(i, and March 18, 1788, moved 
with his launly and settled upon them. He was an eccentric character, was often era- 
ployed in suits in law as a pettifogger, and often proved himself more than a match for 
the best legal talent in the county. The noted " Kettle " case may be cited as a speci- 
men. David Bugliee, third above, married January 7, 1808, Rebecca Swift ; studied 
medicine with Dr. Parkhurst of Lebanon, N. H., located and practiced his profession in 
Pomfret and neighboring towns up to the time of his death, January 3, 1821. His wife, 
born February 9. 17S0, died December (>, lS,i8. They had six children: Horace, Lin- 
naeus, Hannah, Harriet, Abel Ilarwood, and Abiel. All were married and raised fami- 
lies. Abiel, the youngest, married March 22, 1846, Amanda M. Goff, born October 28, 
1821. Her graiulfathe'-, Ohver Goll', married Thankful Seekins, came from Rehoboth, 
Mass. in 17S2. and setlli'd in Pomfret on the place now owned and occupied by Her- 
man Bugl)ee. They had ten children, of whom their son Oliver was the ninth, born in 
Pomfret, August 12, 171J7, died January 11, 1890, aged ninety -two years and live 
months. He was a man universally respected. Ilis wife was Philena Walden. born 
October 14, 1801, died July 31, 1874. Abel Bugbee owns and carries on the farm in 
Ponifrot, known as the " John Culver place." Oliver G. Bugbee, only son of Abiel 
and .Vmanda M.. was born in Pomfret, May 17, 1851, educated in the common schools and 
Plvmouth and South Woodstock Academies. Heniarried, January 22, 1883, Mrs. R. C. 
McAllister, born in Weston, Vt., November 8, 1850, died March 29,1886. June 1, 
1890, he married Lucia A, Bruce, of Braintrec, Vt., born May 20, 1859. Oliver G. in the 
main has followed fanning. He served as justice of the peace six years, and notary 
public ten years. Rufus Bugbee, youngest child of Abiel and Hannah, born May 12, 
1792 lived and died on the place where his son Herman now resides. lie died Sep- 
tember 30, 1871 ; his wife Eliza, born September Hi, 1795, died September 1, 1874. He 
was captain of militia, justice of the peace, selectman, and a steward of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church many years. His children were Willis, Aurilla, Austin, Edwin, Jus- 
tin and Herman. Willis, born January 8, 1819, was twice married, first to Celia 
Culver, second to Harriet N. Staflbrd. He had one child by the first wife, Elmer W.. 
liviii" in Monlpelier. Willis died February 24, 1884. Aurilla, born March 28, 1821, 
was the wife of Dexter Burke. They had six children, four of them married, .\urilla 
died in Sharon, Vt., Sejiteinber 25, 1859. Austin, born September 1, 1824. married, 
first, Betsev A. Stewart, .second, Carrie >L Foster. He had three children Ipy the first, 
and two by the second wife. He is a farmer living in Sharon, Vt. Edwin, born 
October 22, 182G, married Jane Walcott. They have but one child living, Mary E., 



Old Families. 741 



born September 27, 1868. Edwin is a merchant living; in Mound City, Campbell 
county, South Dakota. Justin Bugbee, born April 1.5, 1829, married .January 2, 18()2, 
Abbie M., daughter of Nathan B. anil Lorenza (Woodward) Dana, born in Pomfret, 
August 17, 1832. She is a descendant in the fourth generation from General Israel 
Putnam, whose daughter Hannah was the wife of John Winchester Dana, many of 
whose descendants are still re.'^idents of Ponjfret. Her father died in Reading, Vt., 
September 30, 1871. Her motlier i.s living with her son Nathan B. Dana, in Delaware 
county, Pa. Though by trade a carpenter, Justin Bugbee has divided his time between 
his trade and teachuig, having taught in Pomfret and neighboring towns twenty-nine 
winters. Children of Justin and Abbie M. Bugbee are Dana J., born November 23, 
18G2, was graduated from the Agricultural Department of Dartmouth College in 1882, 
now a teacher in the pulilic schools of Boston; Tracy S., born February 21, 1864, died 
December 1.5,1864; Perley R., born November 6, 1865, graduated from the Chandler 
Scientific Department at Dartmouth, June 26, ISyO; Nathan Penn, bom April 12.1867; 
.Lay D., born Aug. 4, 1868, died Feb. 1, 18!)1 ; Eva A., born Dec. 10, 1869, died Aug. 2, 
1870; T. Dwight. born March 30, 1871 ; Locke H., bora Jan. 11, 1874; and Coy M., born 
September 10, 1875. Herman Bugbee, born November 21, 1834, married December31, 
1867, Eimie E. Stinsou of Topsham. Me., born November 7, 1838, died J\ily 26, 1887. 
They had a son, Earle R., born in Boston, Mass.. January 22, 1870, died July 19, 1870. 
Herman owns and occupies the " Bugbee" homestead, which came into his possession 
in 1872. With the e-Xcept,ion of twelve years passed in Boston and other cities, in the 
employ of Sampson, Davenport & Co., publishers, he has lived on the place of his birth. 
He has devoted much time to music, and has taught it many winters in Pomfret and ad- 
joininsr towns. He is now (1890) one of the selectmen of the town and town repre- 
sentative, and ranks high among Pomfret's successful farmers. The descendants of 
Abiel Bugbee, sr., celebrated the hundredth anniversary of his settlement in this town 
.\ugust 22, 1888. Over one hundred of his kindred participated in the exercises, which 
were held under a tent erected for the occasion upon the spot where he built his house 
and spent his days. The day will be long remembered by all who participated in the 
exercises, which were closed by planting a pine tree upon the spot of ground lie had 
selected for his burial. 

Gilbert, Jacob, was born in Calais, Washington county, Vt., March 29, 1809. He was 
the fourth in a family of thirteen children of Martin and Ruth (Reynolds) Gilbert. 
Jacob Gilbert, his grandfather, born in Massachusetts, moved from New Braintree, and 
settled in Woodstock, Vt., on the place now owned by Horatio Atwood. He married, 
first, Sarah Dean, and had children by her as follows: Daniel, Martin, Jacob, Jonathan, 
Edna and Polly. He married, second, Abigail Mayo, and by this union had oliildren as 
follows: Abigail, Sally, Mary, Clarissa and Benjamin Dexter. Jacob Gilbert and his 
wives died in Woodstock, and are buried in the cemetei'y near the English Mills. Mar- 
tin Gilbert, the second son by the first marriage, was born in New Braintree, Septemlier 
5, 1781. He was fourteen years old when his father moved to Vermont. He married 
Ruth, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Stronsr) Reynokhs, born August 18, 1885. 
She was the grandchild of Samuel Reynolds, who married, February 26, 1756, Ruth 
Mon.sel, and died October 24, 1763. Martin Gilbert, after his marriage, lived with his 
father-in-law, Jonathan Reynolds, in Pomfret, about one year, then moved to Calais, 
where he lived six years, th'm returned to the old place in Pomfret, and upon the death 
of Mr. Reynolds the place became the property of his wife, and here he lived until the 
time of his death, which occurred September 18, 1842, occasioned by a fall from a 
wagon. His wife survived him many years. She died at the homestead April 5, 1874. 
Their children were Esther, Jonathan R., Betsey, Jacob, Elizabeth S., Volucia, William 
D., Samuel R., Charle.s, Joseph, Silas, Joseph L., and Jasper H. Jacob Gilbert, since he 
was four years ot age, has lived in Pomfret, at the homestead, and since 1843 in the 
house built by himself, near the homestead, where he still resides. He married, January 
14, 1839, Sylvia, daughter of Blisha and Patty (Gilbert) Benson. Their children are 
Edwin A., Ruth A., and Lncian Edmund. Lucian B. carries on the home farm. Jacob 



742 History of Windsor County. 

Gilbert has been a life-lonp farmer. He is a Republican in polities, has? served his town 
as iissessor and lister. Though past four-score years he is well pre.^^erved in mind and 
body. In 18S7 he had the misfortune to. lose his left eye. He has been a member of 
the Christian Church, Woodstock, for sixty years. Samuel R. Gilbert nuirried, Novem- 
ber 2G, I84G, .Man 'ana K., daughter of Barnabas and Hannah (Sliaw) Thompson. Mrs. 
Gilbert was born in Biidgcwater. .lune 8, 1823. Ifer father was brother of Profes.oor 
Zadock Thompson, author of Thompsuris Gazetteer of Veimont. Her mother was a daugh- 
ter of Benoni and Hannah (Winslovv) ."^liaw. The children of Samuel R. and Mandana 
fi. Gilliertare Delia M., Eugene S., Mary ,1., Henry H., who lives with his parents, 
Nellie E., and Willie B. Mr. Gilbert was born in the house where he has always lived, 
[le owns and carries on the home.-^tead farm. He has served as justice of the peace, was 
executor of his father's and administrator of .Jonathan Gilbert's e.--tates. No man com- 
mands more universally the respect of their townsmen and neighbors than do Jacob and 
Samuel Gilbert. 

Goddard, Aaron (deacon), was born October 28, 1771, ami having lost both of his 
parent.s, was brought up by an uncle. He came from Swanzey, N. H., to Reading at an 
early day. He married Elizabeth Howe, and they had the following family: Eunice 
(deceased), married .Sevvall Fullani, jr.; Arnolil Candace (deceased), married Benoni 
Buck; Hiram, died in Reading; .riil>al, died single in Reading; Cynlhia (deceased), niar- 
rieil Allen .S|)auldiiig; Laura, died at eighteen years of age; Aaron Winchester, resi<les 
in Reailmg. Aaron died September 21, 18r)(i. Arnold (son of Aaron) was born in 
Reading, April 5, 17US, and married Sarah Rice. They had but one child, Mrs. .Sarah 
\. Hager, of Proctorsville, Vt. Arnold died June 12, 1869. 

.Vla.xham, Henry Olin, was born in Woodstock, Vt., February 4, 182.'^. His parents 
were Chester and Rosalinda (Darling) Raymond. His mother died a day or two after 
liis birth, and he was adopled bv Nehemiah B. M.nxham, brought up by him and received 
his name. He lived wiih this family until he reached his majority. They lived four 
years in Barnard, and the rest of the time in the town of Pomfret. He learned the 
carpenter's trade of his adopted father, and has followed it as his chief occupation. He 
married, January 19, 18ol Adelaide D., daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Corner) J illson, 
who was born in Williainstown, Orange county, Vt., December 2, 1833. In 18.53 Mr. 
Maxliain purchased, in the .southwest part of Pomfret, the Bridge Farm, so called, and 
built all the buildings now on the place, and has carried on the farm ever since, though 
he has devoted eight to ten months every year to his triule. He has snperintended the 
erection of many of the best business blocks and private residences to be found in Wind- 
sor county. Notable among them is the busine.ss block of South Royalton, one of the 
tirst in the State, three of the best business blocks of Bethel, and the Jones Bank and 
Fairbanks blocks at Woodstock, and numerous other buildings. In politics Mr. Maxham 
is a Republican, but has been too busy a man in his business as a builder and farmer to 
desire or .sei'k public ollice. Mr. and Mrs. Maxham have children as follows : HattieA., 
born January 12, 1.8.o2, married George F. Green, January 10, 1870, a farmer living in 
Biidgcwater, and have had three children, Laura Bell. Floyd F. (deceased), and Floy A.; 
Clara H., born August 27, 1853, married, December 2-), 1870, Benjamin F. Ashley, a 
stonemason living in Woodstock, and died .\pril 21, 1890; M.ary A., born February 14, 
18.^o, married, October 6, 1879, Charles H. Perry, a farmer in Pomfret, hail one child, 
Gend Adal.aide, and died July 19, 1889; Frances II., born June 17, 18.57, married, Janu- 
ary I, 1878. .\lhert F. Hart, a fanner living in Quechee; George II., born July 4, 18G0. 
married, May 4, 1880, Evie Berk, and they have one child, George Ernest; Herbert 0., 
born April 22, 1802, grailuated from Tufts College in 1889, is postin.aster at Tufts Col- 
lege, Massachusetts, is studying for the ministry, and married, .lune 22, 1889, Elizalieth 
F. Faulkner; Charles J., born August 25, 18(55, married, March 15,1887, Eulalia M. 
Perry, and their children were Turner P., Verne F. (deceased), and Arthur E.; Flora 
Belle, born July 16, 1867, married, December 25, 1889, Mark O. Boynton, a farmer in 
Pomfret, and they have one son ; Mark, born June 1.5, 1871, and Mervill, born June 8, 
1878, are both living at home. 



Old Families. 743 



Melendy, William, the supposed progenitor of all who bear the name in America, 
came from England about 170L settling in Charlestown, Mass. He married Sarah Stan- 
dish. Their children were William, William, "id, John, 'I'homavS, Uicliard and Sarah. 
John, his third son, born in Charlestown, October 11, 1705, married Rebecca Lamp.son, 
of Reading, Mass., in 1727. They settled in Medford, Mass. Their children were John 
William, James, Thoma.s, John, 2d, and Ebenezer. John Melendy enlisted as a soldier 
in the War of the Revolntion, from Sutton, Mass., in 1775. He was ii Lieutenant Car- 
L'ick's company at the battle of Bunker Hill ; was detailed from his company to .serve as 
a personal attendant upon General Washington, when the latter had his headquarters at 
Cambridge. He was with the Continental Army in Rhode Island, also at Claverack, 
N. Y. About the year 1777 he married Sarah Esty, of Sution, Mas.s., whose grand- 
father, on her father's side, was a Hancock, near kin to John Hancock, and her mother 
was a Davenport, near kin i.f Governor Carver. John and Sarah Melendy, about the 
year 17^5, moved from Sutton to Croydon, N. H., afterwards to Grantham, and finally 
to Waterford, Vt., where they died : John, in 1848, aged ninoty-one, and Sarah, in 1844, 
aged eighty-seven. Their children were: Lydia, John, Abigail, William, Bet.sey, 
Mary and Lucy, and a child that was killed by the falling of a chimney. The chddren 
named married and reared familie.s. Otis Chamlierlain, son of Abigail, who married 
Laban Chamberlain, was for many years one of Pomfret's most prominent citizens. He 
was town clerk for forty-nine years, selectman, and represented the town in the State 
Legislature. He died in Pomfret, February 9, 1884. Lsiael Goodwin, who married 
Betsey, was elected to the Legislature of his State (Veimont). two years as representa- 
tive, and two years as senator, and was also appointed side judge. Elam Marsh Good- 
win, their son, of Hartland, Vt., has represented his town and district in both iiranches 
of the Vermont Legislature. Miirmaduke Allen, who marrie<l Mary, was ''kith and 
kin " of General Ethan Allen. John, the eldest son of John and S.-ir.ih Meiendv, born 
in Sutton, Mass , November 11, 1780, married, November 23, ISUt), Sarah, daughter of 
Captain Nathan and Sabrina (Metcaif) Clark, born in Croydon, May 2, 17!)2. After his 
marriage he settled in Croydon, and lived there till the death of his wife, December 25. 
1831. The children by this union were Rachel, Harvey, Elbridge Gerry, Catharine, 
-Vlonzo, Almira Jane, Albert, David, Zelinda Clark and Sarah C. He married, second, 
Mrs. Betsey Martin, of Springfield, N. H. After this marriage he moved from Croy- 
don to Grantham, N. H., where he died March 28, 1860. He was prominently identi- 
fied with the anti-slavery cause, being a co-worker with William Lloyd Garrison at a 
time when it required rare nerve. He prophesied the near downfall of slavery, and had 
he lived three years longer v/ould have lived to realize and rejoice over its fulfillment. 
Of his children, Rachel and Catharine died of typhoid fever; Elbridge is a retired gent- 
man, living in Broadhead, Wis. Alonzo was for many years superintendent of the 
Ogden Knitting Mills at Cohoes, N. Y., now living in Waterford, N. Y. Almira was 
the wife of Winslow Twitchell. She died in Cohoe.s. She taught school in George- 
town, D. C, during the administration of James K. Polk. Albert died in childhood. 
David is a farmer, living in Cornish, N. H. Zelinda is the wife of Noah Allen, farmer 
living in East Westmoreland, N. H. Sarah is the wife of Bela Chapin, of Clareniont, 
N. H. She was a graduate of Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, N. H., and for 
four years taught school in the Edgefield district, S. C, and was a contributor to the 
Lowell Casket. Harvey Melendy was born in Croydon, August 17, 1812. He passed 
his minority at home, receiving his education in the common .school. When twenty-one 
years of age he engaged in the manufacture of whips and rakes in the etnploy of Nor- 
man McGregor, at Newport, N. H.; then at Plainfield, N. H., with Wilder & Eddy, in 
the same line. He then set up for himself in Hartland. Vt., the manufacture of hatid 
and horse-rakes, and continued in the business till 1853. He then sold his factory in 
Hartland, and settled in Pomfret, on the "Sylvester Miller" farm, where he has since 
resided. Though at first a manufacturer ami then farmer, Mr. Melendy has been all his 
life a great reader of general literature, and has made history, theology, anatomy, and 



744 History ok Winusok County. 

|)liysiolosy suhjeots of special stuily. He married. Auijusl 28, 1836. Emily, daughter of 
George and Dollia (Miller) Gerry. Mrs. Melendy was born in Pomfret, February 15, 
1817. Losing her mother when three years of age, .she lived till her marriage with her 
irrandniother. Esther .Miller, on the place now owned and occupied by Mr. Melendy. 
The children of Harvey and Emily Melendy are Gustavus S., Ellen, Delavan, Erwin and 
Emma. 

Newton, Reuben Whipple, was born in Norwich, Vt., October 5, 1830, the eldest in 
a family of two chililren of Calvin C. and Sarepla (Whipple) Newton. His first great- 
grandfather Newton married Mary Gollons, by wliom he liad six children, viz.: Mollie, 
Avis, Anjia, Isaac, .Jo.seph and David. The latter, his great-grandfather, born in Mil- 
ford, Uonn.. married Mary Hazen of Norwich. They had sixteen children, ten sons and 
six daughters, born between the years 1774 and 1799, viz.: Sheldon, liufus, Avis, David, 
Truman, .Vndrevv, Anna. Rebecca. Polly, Abner. Elizabeth, Lucy, Daniel, Enos Wood, 
Jasper and Solon. Truman Newton, lifth of the above, born (October 1, 1779, grand- 
father of Reuben W., married Eunice Wilson, born August 31, 1785. Tlieir children 
were Calvin C, Eunice, Orson, Daniel, Russell, Enos, Laura, Joseph T., Edward Orvis 
and Leonard, twins, and Sarah Lucinda. All except Russell and Leonard, who died 
young, were married and rai.sed families. Calvin C. Newton, the eldest above, was 
twice married. First he married, October 5, 1834, Sarepta Wliipple, born August 16, 
1806, died November 5, 1840. The children by this union were Reuben Whipple and 
Elizabeth Snow. He married, .second, October 2, 1843, Mary Howard Spencer, born 
September 18. 1816. The children iiy this union were Maria Louisa, Carlton Spencer 
and Lucy Ida. They also had an adopted child, George G., who was killed in the bat- 
tle of the Wilderne.ss. In 1837 Calvin Newton moved from Vermont to Denmark, Lee 
county, la., where his wife died, and he returned to Vermont in 1842, going and return- 
ing with a private team, and after his second marriage lie settled in Pomfret, near the 
west and central part of the town, where he died May 15, 1875. Reuben Whipple New- 
ton lived with his father in Iowa, Norwich and Pomfret, Vt.. until he was twenty-two. 
He tlieu went to work for Amos Wood in Pomfret, and October 2, 1858. married 
his daughter, Frances A., born January 17, 1830. Her father, born May 4, 1793, died 
September 3. 186.'j. His wife.Eunice Vail, born .Inly G, 1789, died August 7, 1890, aged 
ninety-one. Mr. Newton worked for his father-in-law until the latter died, then carried 
on the farm until the death of Mrs. Wood, when he became its owner, and is now car- 
rying it on. His wife died October 12, 1884. He married, second, June 7, IS.So, 
Mary A., daughter of Jonathan aD<l Polly P. (Wilson) Keith, born in Enfield, N. H., 
June 7, 1856. Mr. Newton is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the First 
Congregational Church of Pomfret. 

Perkins, Joel, who settled in Pomfret about the year 1799, came from West Spring- 
field, Mas.s., and was a di'sccndant in the seventh generation from John Perkins, who 
wa.s born iu England, c:uue to Boston with his family in 1631, and removed to Ipswich, 
Mas.s., in 1633. The second son of John. Deacon Thomas Perkin.s, who was born in 
England in 161<i. settled m Topsfield, Mass.. where he engaged in farming, and lived in 
great esteem till his death iu 168G. His eldest son, John, also lived iu Topsfield, where 
he died in 1668, within two years after his marriage, leaving an only child, Thomas, 
who removed to EnlieUl, where he died in 1709, leaving six children. The oldest of 
these, also named Thomas, left a son, John, who was born in 1723, and married Mary 
Bramble. John lived for a time in East Windsor, where his sixth son, Joel, was born 
in 1761. He afterw.ards removed to West Springfield, where he died, leaving a numer- 
ous family. His will is dated February 1, 1782. Joel Perkins mairied Eunice F'nller, 
of Halifax, Ma.ss., and af:er living witli his father for a time at West Springfield, re- 
moved to Vermont near the close of the last century. He died at Pomfret in 1841. 
leaving five .sons. Ebenezer, John, An.sel, Nelson and Alva Chipman. Ebenezer Per- 
kins, father of Albro E. Perkins, was born in West Springfield, Mass., August 7. 1790, 
married February 2G, 1811), Mary G, daughter of Barnabas and Katura (Conant) Wash- 



Old Families. 745 



burn. His wife's parents came from Bridgewater, and settled on Bridgewater Hill, 
Pomtret. Mary C. Perkins died in Pomfret, April 10, 18G0. The children of Ebenezer 
and Mary C. Perkins were John W., Martin L., Mary A. and Albro E. Albro E. Per- 
kins has always lived on the place of his birth. He purchased the homestead of his 
father in 1845. He married, September 30, 1846. Emeline, daughter of Simeon and Ju- 
dith (Iluse) Bacon, sister of Albert Bacon above mentioned. Mrs. Perkins was born in 
Vershire, Vt., January G, 1827. For about forty years Mr. Perkins has been identified 
as one of Vermont's leading breeders and dealers in Merino .sheep. His first transaction 
was tlie pin-chase of thirty-four Merino ewes of W. R. Sanford, of Orwell, Addison 
county, Vt. This was in 1857. In 1859 he purchased twelve Merino ewes of Edwin 
Hammond, of Middlebury, Vt. These were inbred with rams also purchased of Mr. 
Hammond, Victor Wright and Colonel E. Stowell. He has always taken great pains 
in the breeding of his flock, and has established a name as a succe.ssful breeder and 
dealer scarcely second to none in the State. His sheep have been sold in at least four- 
teen States of the Union. He has been by far the largest dealer in sheep in eastern 
Vermont. He has made several trips, connected with this traffic, to Texas, Wyoming 
and Nebraska. He was awarded a gold medal for " Best Flock Merino Sheep " at 
the Vermont State F^air, 1875. He received a " Certificate of Award " from the United 
States Centennial Commission at the the International Exhibition at Philadelphia in 
187G, ''first, for the best American Merino Ram, ' Constitution,' one year old; sweep- 
stakes for three breeding American Merino ewes; second, for three breeding ewes 
American Merino, four ewes and one ram, American Merino ; third, for American Mer- 
ino ram, two years old." The reasons assigned in giving the.se awards are, high excel- 
lence in quality, uniformity, symmetry and evenness of fleece, length of staple, large con- 
stitutional development, and for being very superior specimens of the breed to which 
they belong. Mr. Perkins has the reputation of using a good deal of common sense in 
the breeding of .sheep. His preference is for the "golden mean," between what are re- 
garded "smooth" sheep and those covered with folds from the "tip of the nose to the 
tips of the toes." He secures, in this mode of breeding, sheep with a hardier constitu- 
tion, and while not realizing as much wool to the jingle fleece, he makes up for this loss 
in wool in sheep decidedly better for the mutton market. Mr. Perkins is a Republican 
in politics. He was selectman six years, overseer of the poor and lister three years. He 
represented the town in the Legislature in 1885, and was a member of the State Board 
of Agriculture two years. During the War of the Rebellion he was assistant provost- 
mar.shal for Pomfret. His children are Ellen M., born December 20, 1847 ; PameliaA., 
born August 24, 1849; Willie A., born May 8, 18.52; Fred H., born November 3, 1853; 
Clara E., born July 28, 185G; Abbie M., born February 4, 1800; Walter E., born De- 
cember 8, ISGl ; and Frank, born July 29, 1872. 

Tinkham, Nathan, great-grandfather of Orville M., was bom in Halifax, Mass., April 
27, 1724, died in Pomfret, Vt., October 3, 1807. He married Sarah Soule, born in Ply- 
mouth, Mass, June 15, 172G, died in Pomfret, September 25, 1807. Their youngest 
child, Isaiah, grandfather of Orville M., was born in Halifax, September 19, 1757, died 
September 29, 1842. He marrieil Susannah Ellis, of Middleboro, Mass., who died May 
12, 1844. Soon after his marriage he moved from Halifax and settled in North Pom- 
fret, on a place held in the family many years, now owned by H. W. Colburn. The 
hou.se built by him in 1793 is now occupied by Mr. Colburn. Isaiah and his wife died 
in Pomfret. Their children were Isaiah, Sarah, Noah, Zenas, Susannah, Ellis, Daniel, 
Celia and Sophia. With the exception of Isaiah, all were born in Pomfret. Isaiah 
married Ruth Childs. Charles Tinkham, for many years a merchant in Quechee, and 
still a resident there, is his son. Sarah, wife of Ephraim Brownell, moved to St. Law- 
rence county, N. Y., where she died aged ninety-three years. -Ill the others died in 
Pomfret. Noah and Zenas died in childhood. Orville M. Tinkham, born in Pomfret, 
July 30. 1831. has always lived on the place of his birth. He was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of Puuifret and the West Randolph Academy, Judge Austin Adams, now 
94 



746 History of Windsor County. 

jiidpe of the Supreme Court of Iowa, was the p.incipal. Mr. Tinkham married, May 20, 
18.')4, Mary .\,. dauirbter of Mathias and Betsey (.foslin) .Jone.s. Mrs. Tiiikhain was 
l)oni in Waitstield. Vt., January 13, IS.32. Their only child, Luuia Lydia, born Janu- 
ary 20. 1S()2. married, DeceniberSl, liS82, Walter Harrington, farmer of Pomfret. Tlieir 
eh'ildren are Bessie Faith, born .\uf;iist 10. 18.'^5; Angle May, born February 19. 1S87; 
and ElHs Tinlfbam, born .Vpril 'J. 18SU. Mr. Tinkham taught in the common .schools of 
Vermont, MassiichusetUs, and New Hanipsliire. He has taught singing-.schools at dif- 
ferent periods for thirty-live years. From 185(5 to 18G9 be was employed as a commer- 
cial traveler. He has "served frequently as agent for publi.sbing and other commercial 
houses requiring special aiul contiiiential worl<. In 1877 he accepted the chair of agri- 
cultural editor of the Qreen Mountain Freeman, publi.sheJ in Montpelier, winch position 
he held for seven years. In 1S(J9 he introduced the lirst thoroughbred Jersey cows that 
were brought to Pomfret, and has taken an active interest in the raising of Jersey stock 
and the sale of it in the West. He is a life member of the Vermont Dairymen's A.«.so- 
ciation, its secretary six years, and president two years. In 1881-82 he was Assist- 
ant State Commissioner of Agriculture. In 1884 he was appointed State Dairy 
Commissioner of the World's E.xposition at New Orleans. He has (illed a number of 
town ollices, and represented the town in the Legislature in 1880. Mr. Tinkham is often 
called upon to deliver addres.ses, chiefly upon dairy topics, in Vermont and other States, 
He is a man of commanding presence, a fluent and forcible speaker. 

Vaughan, Charles H., born in Pomfret, January 23, 1840, was the only son of Oliver 
and Mary .\nn (Henry) Vaughan. His grandfatlier, Caleb Vaughan, native of Massa- 
chusetts, came to Vermont and settled lirst in Pomfret, and afterward in Woodstock, vvliere 
he died. He married a Miss Thomas, Their children were Huldah, Oliver, Mercy, La- 
throp and Ansel II. Cliarles II. Vaughan has always lived in Pomfrecj He leceived 
liis education in its common au<l high .schools. He married, December 19, 1805, Lucia, 
daughter of Wesley and Julia (Hewitt) Lamberton. Mrs. Vaughan was born ni Pom- 
fret. January 17, 1845. She died June 12, 1887. Her father died in Pomfret, Febru- 
ary 22, 187,5. Iler motlier makes her home at M . Vaughan's and at her daughter's, 
Mr.s. Darroch, The latter was Knima Lamberton, oidy sister of Mrs. Vauglian, born 
July 14, 1841!, married, January 1, 1881, Robert Darroch, born in Scotland .April 20, 
18.50, is a farmer living in Pomfret. They have one chdd, Elmer Robert, born October 
1, 1885. Mr. Vaughan has followed general merchandising at the Center of Pomfret 
since 1873. He' has been postmaster from that year to the present. He was selectman 
in 1878-79 and 1880 and town lister four years He is at the present time overseer of the 
poor, town treasurer and town clerk. He has often been called u[ion to act in the set- 
tlement of estates The children of Chailes H, and Lucia Vaughan .ire Herman 11,, 
luirn September 13, 1 8(i7, died August 19, 1808 : Mabel Ellen, born Se|)teinber 14, 
18()S; and .\uiia Hewitt. l)orn June 0, 1870. The latter two are both graduates of the 
Woodstock High Schoul. 



CHAPTI'.k .X.X.XVI. 
lllsroKV OFTHK TOWN OF SHARON. 

THE town called Siiaroii is one of the northern tier of towns of Wind 
sor county, and is bounded on the north by Strafford in Orange 
county ; east by Norwich ; south by Pomfret ; and west by Royalton. 
And Sharon is among the mountainous towns of the county, more so 



Town of Sharon. 747 



than some of the adjoining towns, as if nature had made an extraordi- 
nary and highly successful effort at grouping high and almost inaccessible 
peaks within the single town. Unlike many others in the county's 
towns these high elevations are not susceptible of any cultivation, which, 
aside from their very rocky character, are exceedingly steep and with 
great difficulty ascended. But notwithstanding this unfavorable physi- 
cal formation Sharon has numerous fine farming lands and fertile val- 
leys, than which there are none better or more productive in this county. 

Sharon, too, is an exceedingly well drained town, the streams all tend- 
ing from the borders of the town toward the central portion and dis- 
charge their waters into the White River, the latter being in this locality 
a stream of considerable magnitude. It enters the town from Royalton 
on the west, and courses tlirough the valley generally southeast to a 
point about a mile west from Sharon village, where it turns suddenly to 
the east and northeast, and at the village and beyond it forms a complete 
ox-bow ; thence it continues south and southeast, leaving the town near 
the southeast corner. 

The hamlet called Sharon village is the only trading center of any 
consequence in the town, and is situate on the White River, very near 
the geographical center of the town. Its location here was a wise meas- 
ure on the part of the proprietors, for the valley at this point is as broad, 
perhaps, as anywhere in the town, and the lands as well adapted for vil- 
lage occupancy as could be selected near the center. The village, al- 
though in the valley, is nevertheless considerably elevated above the bed 
of the river, the rise from the surface of the water to the highway, at a 
point near the post-office, being variously estimated from eighty to one 
hundred feet. And this is a fortunate elevation, for there have been oc- 
casions, within the memory of middle-aged residents, upon which the 
waters of White River have reached extraordinary heights, sweeping 
away ever movable thing in its path. 

The town of Sharon was brought into e.xistence by virtue of a char- 
ter granted by Governor Benning Wentworth, of the province of New 
Hampshire, on the 17th of August, 1761, to John Taylor and his asso- 
ciates, sixty-two in all, with the customary reservations — one right for 
a glebe for the Church of England, one for the society for the propaga- 
tion of the gospel in foreign parts, one for the first settled minister in 



748 History of Windsor County. 

the town, one for the benefit of a school, and 500 acres in the nortlnvest 
corner of the town for the emoUiment of tlie wortliy benefactor himself 
— Benning Wentworth. The town, according to the charter, con- 
tained 22,000 acres of land, the equivalent in square miles being thirty- 
four and three-eighths. 

Among other things the charter provided that the first meeting of the 
proprietors should be held on the first Monday of September, 1761, for 
the purpose of choosing town officers, and appointed Benjamin Spalding 
moderator to govern said meeting. But it is quite doubtful whether the 
proprietors met in accordance with the terms of the charter, and if they 
did they left no record of their doings for the use of succeeding genera- 
tions. The first proprietors' meeting of which there appears any record 
was held on the 30tli of November, 1761, at Plainfield, "in the province 
of New Hampshire," at which Captain Timothy Wheeler was chosen 
moderator " for the work of the day," no other officers being chosen. 

So far as the old proprietors' records disclose the first meeting at which 
town officers were chosen was held March 9, 1762, at Plainfield, where 
these were elected: Moderator, "for the work of the day," Captain Tim- 
othy Wheeler ; town clerk, for the ensuing year, Benjamin Spalding ; 
selectmen. Captain Timothy Wheeler, Captain James How and Daniel 
McKee; town treasurer, Captain Timothy Wheeler; collector, Jonathan 
Parkhurst. During this year as well as that ne.xt succeeding the atten- 
tion of the proprietors was mainly directed to concerting such measures 
as would result in the speedy settlement and improvement of the lands 
of the town. To this end, at a meeting held on the 28th of March, 1 763, 
it was voted, as an inducement to settlement, to give any ten or more 
proprietors that would settle, or any five or more that would clear and 
soe three acres with P^nglish granc, by the first of November next, (1763,) 
each of them, " and each five of them that shall build a house sixteen 
feet square, by the ist of November next, shall have the choice of lots 
in said town," in the first division. 

But it is not probable that any settlement was made under the first 
offer of lots, for it is not understood that the survey and division had 
then been made. The first record upon this point appears as a part of 
the proceedings of a meeting held November, 1763, when David Spald- 
\\\n and Josiah Russell were chosen a committee to complete the laying 



Town of Sharon. 749 



out of lots under the first survey and division, from which it is presum- 
able that the survey was not made until tlie spring or summer of 1763, 
although some efforts in this direction may have been made in 1762. 
The survey, whenever it was made, was the work of Joshua Dunlap. 
At a meeting held April 12, 1764, the proprietors renewed their offer, 
and enlarged it to the extent of allowing them to make choice of the 
hundred-acre lots, to any or all of five persons, who would " clear and 
soe three acres of English grane," meaning that such persons should 
clear three acres of land and sow it to English grain, and build the 
house, sixteen feet square, before the first of November thereafter. 

In the absence of definite information on the subject it appears that 
settlement must have been under this last offer, and during the year 

1764, for, at a meeting held on the 3d of November of that year, the pro- 
prietors voted " to give privileges to select pitches to five persons if they 
would do the duty on each of their rights, by the 1st of November next, 

1765, as those proprietors were obliged to do who went there the sum- 
mer last past." It may readily be inferred from this that the town was 
settled during the summer of 1764, but the number of persons or families 
that then took up their homes in tlie locality cannot now be accurately 
determined, nor can the names of a single one be given. It is generally 
conceded, and past authorities have stated, that Robert Havens and his 
family were tlie first actual settlers, but none pretend to fi.x the year of 
his coming. The tenor of the last stated offer of the proprietors would 
appear to indicate that more than one improvement was made during 
1764. A quite recent authority states that the first settlers were " Isaac 
Marsh, Willard Shepard, Robert Havens and a Mr. Parkhurt," probably 
Ebenezer or Joseph, and that their coming was during the year 1764; 
and further, that they settled in the town just in time to prevent the for- 
feiture of the charter; that the four made clearings, sowed grain, and 
built the " regulation" houses; and that to one of their number, Isaac 
Marsh, fell the duty of remaining in the town during the following win- 
ter, while the others returned to their former homes. Elias Marsh, the 
son of Isaac, was the first white male child born in the town, the date of 
birth, according to Deming, being March 25, 1768. At all events, in 
1787 or 1788, the proprietors voted to give Elias Marsh tlie right to 
pitch one hundred acres of land "in consideration of his being the first 



750 History ok Windsor County. 



male child born in the town." (The old record books are so torn and 
mutilated that it is difficult to determine either dates or names with any 
degree of accuracy.) 

The exact date of the organization of the town of Sharon by its in- 
habitants, independent of the preliminary organization and n>eetings 
held by the proprietors, cannot be determined from existing records, 
from the fact that the first leaves of the town book are so mutilated and 
worn as to be unreliable for the purposes of accurate statement, but 
enough can be deciphered to learn that the organization meeting was 
held during 1768. Thompson says the town was organized March 8th 
of that year, while at least two later authorities say that the first meet- 
ing holden for the election of town officers was of date March 12, 1776- 
In this matter Mr. Thompson was undoubtedly correct, for the old book 
is still in existence, though much worn and dilapidated. And while this 
unfortunate condition of the records prevents us from giving here the 
officers for either 1768 or 1769, those for the year 1770 are reasonably 
free from mutilation, though much dimmed by being written with pool 
ink, and the exposures of one hundre 1 and twenty years. 

At the town meeting of 1770, held on the 1 2th of March, the follow- 
ing officers were elected: Moderator, William Hunter; clerk, William 
Hunter; supervisor, Joel Marsh; assessors, William Hunter, Benjamin 
Spalding and Robert Havens; treasurer, William Hunter; collector, 
Simeon Howe; overseers of highways, Isaac Wheeler, Ebenezer Park 
hurst and Robert Havens; overseer of poor, Joseph Parkhurst ; constable, 
Joel Marsh; fence viewer, Benjamin Sjiaulding ; commissioners to lay 
out highways, William Hunter, Benjamin Spalding and Itbenezer 
Parkhurst. 

On an occasion of such great importance as this must have been to 
the people of the town it is quite probable that nearly every townsman 
of full age was present ; and it is also probable that there would be an 
entire willingness on all sides that the offices should be distributed among 
the voters as far as they would go; but the fact that there were not 
enough men to fill the several positions without frequently du[)licating 
names would indicate that the voting population comprised only a hand- 
ful of men, or else there was an imduc contralization of power in the 
hands of a few, which latter theory is quite improbable. What number of 



Town of Sharon. 751 



people the town contained during this year would be entirely a matter 
of speculation, but it must, of course, have been less than that of the 
next year, 1771, when the New York authorities caused an enumeration 
of the inhabitants to be made. That gave the town, in that year, a 
population of but sixty-eight, and as there was only about one voter to 
every five inhabitants, there could not have been to exceed a dozen per- 
sons of full age in the town in 1770. But during the next score of years 
the growth of population was much more rapid, the enumeration of 1791 
showing the town to have five hundred and sixty- nine souls. 

But it must have been e.xceedingly difficult for these poor struggling 
inhabitants to determine with accuracy to what jurisdiction they really 
belonged, so frequent were the changes during the first thirty years of 
the town's history and peopled existence. In 1761 their town was char- 
tered as one of the New Hampshire Grants; in 1764 the jurisdiction 
passed to the province of New York, and the town was erected into a 
part of Cumberland county of that province; in 1772 the county was 
divided, and all north of the north line of Sharon was made a part of 
Gloucester county. But in some manner the people of Sharon obtained 
the idea that they were in Gloucester county, if the records are evidence 
of the fact, for at the annual town meeting held March 12, 1776, the 
minutes read thus : " At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of 
Sharon in the county of Gloucester, province of New York," etc. 

Again, in 1777, the independence of the new State of Vermont was 
declared, and soon thereafter followed the formation of the counties o' 
Bennington and Cumberland, alias Unity, under the new jurisdiction of 
the latter of which Sharon formed part. Still further on, in 1781, Cum- 
berland county, under Vermont, was divided and Windsor and others 
erected, and thenceforth to this present Sharon has been one of Wind- 
sor county's integral parts From the time that Vermont declared her 
independence until her admission to the Union, in 1791, Sharon, as well 
as all the other towns of this State, enjoyed the novel situation of having 
a double existence, being during that period a part of two counties and 
under two States, Cumberland in New York, and Cumberland and sub- 
sequently Windsor in Vermont ; but to the credit of the town be it said 
that Sharon acknowledged and paid allegiance to the State of Vermont, 
after the decLiratioa of her separate independence, except during the 



752 History of Windsor County. 

brief period following the dissolution of the first union with the New 
Hampshire towns. 

At a freemen's meeting held on the ^,^.1 of March, 1778, the constitu- 
tion of the State of Vermont was read in open presence, following which 
the freeman's oath was taken by these persons : Joseph Barrett, Danie' 
Gilbert, Benjamin Spalding, John Crery, William Hunter, Joseph Park- 
hurst, Stephen Powel, Elias Stevens, Ebenezer Parkhurst, Joel March, 
Joseph Parkhurst, James Marsh and Reuben Parkhurst. These qualified 
electors then chose Daniel Gilbert as the first representative in the Gen- 
eral Assembly. In July of the same year the freeman's oath was taken 
by William Lovejov, Moses Shcpard, Isaac Wheeler, Jonathan Howe, 
Simeon Howe, Josiah Wheeler and John Parkhurst; and then the free- 
men chose Joel Marsh the first justice of the peace. 

In 1780 the town was invaded by a detached party of Canadian In- 
dians, and two citizens were captured and taken to Montreal. This was 
the occasion of the famous attack upon Royalton, which resulted in the 
capture of a number of that town's residents, the destruction of buildings 
by fire, the killing of cattle and the despoliation of growing crops. Roy- 
alton was the objective point of attack and plunder, and the raid into 
Sharon was made by a small detachment from the main body, and its 
results were less disastrous. 

Thus, the main and by far more interesting part of the history of Sharon 
was made during the first twenty-five years of its existence. During the 
War of 1812-15 the town had the customary militia organizations, and 
from the whole number was drafted the contingent necessary to be con- 
tributed for the service. No hostile foot was set upon the soil of the 
town, unless the political party then known as Federals could be con- 
sidered hostile, and the part taken by Sharon in that struggle was 
one of minor importance. This cannot be said, however, of the part 
taken by this town during the war of the Rebellion — the war of 1861- 
65. The roll of volunteers from Siiaron, together with an account of 
the services of the regiments to which they respectively belonged, will 
be found in one of the earlier chapters of this volume; and all that need 
be said here may properly be included in a brief summary of the strength 
of the town in the service. 

During the course of the war, and exclusive of the men who enlisted 
for three months, the town of Sharon stands credited with having fur- 



Town of Sharon. 753 



nished an aggregate of one hundred and four men, elisted for the terms 
following: For the three years' service, fifty -five; for one year, eleven; 
for nine months, eighteen ; in the navy, ten ; entered service, two ; mis- 
cellaneous credits, not named, five ; volunteers, re-enlisted, three. 
Added to this, ten were furnished under draft and paid commutation, 
and three others procured and sent substitutes in their places. 

The town of Sharon is now divided into eleven school districts, making 
no account of the fractional districts annexed to adjoining towns. In 
these eleven schools are employed eleven teachers, one for each district. 
All the schools are supported on the district plan ; that is, each district 
maintains its own school and pays the salary of its teacher. The first 
division of the town into school districts was made in 1784, and Joel 
Marsh, James Carpenter and John VValbridge comprised the committee 
that made the division. 

The town also has four present church societies, but only two church 
buildings. The societies are the Congregational, Baptist, Adventist, 
and Universalist. The society of the Congregational church was the 
first organized in the town, dating back to September 1 1, 1782, and its 
first settled minister was Rev. Lathrop Thompson, ordained September 
3, 1778, dismissed March 26, 1793 ; second minister, Samuel Bascom, 
settled March 12, 1806. The present pastor of this society is Rev 
Edward B. Chamberlain. The church house of the society is at Sharon 
village, and is a substantial building, with an extensive addition in the 
rear, known as the Steele Memorial Chapel, the voluntary gift of Sam- 
uel Steele. 

The Baptist church building is also a commodious stucture, and situ- 
ate in the same village. This society has no settled pastor. The other 
societies, the Advent and the Universalist, have no church home, but 
hold their meetings in Smith's hall and the town hall. 

But long before the organization of the Congregational Society in 
Sharon religious services, preaching it was called, were held in the town. 
As early as February, 1777, the towns of Royalton and Sharon joined 
in hiring a preacher, he to be paid by the towns in proportion to the 
grand lists of the towns, and plans were designated for holding services, 
that in Sharon "on the road between Mr. Russell Morgan's grist-mill 
95 



754 History of Windsor County. 

and the dwelling house of Joseph Parkhurst, near the second bridge on 
the Ouallion (Ouation) Creek, about twenty rods below said bridge " 

Town Representatives in General Assembly. — March, 1778, Daniel Gil- 
bert; October, 1778, Benjamin Spalding; 1779. none; 1780, Ebenezer 
Parkhurst; 1781, Joel Marsh ; 1782-83, Daniel Gilbert; 1784, Anthony 
Morse (possibly an error, records uncertain); 1785, Daniel Gilbert; 
1786-87, James Carpenter; 1788, Joel Marsh; 1789-90, Anthony 
Morse; 1 791, Daniel Gilbert ; 1792, Joel Marsh ; 1793, Ebenezer Park- 
hurst; 1794, Reuben Spalding; 1795, James Parker; 1796, Ebenezer 
Parkhurst; 1797, Reuben Spalding ; 1798, Anthony Morse ; 1799, Joel 
Marsh; 1800, Reuben Spalding; 1801, Anthony Morse ; 1802, George 
Dana; 1803, Joel Marsh; 1804-05, Paul W. Brigham (probably an 
error); 1806-07, Reuben Spalding; 1808-09, James Parker; 18 10, 
Oliver Lathrop ; i8ii, James Parker; 18 12 to 18 14, Reuben Spalding; 
1815, Samuel Steele; 1816, none; 1817 to 1821, James Parker; 1822, 
William Steele; 1823-25, James Parker; 1826-30, William Steele; 
1831-34, none reported; 1835-37, Jo'i" Baldwin; 1838-39, A. F. 
Dean; 1840, Freeman Holt; 1841-42, Eyman T\'ler; 1843-45, Roder- 
ick D. Lathrop; 1846-47, John C. Baldwin; 1848-50, Hiram Moore; 
1851, Colcord Quinby ; 1852, Chester Baxter; 1853-54, Eieazer B. 
Baldwin; 1855, none; 1856, T. S. Hubbard ; 1857-58, Eieazer Baldwin ; 
1859-60, Colcord Quinby; 1861-63, Samuel Steele; 1864-65, Al- 
bert B. Mosher; 1866-67, Guy S. Nutt; 1868-69, James Parker; 1870- 
71, William H. H. VValbridge ; 1872-73, Joel H. Morse; 1874-75, 
Mariot G. Howe; 1876-77 ; Edward B. Chamberlain ; 1878-79, Levi B. 
Steele; 1880-81, Ami FoUett; 1882-83, Albert B. Preston; 18S4-85. 
A. C. Sherwin; 1886-87, I''- ^- Baxter; 1888-89, Amos Emery. 

Old Families. 

It would be impossible witliin the compass of this work to give a gen- 
ealogical sketch of each family that has been connected witli the town. 
The remainder of this chapter is devoted to those who feel and have 
manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. For 
sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer to a 
later chapter of this work. 

Balihviii. — The Biildwins of Sliaron are de.'scenileil from Henry Baldwin, wlio was :\ 
freeman in Woliiu'ii, Mass., in l(i.V2, but was a resident of tliat town in UitO, and held 
tlie position of selectman in 1681. He married November 1, IG-iO, Phebe, eldest daugh- 




r 



Old Families. 755 



ter of Ezekiel Richnrdsoii. He died February 4, lfi97. Of his eleven children Benja- 
min, the youngest, was horn in Woburn, Mass., January 20, 1G72, and removed to Can- 
terbury, Conn., about 1700, where lie died in 17.59. He married Hannah and 

had eight children. Benjamm, his second son, was born in 1700, and married April 24, 
1724, EHzabetli Longbottom. He was a resident of Norwich, Conn., where he died at 
an advanced age. He was a man of great phy.sical strength, and bein? at one time a 
prisoner of the Indians, proved more than a match for them in wrestling. Of his five 
children. Ebenezer, the youngest, was horn in Hebron, Conn., Februarys, 1736, married 
Abigad Blackman, born in 1743. He removed to Orford, N. H., abo\it 1762, and died at 
Fairlee, Vt., in 1818. He had eight children : Abigail, married Nathaniel Marsh ; Eb- 
enezer, removed to Ohio; Martha, married Thomas Truesdale ; Irene, married Stephen 
Lumbard; Betsey, married Rufus Carpenter ; Eleazer; William, died in Ohio ; and John. 
Eleazer, above, was born in Orford, N. H., .January 27, 1778, and married November, 
1803, Polly Ladd, horn April 11, 1785. Their children were Pamelia (deceased), married 
Dr. Isaac D. Carpenter ; Alphes L., born A|)ril IS, 1808, died in Straflbrd, in 1880 ; twin 
daughters died in infancy; Emily (deceased), married Willard Hayw;ird ; Emelinc, died 
single; Eleazer Blacl<man ; William A., born June 12, 1820, died in Strafford ; Marietta, 
died young; Deo Datu^. died aged nineteen; Abigail D., wife of Lavinius H. Chandler, 
of Barton Landing, Vt.; and Polly G., wife of Edward Dutton. of Barton, Vt. Eleazer 
was a physician, and died Decemlier 20, 1857, his wife August 2. 1870. F]leazer Black- 
mau was born in Strafford, April 30, 1818, came to Sharon in 1842 and engaged in farm- 
ing. He has been prominently ideutilied in State and town affairs. He has lieen .select- 
man, lister, member of the House in 1853-54. 1857-58, and nominee on the Democratic 
ticket for lieutenant-governor in 1877. He married January 31, 1842, Lu :ia H. Brown, 
born in Strafford, February 18, 1821. They had eleven children: WilLard H., born 
May 14, 1843, married Lucinda Martyn, born May 14, 1843; he is a railroad bridge 
builder, and resides now at West Lebanon, N. H.; Marcella L., died young; Francelia E., 
resides in South Dakota; George VV., born Augnst3, 1845, unmarried, engaged in rail- 
road bridge building, and resides in Rutland, Vt.; Eleazer, born June 26, 1849, married 
Eveline Vanghaii ; they have two children: Parker, and Emily resides at Manchester, 
Vt; E. Henry, born March 31, 1851, railroad engineer, resides in Londonderry, Vt.; 
Adelia L., school teacher in Boston ; Emma, wife of E. L. Wells, of Lyndonvihe ; Deo 
Datu.s, born February 16, 1857, married, first, Josie Dewey, and had one child, Josie D.; 
he married, second, Jennie Eaton, and is now a farmer and banker in South Dakota; 
William A., born October 16, 1858, married Emma Wheeler, and has one child, Charley: 
he is a farmer of Carth.age, S. D.; Rufus C, born March 22, 181)2, married May Bickford. 
They have one child, Ralph, resides at Huntington, Vt. John, son of Ebenezer, w.as 
born in Orford, N. H., and married Lucinda Clark. He settleil in Sharon, March, IS 1 8, 
where he died February 3, 1870. His children were Alraira (deceased), married Moses 
Preston; Phebe (decea.sed). married Abijah Felton; John C, a LTniversalist minister, 
died at Sharon ; Albert, resides in Kansas; and Lucinda, widow of David Felton, lives 
in Illinois. 

Chillson, William Howard, was born in Barnston, Canada, December 5, 1854, and was 
third in a family of four children of George Washington and So|)hia (Moser) Chillson. 
His father was a native of West Hartley, Canada, and died at Barnston in 1867. His 
brothers and sisters are Edna Z., wife of Don Blake, of S'. Albans. Vt.; Edgar, farmer, 
living in Sharon ; and .VIbert G., living at Lowell, Mass. William H. resided in Canada 
till he was twelve years old, when his mother after the death of her husband removed 
with her children to Sharon, where she died in 1884. He was three years in the Stark 
cotton-mills of Mancliester, N. H., and for twelve years was employed as lireman and 
engineer on the Vermont Central Railroad, during which time he resided at St. Albans. 
In December, 188!l, he purchased a farm in Sharon, upon which he now live.s. He mar- 
ried, first, Jennie McDonald, of Sharon. They had one child, Edith A. He married, 
second. Flora Bullard, of SwaiitonVt. They have no children. 



756 History of Windsor County. 

Day, Edwin L., born in Sliaron, January 4, 1838, descends in the eight genera- 
tion from Robert Day, who came to Cambridge in 1G34, and died in KH.S. The line is 
as follows: first, Robert; second, Robert, born in lli04; tliird, Kcnjamin, of Gloucester, 
ancestors of the Days in Yertnont. II'j had seven sons and three daughters; fourth, 
Caleb, born about 1(180, and had children as follows: Caleb, Israel, John, Ebenezer, Dan- 
iel, Icliabod, Ruth, and Hannah; fifth, Ichaliod above, married Elizabeth , and 

had children as follows : Amos, Asa, John. Grin, David, Robert, Elizabeth, Hannah and 
Olive. He died November 3. 17fi9, aged forty-six. Elizabeth, hi.s wife, died Febru- 
ary 15, 1802, aged eighty-seven ; sixth, Orin, fourth son above, born at Wrentham. Mass., 
August 5, 1702, married July 13, 1788, Joanna Everett. Their children were Warren 
Pliney, Lucy, Amelia, Horace, Harvey, Orin, and Lucia. Orin died September 20, 1S35, 
in Sharon, aged seventy-three; his wife Joanna September 17, 18.53, aged eighty-.si.x ; 
seventh, Orin, seventh child above, born in Sharon, September 23, 180G. Hi.s wife was 
Esther Peck, married Septend)er ;"», 183G. He died September 14, 1S,S,'3 ; his wife Au- 
gust 1.5, 1870. Their children were Edwin L. and Colvin 'I'. The latter died June 20, 
ISS.5 ; eighth, Edwin L.. manied Mary, daughter of Eli and Koxaiina (Harrington) Hay- 
den, who was born in Sharon, October (J, 1837. The father of Eli was brought up by 
Larliin Hunter, of Sharon, who was a brother of Mrs. Hannah Hendee, the heroine on 
the occasion of llie Indian inva.sion in 1780. Mr. ami Mrs. Day had two chihiren, viz.: 
Herbert E. and Addie M., died .January 30, 1871. Both resided in Sharon. 

Drown, Wheaton, a native of Connecticut, settled in Hartford, Vt., was born Octo- 
ber 19, 1784, and died December 14, 1867. He married, first, Mary Ives. Of their 
children one died in infancy. The others were Walter, who died in Sharon, and 
Charles I. He married, second, Ann Porter, and their only child, John, was drowned 
in the White River at Hartford when nineteen years of age. Charles I., born in Ilarl- 
land, died in Sharon, March 14, 187.5. He married Diana Porter. They had five chil- 
dren : Porter, died young; Charles E., married Martha Ladd ; Mary, died aged eighteen ; 
Ella (deceased), married Charles Moray; and George R., born in Sharon, July 12, 18('il, 
married Minnie Howe. Tliey hail one child, Mark G. George B. is engaged in farming 
and is one of the present .selectmen of the town. 

Emery, Amos, was born in Chester, N. H., March 27, 1820, the third in a family of 
six sons and two daughters, of Jonathan and Nancy (Eaton) Emery. His education was 
received in the local schools, and he has always been engaged in farming. His father 
removed to Washington, Vt.. in 1830, where he died. He rem.ained with his father till 
1835, when he purcha.>!ed his time and commenced work in Brookfield, Vt., where he re- 
mained till 1800, when he removed to Chelsea, Vt., and became a resident of Sharon in 
1884. Mr. Emery has taken an active part in public afl'airs. At the age of twenty-one 
he was elected captain of a militia company at Brookfield. He hivs been town superin- 
tendent of schools, member of the text-book committee, lister-, member of the House of 
1888, and since December, 1887, has been justice of the peace at Sharon, and has held 
every office that a town could bestow. He married, first, Almira Hibbard, l)y whom he 
hail two children : George A., engaged in trade and a resident of Boston, and .iVIbert E., 
a hotel-keeper', of East Ivaiidolph, Vt, He mar-ried, second, Sar'ah M. Hibbard, a sister 
of his first wife, liy whom he hail two children: Curtis Stanton, a lawyer, but at pres- 
ent cashier of Orange County National Bank, at CheKsea, Vt., ,ind Wilson Sewar'd of 
Boston, assistant United States marshal for Massachusetts. Mr. Emer-y is a Republican 
in politics, has always taken a great interest in music, and has had charge of a choir for 
many year.s. 

Fay. — The family of this name in Sharon is descended from John Fay, a native of 
England, who was born about 1G48. He embarked for America May 30. 1(150, on board 
the Speedwell, arriving in Boston June 27th, of that year. Of the family of eight chil- 
dren Gresham, his youngest son, married Mar)' Brigham. He was born October 10, 
1681. Gresham died November 24, 1720. He had a son Gresham, born September 17, 
1703, and who died April 7, 1784. He married Hannah, daughter of Nathaniel Oaks, an 



Old Families. 757 



emigrant from England. She was born December 27, 1707, and died March 3, lSO(i. 
Grresham lived at Northboro, which was then a part of We.'^tboro, Mass., and had a fam- 
ily of eight children. Joseph, his fiftli child, was born September 17, 1738. He raar- 
rieil Lufy Warren, who was born at Slirewsbury, Mass., about 1742. She was related 
tn General Joseph Warren. Josepli settleil for some time at Boston, but removed to 
Walpole, N. H., in the early part of 177li. He was a Revolutionary soldier. Joseph, 
son of the above, was born in Boston, December 28, 1762. He served in the Revolu- 
tion from March 1, 1777, to June 27, 1780. He was married November 14, 1782, to 
Sarah Graves, who w.is l)orn in Seabrook, Conn., July l.i. 17(i2. Tlieir children were 
Calvm, Artemas, Sally, Luther, Famiy, Rebecca, Robert, Betsey, Joseph Lewis, Tirzah, 
and Allen Clark! Joseph died at Walpole, N. IL, October 13, 1831 ; his wife April 2."i. 
1847. Luther, the son of Joseph, was born in Walpole, October 3, 1788. He married 
Nancy Ivibling, of Westmoreland, N. H. He became a resident of \'"erniont in 1812, 
settling in Vershire. After remaining there one year he removed to Strafford, and 
in 182.5 located at Sharon, where lie died Decemlier 30, 1864. He had six children: 
Joseph Lewis, died at .Sh.iron ; Calvin Kibliiig; Rollins Burke, died young; Jacob Lu- 
tlier, died iu Sharon; Sarah Ann (deceased), married Azro Mosher; and Nancy Maria, 
died young. Calvin Kiblmg was born in Walpole, N. H., March 8, 1810, and married 
January 3, 1832, Betsey Northrop, who vras born at Strafford, Vt., Febru.ary 8, 1810. 
He is a stone mason and carpenter by trade, and has also been engaged in farming, hav- 
ing purchased his present farm in 1834. He had four children, all of whom were born 
in Sharon. They are Rollins Burke, born December 29, 1832, married Jane Sliepard. 
He is a Congregational minister, and resids in Sheldon, Vt. He had two sons, viz : 
Alba Grecnieaf, born in Sharon, June 12, 1857, and married Sophia Cynthia Harrington ; 
he is a lawyer and resides in Reedsboro, Vt.; and Charles Myron, died June 23. LSSG. 
George Edward, born September 28, 1836. married Mary Jane Tyler, fie resides in 
Sharon, .and is a carpenter and builder. He has three children : Fredwin Tyler, unmar- 
ried, a resident of Lowell, Ma.ss.; Sarah Minnie, wife of Nahum Heath, of Lowell, Mass.; 
and Ellen Jane. Ellen .Sarah (deceased) married Harry Parkhurst ; and Luther Calvin, 
l)orn September 4, 1842. The latter became a member of Company D, Sixteenth Ver- 
mont Infantry, ami owing to sickness contracted in the array died March 4, 1872. He 
marri, d Stephanie Eliza Fagan, who survives him. He had two children : Jennie Mary, 
wife of William Keyler, of Arlington, N. J.; and George Calvin, a resident of the same 
place. 

Follett, Martin D., was born in Enosburg, Vt., July 18, 1793. He came to Pomfret 
in 1833, and removed to Royalton twenty years later, where he died September 18, 18(i.5. 
He married Lurana Winchell, and had six children : Sarah P., died single ; Truman, died 
aged three years; Lucy F., married Harry B. Goff; Ammi ; Norman, died April 18, 
1890, at Cameron, Mo.; and Calista, widow of Carlos Miller, resides in Royalton. Ammi, 
son of Martin D., born in Enosburg, married April 4, 1848. Lydia Arvilla Dodge, who 
was born in Johnson, Vt., May 20, 1826. Mr. Follett became a resident of Sharon in 
18li7, and is engaged in farming. He had six children: Persis Hannah, now living in 
Sharon ; Phineas Dodge, died in inf.ancy ; Fred Clarence, died aged two years; Ammi 
Ward, now living at Somerville, M.ass.; he is a physician ; Lucy Arvilla, wife of AJson C. 
Ralph, of Cambridge, Mass.; and Marian Elizabeth, died aged sixteen. 

Holt, Isaac, a native of Connecticut, moved shortly after his marriage and settled in 
the eastern part of Sharon. He had three children : Freeman ; Caleb, died in Sharon ; 
and Hannah, wife of Elisha Terry. Freeman married Lucy, daughter of Samuel Page, 
and died June 16, 18G5, aged seventy-five. His wife died October 2.5, 18.59. .aged sixty- 
two. They had three children : Francis Freeman ; Harlem Samuel, died in Hartford, Oc- 
tober, 1874; Harmony P., married B. Willi.amson. Freeman Holt was selectman, lister, 
etc. Francis Freeman, born in Sharon, married Welthaney Williamson. They had 
no children. He lived at home until he was thirty-one years old. He opened a general 
store at West Hartford, December 1, 1856, and has carried on business there since. 
Harmony P. died in Sharon, January 2G, 1890. 



758 HiSTORV OK Windsor County. 

Marsh, Joel Henry, was born in Sharon, October 30, 1826, the eldest of the three chil- 
itren of Timothy ami Philena (Biirbank) Marsh. Mis great-};ranilfatl)er, Isaac, in com- 
pany witli Willard Sliepari.!, Parkhurst, and Havens, lirst settled in the town of Sharon. 
He, alone of the four, remained in Sharon the lirst winter. He came from Plainlii-lcl, 
Conn., and retnrned and died there. His son Joel was born in Plainfield, Jannary 6, 
1747, and married Ai>ril 7, 17()G, in Plainlield, Sarah Wheeler, born September 27, 17<<i. 
Their cliildreti were Elias, Eunice, Polly, Hannah, Wealthy, Joel, Timothy, Zebina. Joel 
Marsh died October lU, 1811. His wife, Sarali, died January 8, 1843. Timothy was 
twice married. He married lirst Kanny Durkee. They had tour children, viz.: Fanny, 
wife of Timothy Kitlridfce; Emeline, wife of Calvin Dinimick ; George, died in Boston ; 
and Charles died in Marlboro, Mas.s. Timothy married second Philena Burbank. Their 
children were Joel Henry and Mary Spring. Joel Henry married October 8, 1S.53, Sa- 
rah, daughter of Paul and SaraU (Smith) Howe. They had five children: Emma D.. 
William C., Alice G., Celia H. aud Timothy. Joel H. owns and occupies the homestead 
in Sliaron. He was a member of the Legislature in IS72, chairman of the board of 
selectmen six years, and is at present a member of the board, and was justice of the 
peace a number of years. 

Mosher. — This family in Sharon are descended from Nicholas Mo.sher, who resided al 
Tyringham, Conn. He married Elizal)eth Crandall, an<l had fourteen children: Gideon, 
Sarah, Lydia, Aaron, Freeman, Eber, Pardon, Mary. Thomas, Iloilman, Silius, Elizabelh, 
Pliebe and Godfrey. I'ardon, of the aliove, was liorn March 3, 17t>o, and was one of the 
early settlers of .Sti-afford, Vt. He married Sarah Garlield, who was born May 3, 177'2. 
His children were Alanson ; Dan, died in Sharon ; Thomas, died in Michigan ; Christiana 
(ihweased), married first Ambrose Presion, second Levi Mosher; Margaret (decea.S(>d), 
married .-Vmphias Patterson: Isaac, resides at Keirysbnrgh, Vl.; Ephraim, died aged 
sixteen; Amanda, married and died in Massachusetts; Lucy, widow of Luke HIis.s, re- 
sides in West Springlield, Mass.; and Philo lives in Winconsin. Pardon died January 
4, IS.'/i, his wife January <i, 18.52. Alan.son, son of Pardon, born in Sliaion, Septemln-i 
SI, 1791, married Azuliah Preston. They had seven children : Alan.son, residentof Nebo, 
III.; Emeline M. (decea.sed), wife of William t^uiniby; Amanda J. (deceased), wife of 
Lyman Wheeler; Luria Ann, widow of Jiicob Fay, resides in Sharon; Sarali Sophia 
(deceased), wife of George Chilson ; William Howard, died al .Montpelier ; anil Niles 
C^nimby, born in Sharon, April 22, I83(;, resides in his native town. Alanson died March 
22, 1879. Hodman, son of Nicholas above, removed from Connecticut after his mar- 
riage and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Chandler Ladd. He had eight 
chililri'n : Alnjali C; Silas died in 18l)4, at Morristown, Vl.; Hannah, married Joel 
Hunter, and died at Janesville, Wis , in 1887; Levi, died in Hoosick, N. V.; Harvey, died 
at Troy, N. Y., in 188!) ; Morris, died in Maine ; Clarissa P., widow of .John Becker, lives 
111 Schoharie, N. Y.; and Dighton Z., died at Schoharie. Abijah C, the eldest above, 
born in Sharon, April 20, 1702, married Relief Booth. He had three children, and died 
December 28, 1874. His wife died in Sharon, August 27, 1844. Albeit B., the oldest 
of his children, was born in Sharon. January 20, 1S17, and married firslMary L. Eldredge. 
by whom he had two children, viz.: George A., an attorney living in Troy, N. Y.. and 
Charles A., who married first Lora Williamson. She died June 2, 1874. They had one 
child, a son, Loren A. Charles A. married Celia P. Howe for his second wife. He is a 
farmer resiiling in Sharon on the old homestead. Albert B., the above, married for his 
second wife Maria A. (liisbee) Ralph, who died March G, 1887. He has always resided 
in Sharon withithe e.'tception of three years, when he lived in Schoharie county. N. Y., 
teaching school there He taught five terms in Vermont, and has since followeii farm- 
ing. He has been lister, selectman, etc., several years, school district clerk forty-five 
years, justice of the peace over twenty years, .and member of the Legislature two years, 
1804 and 180.5. Ruth D., the second of the above of Abijah C. Mo.sher's children, mar- 
ried George Dimick. They had two children, Ellen ami Emma, who are living, the 
former in Ludlow, Vt., who married Charles Raymond ; ihe latter, Emma, who married 



Old Families. 



759 



Rufus Barton, M. D., lives in Altatnont, Albany county, N. Y. The third child of Abijah 
0. Mosher, G-eorge W., died when five years old, July 23, 1826. 

Parker, Lieutenant Joseph, was born September 15, 172.5, and married November 20* 
174(1, Rachel Muraii. He died March 8, 1792. He had children as follows : Eunice. 
Rachel, Elizabeth, Joseph, Solomon, Amo.s,- Rachel, second, James, Johannah, David 
and Jonathan. James, above, was born in Coventry, Conn., April 0, 17G3, settled in the 
fall of 1787 on tr:e farm now occupied by his <j;rand,son, J. J. Parker. He was a Baptist, 
minister and a Revolutionary soldier and for nine succes.sive years represented the town 
in the Legislature. He married Kesiah Weatherby and his children were Harmony 
(deceased), married David Moore; Sabine; Luke, married Adacia Parker; Junia, mar- 
ried Ruth Poole; Sybil, died single; Claris.^a (deceased), married Caleb Holt; Calm, 
died young; xVlmira (deceased), married Roswell Huntington; Betsey (deceased), mar- 
ried Ellas Newton ; and James. He died March 17, 1.S39. James, the youngest above, 
was born in Sharon, September 2t), ISOd, married Mary Merrill. Of his six children, one 
died m infancy. The others were Mary Josephine, wife of Sylvester F. Huckins of 
Bellows Falls ; Sarah Almarine, died aged two months; Armanth;i, C, wife of Henry 
Phillips of Bellows .Falls ; Ellen Georgianna, married, first, Albert Ferguson, second, 
Elijah W. Brown, she resides in Bellows Falls; and James Judson. Mr. Parker resiiied 
in Sharon until 1887, when he removed to Bellows Falls. He was a member of the 
Legislature in 1868-f)y, and died June 7, 1800. James Judson, son of Jame.s, was born 
in Sharon, November 24, I84(i, married Marcia Babcockand had three children : Arthur; 
Alice May, died in infancy ; and Minnie May. 

Parkhurst, Walter, son of Elias, was born in Royalton. At the age of two years his 
father moved to Barnstead, 0. E.. where he died. Walter returned from Canada and 
married Avaline Brownell. They had five children : Edwin C, a resident of California; 
Henry B., resides in Barnard ; Ellis N., died in Barnard ; Daniel E.; and Jason .\.. lives 
in Pomfret. Walter died in Barnard, July 11, 1870. Daniel E. was born in Rochester, 
Vt., June 20, 1845. His father removed to Barnard in 1856, where Daniel E. resided 
until September, 1871, when he became a resident of Sharon. He is a shoemaker by 
tnide, and since the spring of 1882 he has been town clerk and treasurer. He has lieen 
justice of the peace tor si.x years. He is also a notary public. He married first Lenora 
B. Adams. They had one child, Lizzie A. He married second Lutheria, widow of 
Allen Barrett, and daughter of Leonard D. Cross. 

Preston, Colonel Moses, born in Strafford, Vt., Augu.st 27, 1798, was the son of Ed- 
ward and Thankful (Bidwell) Preston. He was a blacksmith and gunsmith, and was 
engaged in the manufacture of guns in Sharon, of which town he was a resident for 
over fifty-five years, where he died November 27, 1870. He built the saw-mill m 
Sharon now owned and operated by his son. He married Almira Baldwin and had 
seven children : Hiram. Rozilla J., Lucinda B., Almira, Albert Baldwin, Moses F. and 
t'hauncey E. Albert Baldwin was born in Sharon, October 16, 1837, married Mary 
Alzada Ladd. They had seven children : Alice P., Albert 0., Homer F., Ira P., Lucy 
E., Lottie N. and Celia A. Albert B, is engaged in lumbering and farming and has been 
selectman, lister, justice of the peace, and was member of the House of Representa- 
tives in 1882. 

Quimljy, William, was born in Springfield, N. H., in 1789, and removed to Norwich, 
Vt., in 1828 and died there March 9, 1859. He married Mary Sanborn, who died De- 
cember 6, 1855, aged sixty-two. They had ten children: Mary (deceased), married 
William Hopkins ; Almira, widow of Gardner Davis, resides in Norwich, Vt.; Sophia 
(deceased), married Abner Flanders; Hannah, married, first, James Culver, second, 
William Taylor; she lives at Piano. 111.; Martha (deceased), married William Morrison; 
Amanda (deceased), married John T. Robinson; David, married Marcia Blanchard, 
lives at Elkhait, Ind.; Alma, resides at Manchester, N. H.; and Jane, wife of M. W. 
Foster of Haikley, 111. William, son of William, was born in Springfield, N. H., July 
10, 1820, married March 4, 1884, Mary M. Lull. The same year he removed to Sharon, 



760 History of Windsor County. 

wliere lie eiio^afred in lumberinpr and farming, and died February 20, 1807; lie had four 
(.-iiililren : James S., wlio succeeded to liis father's business in Sharon ; Clara F., widow 
of William il. lialbridt^e, resides in Boston: Justin 0., died aged twenty-three; and 
Alice A., died aged eighteen. 

.Sliirlock, Francis, born in Kildare county, Ireland, April l(i, 1811, emigrated to 
.\inerica during Jackson's administration. He married Miss Mary McDonough nf Bur- 
liiiglon, February lU, 1844, and located at Sharon, Vt., on a farm which he owned pre- 
vious to his marriage. Twelve children came to bless the union, ten of whom survive 
their father. Mr. Shirlock died in Sharon, March 3, 1880. His family are located as 
follows: Annie M., wife of P. S. McGinnis of Boston; Edward, who occupies the home 
faini in Sharon, and cares for his mother and unmarried sisters; John, a farmer residing 
in Koyaltoii. Vt.; .Maggie, Joseph, Katie and Sarah, all living at Sharon. Josejih occu- 
pies one of his father's farms and acts as foreman at the H. A. Clark stock farm in 
Sharon ; Katie is a teacher in the [lublic schools of Windsor county; William, a resident of 
of Middlesex, Vt., is engaged in railroad business; Ellen, wife of David Daly of St. Aliians, 
Vt; and Ceorge, a resident of St. Albans, in the employ of the railroad company. 
James and Cliarles died when quite young. Mrs. Shirlock was born in Ireland, Septem- 
ber 20, 182(i, and emigrated to .America in 1831. 

Smith, John Porter, was born in Hanover, N. H., September 23, 1804, and married 
Harriet Bush. She was liorn February 8, 1807. He was a blacksmith by trade. He 
resided in Canada, Hanover and Boston up to the time of his marriage. He then moved 
to Lebanon, N. H., and in 18.'i7 came to Sharon, locating on what is known as the 
Stoughton farm. After living on this farm four years he removed to the village of 
Sharon, where he carried on his trade about thirty years. He was town clerk, justice 
of the pcMce, and .selectman. He died in Sharon in 1883, his wife January 3, 1874. 
Theironly cliild, George D., was born in Lebanon, N. H., February 1.5, 1830. After 
attending the local schools he was (itted for college at the Newbury and Montpelier 
academies, but was obliged to forego a college education on account of ill-health. From 
his vo ith he has paid particular attention to the study of music, his last instructor being 
Profe.ssor George J. Webb of Boston. He taught music a number of years. By trade 
he is a carpenter, a business which he has followed for twenty-six years. He was select- 
man two years. He married, first, Mary A., daughter of Cyrus and Thankful (Preston) 
Robinson." Bv this union he hail one child, Lily May, born May 1, 180.5, died March 15, 
188,5. His wife died December 2'i, 1872. He married, second, Clara S., widow of 
Gardner W. Gibson. They had one child, William Steele, born in CoUhvater, Mich., 
•laiiiiary 2.5, l.siiO, and died in Sharon, January 15. 1803. Mrs. Smith was born in 
Sharon, Vt., October 27, 1835, was tlie daughter of Judge William Stee]e,who was born 
in Randolph, Vt,, February 10, 1778, and married March 25, 1811. Lydia Gleason, born 
May 20, 1700, in Barre, Ma.ss. 

Walbridge, Josiali, born in Sharon, Vt., May 1, 1803, married Mary Ladd, by whom 
he had two children : William Henry Harrison, born July 6, 1840, married Clara (j)uimby, 
and had one child, Arthur Henry ; he died October 28, 1880; and Chester B., born in 
Sharon, December 22, 1842, married Ella Graves. They had no children. He resides 
in the village of Sharon and carries on a farm. Josiah Walbridge was the leading mer- 
chant ill Siiaroii for many year.s, and died in .Sharon, September 22, 1881. 



Town of Royalton. 761 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ROYALTON. 

THE district of land now and heretofore known by the name of Roy- 
alton was one of the very few civil divisions or tracts that form a 
part of Windsor county, that was not granted or chartered by Benning 
Weiitworth ; and why the doughty governor happened not to make 
some disposition of this particular town, when he did of the others to the 
east and south of it, both of which were less desirable than this, is a mys- 
tery, the solution of which will not be attempted here. And while the 
other towns east and south, and possibly some north, were chartered 
and occupied between 1765 and 1770, generally under New Hampshire 
grants, it still remained for the New York control to bring into exist- 
ence, survey and settle what became the town of Royalton, the first pro- 
ceeding toward that end being taken during the year 1769. 

As the reader must understand, whatever of rights the governor of 
New Hampshire had, in or to the district known as the New Hampshire 
Grants, was extinguished and ended by the order of the king in 1764 ; 
and that same order declared the district to belong to the colony of New 
York. Thus vested, the governor of the latter province, on the 13th of 
November, 1769, issued a charter to certain of his special favorites, by 
name George Banyar, William Smith, Whitehead Hicks and John Kelly, 
all of whom it is understood were residents of the city of New York. 
These proprietors at once caused a survey of the town to be made, also 
a plan of the most elaborate ciiaracter, dividing the territory into tracts, 
lots and districts, and then made a bid for settlement, or at least the sale 
of tlie lands and tracts to speculators and anyone, in fact, whether they 
sought to become actual settlers or not. And it seems that these pro- 
prietors must have sold a part of the lands to some of their own resi- 
dents, for, by an instrument in writing, dated August 21, 1771, the 
lands of the town were partitioned between William Livingston, Golds- 
boro Banyar, Whitehead Hicks, William Smith and John Kelly. Under 
these proprietors the first permanent settlement was made in the town 
during the year 1771, by the coming of Robert Havens and his family ; 

96 



762 History of Windsor County. 

and in the next year Elisha Kent and family appeared as settlers. After 
this time the settlers rapidly increased in numbers, as much so, perhaps, 
as in any similarly situated town in the region ; and it is estimated that 
in 1780 the town had a population of three hundred persons. And of 
course these settlers considered themselves as residents and citizens of 
the State of New York, and so they, in fact, were, for the time at least, 
and imtil the new State of Vermont was created. And it is true, too, 
although there appears to be no record to the effect, that the town was 
organized under the laws of New York, and elected the town officers in 
accordance with the custom prevailing in the province at that time. But 
when the new State of Vermont was formed and declared to be an inde- 
pendent jurisdiction the people of Royalton very readily accommodated 
themselves to the new order of things, elected officers as required by the 
laws of Vermont, and became and considered themselves to all intents 
and purposes as a part of the latter jurisdiction. Thus easily did they 
alienate themselves from the State that had created their town, whose 
very proprietors were New Yorkers, and to whom, undoubtedly, some 
of them were obligated. 

And it may be said as an undoubted fact that the people of Royal - 
ton were heartily in favor of the new State, and although the town was 
not represented in the Dorset conventions, nor in fact by a personal del- 
egate at the Westminster convention of January 15, 1777, it was at the 
latter represented by a letter issuing out of the town, from which it ap- 
peared that the inhabitants had voted in favor of the new State, and so 
expressed themselves to the convention. Hut it is proper to say in this 
connection that the town was influenced in this action by the fact that it 
was promised on the part of the new State advocates that the towns east 
of the Connecticut would be received into permanent union with those on 
the west side of the river, that all would be organized into the one State, 
which promise seemed particularly gratifying to Royalton, and several 
other towns as well, and influenced their action in joining the new State 
project. The eastern union was formed, but it proved, on account of 
certain complications, tc^ be only temporary, and its dissolution so grieved 
the good people of Royalton that they joined with several other towns 
in convention, wherein they expressed the greatest dissatisfaction with 
the turn of affairs, declined to send a representative to the Vermont 



Town of Royalton. 763 

Assembly, withdrew all allegiance to the State, and joined in the peti- 
tion to Congress that the State might not be admitted to the Federal 
Union. 

This action, however pure or sincere may have been the motive that 
induced it, was certainly an unfortunate one for tlie town to take, for it 
very nearly cost the people the lands which they had cleared and upon 
which they had built their homes. That action so provoked the leading 
statesmen then at the head of affairs of the State that they felt con- 
strained to ignore or treat as worthless the charter under which the peo- 
ple of Royalton held title, and to treat the town as so much vacant land. 
This was at a time when the treasury of the State sadly needed replen- 
ishing, and, to the end that funds might be forthcoming, the authorities 
were willing to make grants of lands to certain petitioners, for consider- 
ation. One of these petitions was from Danforth Keyes and his asso- 
ciates, who asked for a charter for the town of Royalton, the matter 
coming before the Governor and Council and the General Assembly in 
October, 1779, and the committee to which the matter of granting town 
charters was referred on the 26th of October, reported to the effect that 
the Assembly should proceed and grant the towns, with a condition that 
any settlers " now on either of the aforesaid tracts " should not be mo- 
lested or dispossessed, " provided they pay a proportion of the costs " ; 
and further, that " each settler paying his equal part of the costs be en- 
titled to have one hundred acres of land where he has settled and im- 
proved." Ethan Allen was chairman of this committee. On the 27th 
of October the Assembly did pass an act granting several towns, among 
them Royalton, and the latter to Danforth Keyes and others, and the 
Council authorized the governor to execute the charters ; and on the 
28th it was resolved that the proprietors of Royalton, the new grantees, 
pay two dollars per acre for the lands of the town. A still later " re- 
solve " directed that in case any of the proprietors neglected or refused 
to pay the committee were authorized to substitute others who would 

pay- 
It now became apparent to the settlers in Royalton that they were 
about to lose their lands, and they at once joined in a petition to the 
authorities of the State, choosing Captain Comfort Seaver their agent to 
present it, praying that the issuing of a charter to other proprietors 



764 History of Windsor County. 

should be deferred until the petitioners might have an opportunity of 
being heard in the premises. The Council then appointed a committee 
of four — Benjamin Emmons, John Throop, Samuel Robinson and Cap- 
tain Edmund Hodges — to proceed to the town and hear the grievances of 
the petitioners. The expense of the committee was directed to be borne 
by the petitioners. But it appears that the committee found the matter 
of the title to the lands to be in dispute, the controversy being between 
the non-resident proprietors, the proposed proprietors under Vermont, 
and the actual settlers on the land. The further proceedings and re- 
port of the committee are not to be found, and any speculation upon 
what they may have done is not appropriate ; suffice it to say that no 
charter was issued to Daiifortii Keyes and liis associates, one of whom 
was Eliakim Spooner, and who was paid by the State twenty pounds in 
consideration of his giving up the grant for his "expense and damages 
sustained thereby"; but that on December 20, 1781, by an act of the 
Legislature, the town was granted, subsequently chartered, to Comfort 
Seaver and his associates, the above mentioned petitioners, the actual set- 
tlers on the soil, those who had acquired their lands under the New York 
charter, and who, all of them, were as follows: Comfort Seaver, Elias 
Stevens, Elisha Kent, John Kent, Elisha Kent, jr., John Hibbard, James 
Hibbard.Jedediah Hide,EbenezerDewey,Ebenezer Church, Nathan Fish, 
John Safford, Benjamin Parkhurst, Simon Shepard, Reuben Parkhurst, 
Daniel Gilbert, Daniel Ricks, John Kimball, Garner Ricks, Ebenezer Park- 
hurst, David Fish, David Brewster, Robert Havens, William Blackmer, 
Herman Durkee, Ebenezer Brewster, Medad Benton, Nathaniel Morse, 
Robert Handay, Benjamin Day, Timothy Durkee, John Gillett, Aden 
Durkee, John Billings, Joseph F"ish, John Wilson, John Hibbard, jr., 
Samuel Benedict, Calvin Parkhurst, Josiah Wheeler, Joseph Parkhurst, 
Elias Curtis, John Havens, Johnson Safford, John Stevens, jr., Isaac 
Morgan, Zebulon Lyon, Nathan Morgan, Daniel Fuller, William Joiner, 
Martin Fuller, Daniel Havens, Benjamin Day, jr., John Evans, Jeremiah 
Trescott, Israel Waller, William Jones, John House, Tillie Parkhurst, 
Phineas Parkhurst, Samuel Clark, Joel Marsh. 

The town of Royalton as granted and chartered by Vermont had not 
the same area as under the New York charter, for it was found that, had 
the same territory been granted, it would have overlapped the town 



Town of Royalton. 765 



lands of Bethel, on the west side. To remedy this two tiers of lots were 
taken off from the town and laid out under the New York survey, thus 
reducing the area of Royalton. 

But there occurred in the town of Royalton, and in the year 1780, 
one particular event, — one of special and extraordinary importance ; a 
serious and terrible occurrence in the early history of the town ; and one 
which undoubtedly had much effect upon the minds of the people of the 
State at large, and had weight in leading the members of the Legislature 
to eventually grant the town to the persons afTected by the event, and 
in setting aside the grant formerly made to Danforth Keyes, Eliakim 
Spooiier and their fellows. And the event was one, moreover, that has 
b'eeii, and ever will be, a memorable one in the history of this State, and 
always known and distinguished as 

The Burning of Royalton.' 

" On tiie morning of the i6th of October, 1780, before the dawn of 
day the inhabitants of this town were surprised by the approach of about 
three hundred Indians of various tribes. They were led by the Caghne- 
waga tribe, and had left Canada intending to destroy Newbury, a town 
in the eastern part of Vermont, on Connecticut River A British lieu- 
tenant by the name of Horton was their chief commander, and one Le 
Mott, a Frenchman, was his second. Their pilot or leader was a des- 
perate villain by the name of Hamilton, who had been made prisoner by 
the Americans at the taking of Burgoyne in 1777. He had been at New- 
bury and Royalton the preceding summer on parole of honor ; left the lat- 
ter place with several others, under pretense of going to survey lands in the 
northern part of this State, and went directly to the enemy. He was doubt- 
less the first instigator of those awful depredations which were the bitter 
fruits of this expedition, and which ought to stamp his name wide with 
disgrace. 

"On their way thither, it is said, they came across several men from 
Newbury, who were engaged in hunting near the place where Montpelier 

' The following account of what occurred at that time is extracted from Steele's Nar- 
rative, a small book published about or soon after the year 1 800, and of which but very 
few copies are in existence. Fortunately one was found in the Windsor library and as 
to its accuracy there can be no doubt. Zadoc Steele, the author, was made a prisoner 
on the occasion of the burning. 



766 History of Windsor County. 



village now stands, and made them prisoners. They made known their 
object to these hunters, and inquired of them whether an armed force 
was stationed at Newbury. Knowing the defenceless state of that town, 
and hoping they would be able to induce the Indians to relinquish their 
object and return to Canada, they told them that such an armed garri.son 
was kept at Newbury as would render it extremely dangerous for them 
to approach. UnwilHng iiowever that their expedition should prove 
wholly fruitless, they turned their course to Royalton. Following up 
Onion River, as far as the mouth of Stevens branch, they steered their 
course through Barre, at that time called Wildersburg ; proceeded up 
Gaol branch, which forms a part of Stevens branch, and traveled over 
the mountains through Orange and Washington ; thence down the first 
branch of White River, through Chelsea and Tunbridge, to Royalton. 
They laid in their encampment at Tunbridge, not far distant from Royal- 
ton, during the Sabbath, the day preceding their attack upon the latter 
place, for the purpose of conceiting measures to carry into effect their 
atrocious and malignant design. As they entered the town before day- 
light appeared darkness covered their approach, and they were not 
discovered till Monday morning at dawn of day, when they entered the 
house of John Hutchinson, who resided not far from the line separating 
K()yaltt)n and Tunbridge. He was totally ignorant of their approach, 
and wholly unsuspicious of danger until they burst the door upon him. 
Here thev took John and Abijah Hutchinson, brothers, prisoners, and 
plundereil the house ; crossed the first branch and went to the house of 
Robert Havens, who lived a short distance away. Mr. Havens had 
gone out into his pasture in pursuit of his sheep, and having ascended a 
hill about forty rods from his house, heard his neighbor Hutchinson's dog 
bark, and stood in pensive silence. Casting his eye to the west, toward 
his own dwelling, he beheld a comp.my of Indians just entering the door. 
Seeing his own danger, he immediately laid down under a log and hid 
himself from their sight. With groanings unutterable he lay awhile, 
heard the shrieks of his beloved wife, and saw his sons escaping for their 
lives. His son, Daniel Havens, and Thomas Pember were in the house 
and made their appearance a little before the Indians came up. Behold - 
in" the foe a few rods distant, they ran for their lives. Daniel Havens 
made his escape by throwing himself over a hedge fence down the bank 
of the branch and crawling under a log, although a large number of the 



Town of Royalton. j^-j 

Indians passed directly over it in pursuit of him. They pursued Pem- 
ber till they came so near as to throw a spear at him, which pierced his 
body. He ran some time after he was wounded, till by loss of blood 
he fainted, fell, and was unable to proceed farther. The savage monsters 
came up, several times thrust a spear through his body, took his scalp, 
and left him food for the worms. 

"The Indians made the house of Mr. Havens their rallying- place, or 
po.st of observation, and stationed a part of their company there to guard 
their baggage and make preparations for retreat when they had com- 
pleted their work of destruction. Moving with violent steps, they pro- 
ceeded down the first branch to its mouth ; while a number, armed with 
spears, led the van, and were followed by others, armed with muskets 
and scalping knives. They had not proceeded far before a young man 
named Elias Button made his appearance in the road but a few rods in 
front of them. Espying his danger, he turned and ran to escape their 
cruel hands. The savage tribe pursued and soon overtook him, pierced 
his body with their spears, took off his scalp, and left him weltering in 
his gore. That they might be able to fall upon the inhabitants unawares, 
and thereby secure a greater number of prisoners, as well as procure a 
greater quantity of plunder, they kept profound silence till they had ar- 
rived at the mouth of the branch. After killing Pember and liutton 
they proceeded to the house of Joseph Kneeland, where they found 
Simeon Belknap, Giles Gibbs and Jonathan Brown, together with Joseph 
Kneeland and his aged father, all of whom were made prisoners. They 
then went to the house of Elias Curtis, where they took Curtis, John 
Kent and Peter Mason. Mrs. Curtis had just arisen from her bed, when 
she was approached by an Indian with knife in hand, and who made a 
threatening movement as if to cut her throat, but the savage happened 
to observe a string of gold beads around the woman's neck, which he at 
once took and left her undisturbed. To prevent an alarm being sounded 
abroad the Indians commanded the prisoners to keep silence on pain of 
death. They plundered every house they found till they arrived at the 
mouth of the branch, when the commander, a British ofificer, took his 
stand with a small party of Indians, while some went up and others down 
on each side of the river to complete the work of destruction. They 
had already taken several horses, some of which they rode to facilitate 
their march, and enable them to overtake those who had attempted to 



768 History ok Windsor County. 

make their escape, but tlic horses, through fright at their strange riders, 
served to impede rather tiian hasten their progress. 

" General EHas Stevens, who resided in the first house on tiie river 
above the mouth of the branch, had gone down the river about two 
miles, and was at work with his o.xen and cart. While thus employed 
he beheld a man approaching, who, seeing the general, said, ' F"or God's 
sake, turn out your oxen, for the Indians are at the mill.' (This mill 
was owned by Mr. Morgan, and was situated near the mouth of the first 
branch.) General Stevens turned out his oxen, mounted his horse, and 
started to return to his family, but before making half the distance he 
was met by Captain Joseph Parkluirst, who informed him that the In- 
dians were but a few rods distant, in swift pursuit ; whereupon the gen- 
eral turned and accompanied Parkhurst down the river, to the house of 
Deacon Daniel Rix. General Stevens took Mrs. Rix and two or three 
small children on his horse, and all rode off as fast as possible, accompa- 
nied by Deacon Rix and others on foot, and arrived at the place where 
the general first received the alarm. Here, having seen no Indians, 
General Stevens concluded to return home and secure his household 
from danger. Leaving Mrs. Rix and children in care of a Mr. Bur- 
roughs, he started, and had proceeded about a mile when he saw the In- 
dians but a few rods tiistant, upon which he quickly turned about, re- 
turned to the company he had left, and directed them to conceal them- 
selves in the woods, wiiich they did, and were passed undiscovered by 
the Indians, who continued on in pursuit of Stevens. The latter reached 
the house of Tillie Parkhurst, where he gave an alarm, and at once pro- 
ceeded to warn others who lived contiguous. By this time the way was 
filled with men, women, and children, and a large body of Indians in 
open view but just behind them. The savage tribe now began to make 
the wilderness re-echo with their frightful yells. Frightened and alarmed 
for their safety, children clung to their parents, and half distracted moth 
ers were heard to make the air resound with their cries of distress. 
General Stevens endeavored to get them into the woods, out of sight of 
the Indians, but few could be persuaded to go, and most of them kept 
the road till they arrived at the house of Captain E. Parkhurst, in Sharon. 
Here they halted a moment to take breath, hoping they should not be 
pursued any farther. The Indians, being taken up in plundering the 




drmMh 



Vly} 



Town of Royalton. 769 



houses, had now fallen considerably in the rear ; but the victims had not 
long been here when the cruel pursuers again appeared in sight. 

" Seeing the Indians approaching, General Stevens put his mother 
and sister on his own horse, and Captain Parkhurst put Mrs. Rix and 
three of her children on another horse, without a bridle, and ordered 
them to hasten their flight. There yet remained the wife of Captain E. 
Parkhurst, who stood in the most critical situation, surrounded by six 
small children clinging to her clothes and pleading for protection. Her 
husband, to whom she fain would have looked for protection, was gone 
from home when all her woes fell upon her. At the time General Stev- 
ens put his mother and sister on his horse the Indians were not eight 
rods from him ; they, with Mrs. Rix, rode off, the others following on 
foot. Part of the Indians pursued them, while others entered the house 
and plundered it. They took Mrs. Parkhurst's eldest f,on from her, and 
ordered her with the rest of the children to leave the house ; and she ac- 
cordingly went to the fields back of the house with five of her children, 
and remained in safety. Soon after Stevens started his dog came in his 
waj% and caused him to stumble and fall, which so retarded his progress 
that he was obliged to flee to the woods for safety, leaving the women 
and children to make the best of their retreat. The Indians pursued 
down the road after them, and soon overtook those who were on foot. 
They took Gardner Rix, son of Deacon Rix, a boy about fourteen years 
old, just at the heels of his mother's horse, while she was compelled to 
witness the painful sight. They pursued the women and children as far 
as the house of Mr. Benedict, where they left them and started for Ben- 
edict himself; but he escaped by hiding under a log, although the In- 
dians stood on it in looking for him. About forty rods farther down the 
river the Indians took a young man named Avery prisoner, and tlien 
concluded to return. 

" While they were at the house of Tillie Parkhurst, Phineas, the son 
of Tillie, who had been to alarm the people on the east side of the river, 
just as he entered the stream on his return discovered the Indians at his 
father's door. Finding himself in danger, he turned to go back, when 
the Indians saw him and fired at him. This was the first gun they fired 
after entering the town. The ball entered his back, went through his 
body, came out under his ribs, and lodged in the skin. Notwithstand- 
97 



770 History of Windsor County. 

ing the wound, he continued his retreat to Lebanon, N. H., a distance 
of sixteen iniles, with very littlt; stop, supportin<j the ball between iiis 
fingers (He was a resident physician in Lebanon in 1853.) 

"The party of Indians that went down the east side of the river into 
Sharon took, in that town, one prisoner, a boy named Nathaniel Gilbert. 
On their return they shot and killed fourteen fat oxen in one yard. 
Cows, sheep, hogs, and every creature designed by nature to supply the 
wants of man, that came in their way, fell a prey to these dreadful spoilers. 

"The third party, who went up the river, first came to the house of 
General Stevens, whose family had been warned by Daniel Havens, he 
saying: 'The Indians arc thick as the d — 1 at our house,' and directly 
went away. Just as Mrs. Stevens was for leaving the house the Indians 
came in the door, destroyed everything, not even allowing her any suffi- 
cient clothing, but ordering her to ' be gone, or they would burn.' She 
took her child and went to the woods for safety. Daniel Waller, a boy 
of fourteen, lived with General Stevens, and he was taken prisoner and 
carried to Canada. The party next visited Mr. Durkee's house and took 
his sons, Aden and Andrew, prisoners. The former died in prison in 
Canada. Prince Haskell was next taken. 

"John Kent and a Mr. Chaffee were both riding or racing towards 
Elias Curtis's to have their horses shod. Kent arrived first, and just in 
time to fall into the hands of the Indians, while Chaffee, seeing what was 
up, got behind the shop, and made for the woods, thus escaping. He 
then went to Mr. Hendee's and gave the alarm. Mrs. Hendee was 
directed to take her children and go to the neighbors, while he would 
al.irni the people at Bethel Fort. Mrs. Hendee was overtaken and her 
son was taken from hei' (This determined and exceedingly courageous 
uonian, Mrs Hendee, afterward visited the Indians in their camps, be- 
fore they left the vicinity, and succeeded in effecting the release of a 
number of children, whose names areas follows: Michael Hudson, Ros- 
well r.ukliiirst, son of I'lbenezer Parkluirst, Andrew and Sheldon Dur- 

kee, Joseph Rix, Rufns and Fish, Nathaniel Evans, and Daniel 

Downer.) 

"The Indians, having accomplished their nefarious design, returned 
to the house of Mr. Havens with their prisoners and the plunder of 
houses which they had devoted to destruction. Here was the place 
where they had commenced their ravages. The old man, as before ob- 



Town of Royalton. 771 



served, having concealed himself under a log, at the time he espied the 
Indians in the morning, while hunting for his sheep, still remained in 
sorrowful silence undiscovered. He iiad considered it unsafe to move, 
as a party of the Crow had remained there during the day, and had twice 
come and stood upon the log under which he lay, without finding him. 
After collecting their plunder together, and distributing it among them, 
they burned the house and barn of iVIr. Havens, and started for Canada. 
It was now about two o'clock in the afternoon. They carried oft" twenty- 
six prisoners from Royalton, who were all delivered up to the British as 
prisoners of war. They all obtained their release, and returned in about 
one year, except Aden Durkee, who died in camp in Montreal. 

"Twenty-one dwelling houses and sixteen good new barns, well filled 
with hay and grain, the hard earnings of industrious young farmers, 
were laid in ashes by the impious crew. They killed about 150 head of 
neat cattle, and all the sheep and swine they found. Hogs in their pens 
and cattle tied in their stalls were bLuned alive. They destroyed all the 
household furniture e.xcept what was carried away by them. They 
burned the house of John Hutchinson, and giving his wife a hatchet and 
a flint, together with a quarter of mutton, told her to ' go and cook for 
her men.' They took away about thirty horses, which were of little use 
to them, but rather served to hinder their progress." 

On their return they crossed the hills in Tunbridge, lying west of the 
first branch, and proceeded to Randolph, where they encamped for the 
first night near the second branch, a distance of ten miles. Of the events 
of the pursuits by militia under Colonel John House an early chapter 
has sufficiently narrated ; and but for the lack of courage on the part of 
that officer the whole party might have been captured and the prisoners 
rescued from their hands. It was on their retreat to Canada that the 
Indians passed the house of Zadoc Steele, and made a prisoner of that 
person, the author of the narrative from which this sketch is taken. 

In view of this terrible disaster that befell the struggling inhabitants of 
the newly settled town how else could it be than that the State govern- 
ment should wisely conclude to interfere in their behalf, and arm the 
grant that had been given to Danforth Keyes, Eliakim Spooner and their 
associates, and confirm and quiet the actual inhabitants in their posses- 
sion by granting them a charter ? And the Legislature did more than 
that; they condescended to extend the time of payment of the "grant- 



772 History of Windsor County. 

ing fees" for a period of five years, and designated by name the persons 
to whom the extension should be made, as follows: Timothy Durkee, 
Heman Durkee, Aden Durkee, Timothy Durkee, jr., David Fisk, Joseph 
Fisk, David Brewster, Zebulon Lyon, Elias Stevens, Robert Hendee, 
Calvin Parkhurst, James Cooper, Joseph Parkhurst, Joseph Havcns' 
Elisha Kent, Daniel Rix, Gardner Rix, Joseph John Rix, Medad Benton, 
Nathan Morgan, John Billings, Benjamin Day, Israel Waldo, Peleg Park- 
hurst, Phineas Parkhurst, Jabez Parkhurst, Ebenezer Parkhurst, Daniel 
Gilbert, Simon Shepard, Jeremiah Trescott, Nathaniel Morse, widow Sa- 
rah Rood, Isaac Morgan, Elias Curtis, Robert Havens, Daniel Havens, 
John Evans, Martin Fuller, John Hibbard and Jonathan Benton. This 
was done by a resolve of the Assembly passed February 22, 1781. And 
subsequently, on the 26th of February, 1782, the Assembly passed an act 
"relinquishing to the settlers of Royalton certain ta.xes therein men- 
tioned, on account of' the ravages of the enemy' in burning the town." 

Of the inhabitants of the town who were not carried off by the In- 
dians a number left the vicinity and made their homes temporarily 
among friends, while not a few were so disheartened at the losses they 
had suffered that they left the town never to return. To those who re- 
mained fell the work of building up again and re-establishing the town, 
which required years of toil and hardships. Other families came in and 
rei)laced those who were gone, and so rapidly did the population increase 
that in 1791 Royalton was found to contain 748 inhabitants; and in 
1800 the number had increased to 1.501. From this time on, and until 
1840, the growth of the town, both in population and industry, was 
steady and continuous ; and in the last named year the maximum ot 
population was reached, there then being 1,917 persons in the town. 
And from that year to the present the decrease and decline have been 
in about the same ratio as was the increase formerly, so that to-day 
Royalton has just about the same population as it had in 1800. 

The people of the town, as soon as they had become re-organized, 
and as soon as their habitations and institutions were rebuilt, became 
known as among the most progressive of the county. They organized 
their militia companies from among the determined young men of the 
town, and although it could hardly be expected that the town would 
contribute either men or means for the operations of the State during 
the Revolution, it was expected and the town did furnish both for the 



Town of Royalton. 773 



prosecution of the later war with Great Britain, although the imperfect 
records prevent giving the names of soldiers or the amount of the contri- 
bution asked of the town. And during the war of 1861-65 the men of 
Royalton showed their patriotism and valor, for no town contributed 
more liberally, in proportion to means and population, than did this. 
The record of her soldiers is written in the deeds of the regiments to 
which they respectively belonged, a detail of which will be found in an 
earlier chapter of this volume; also there will be found the names of the 
volunteers of the town. 

With the earliest settlement, almost, in the town there sprung up a 
trading center, where was kept a store and a shop, and a post-office 
when the latter was established in the State generally, and this locality, 
this pretty though quiet little hamlet, has always been known by the 
name of the village of Royalton. This is the old historic center of the 
town, although the later creation, known as South Royalton, has taken 
away much of the business enterprise and prosperity that naturally be- 
longed to the older town. Here was the trading center of the town one 
hundred years ago, and here it should be to-day, but circumstances 
have ordered to the contrary. The business and other institutions of 
Royalton village of the present time may be briefly summed up in a 
single store, a hotel, a public school, the Royalton Academy, one or two 
shops, two churches, and from twenty-five to thirty dwellings within the 
village proper. 

The Royalton Academy is an institution that once was of considerable 
importance, having been incorporated by the State Legislature, Novem- 
ber II, 1807, and since its erection, immediately after that date, has 
been in successful operation until within the last quarter of a century. 
And it is still conducted as an academic institution, though its patronage 
's not now equal to that of former years. 

The churches of Royalton village are First Congregational and St. 
Paul's Episcopal. The first of these has a history that dates back almost 
to the earliest settlement of the town, its society having been organized 
in 1777, although not until 1784 was the church edifice erected. This 
was replaced by a new building in 1790; and in 1834 still a third was 
erected, being that now in use by the society. Among the earliest min- 
isters of the Congregational Society in the town were Rev. John Searle, 
the first ordained in 1783; Rev. Azel Washburn, ordained in 1792; 



774 History of Windsor County. 



Rev. Martin Fuller, in 1794, died in 1813 ; Rev. Ebenezer Halping, or- 
dained in 1818, dismissed in 1822 ; and Rev. Joseph Torrey, pastor from 
1824 to 1827. The present pastor of the cliurch is Rev. Mr. Ward, antl 
whose immediate predecessor was Rev. S. P. (iiddings. The present 
membership of the church is about eighty. 

St. Paul's Episcopal church was formed during the year 1835, and 
permanently organized in 1836, during which latter year the church was 
built. It was consecrated November 3, 1837, by Bishop Hopkins. 
Among its early officiating rectors were Revs. Parker, Sabine, Potter 
and Sprague. The present rector is the Rev. Moses P. Stick ncy. 

The first bank in Royalton, Vt , was chartered by the General Assem 
bly of said State November 30, 1853, under the name of "The Bank 
of Royalton," with a capital of $100,000, divided into 2,000 shares 
of fifty dollars each. Chester Baxter, William Skinner, Stoddard B. 
Colby, Solon Danforth, Daniel L. Lyman, William W. White, Russell 
Hyde, li. B. Chase, and Philander D. Bradford were named in the char 
ter as commissioners to receive subscriptions for the capital stock of the 
bank, and the stock was subscribed in February, 1854. The bank was 
organized March 10, 1854, by the election of William Skinner, Daniel L. 
Lyman, Solon Danforth, George Lyman, E. D. Briggs, Perley C. Jones, 
and Ziba Sprague as its first board of directors. On March 24, 1854, 
William Skinner was elected presidetit, and Newton Kellogg, of Rutland, 
cashier, and the first bills of the bank were issued June 7, 1^54. New- 
ton Kellogg resigned the office of cashier October 2, 1854, and Lucius L 
Tilden, then cashier of the White River Bank at Bethel, Vt., was elected 
his successor. January 9, 1855, the same board of directors was re- 
elected, excepting George Lyman, who was succeeded by Chester Baxter. 
January 8, 1856, the same board was re elected, except the election of 
Hiram Moore in place of Chester Baxter. Perley C. Jones resigned the 
office of director September 23, 1856, and Aaron N. King was appointed 
by the other directors to succeed him. January 13, 1857, the board was 
still further changed by the election of Dudley C. Dcnison in place of 
E. D. Briggs. L. L. Tilden resigned the office of cashier March 3, 1857, 
and William H. Baxter of Barton, Vt., was elected in his stead, but Mr 
Tilden continued by request of the directors to assist in the bank till 
April 1st following. During the autumn of 1857 the bank suffered large 
losses by insolvent debtors, and the last of October it suspended the re 




v^ w^ 







-S7*^fi>yJ^G^.^r-na^I^ 



^^^-Z-c^V^^^^^ 



Town of Royalton. 775 

demption of its circulating notes in Boston and at its counter. Janu- 
ary 12, 1858, Hiram Moore, Daniel L. Lyman, Ziba Sprague, Aaron N. 
King, Perley C. Jones, Asa W. Kenney, and William H. Baxter were 
elected directors, and Perley C. Jones was elected president, which office 
he continued to hold by re-election till January 9, 1866. The new board 
of directors without delay made great efforts to collect money enough 
on the overdue notes to the bank to enable it to resume business, which 
had been almost wholly suspended from November ist. Failing to raise 
money in this way, they borrowed it on their private note, and the bank 
was thus enabled to resume business and the redemption of its circula- 
tion February 24, 1858. Hiram Mnore, one of the directors, died 
May 29, 1858. January 11, 1859, the directors of the previous year 
were re-elected, except that Silas H. Clark succeeded William H. Bax- 
ter, and George W. Bradstreet took the place of Hiram Moore deceased. 
Mr. Clark soon after resigned. August 2, 1859, William H. Baxter re- 
signed the office of cashier to take effect on the 9th inst., and Asa W. 
Kenney was elected cashier, which office he continued to hold till " The 
National Bank of Royalton," which succeeded this bank, was closed in 
1882. November 18, 1859, in consequence of losses sustained by the 
bank in 1857, its capital was reduced by an act of the Legislature to 
$50,000. January 10, i860, the number of directors was reduced by a 
vote of the stockholders to five, and Perley C. Jones, Aaron N. King) 
Ziba Sprague, Asa W. Kenney and R. H. Hyde were elected, but Mr. 
Hyde soon resigned. January 8, 1861, the same board of directors was 
re elected, except R. H. Hyde was succeeded by Chester Downer, and 
this board continued in office by re-election till January 9, 1866. At the 
last mentioned date Chester Downer, Asa W Kenney, Dudley C. Den- 
ison, Crosby Miller and Phineas D. Pierce were elected directors, and 
continued to be re-elected directors till the close of the National Bank in 
1882, Chester Downer was elected president of the bank January 30, 
1866, and was continued in that office by annual re-election till Janu- 
ary 17, 1879, when he was succeeded by Crosby Miller, who was re 
elected to said office as long as the bank continued. The Comptroller 
of the Currency claimed that New England had received under the 
United States law for establishing national banks more than her pro- 
portionate share of circulating notes, and wuuld not grant leave for the 



Tjd History ok Windsor County. 

conversion of this bank into a national bank, until the directors had ex- 
ecuted a paper waiving all claim on behalf of tlie bank for circulating 
notes, which they did. On the i6th day of September, 1867, the bank 
was converted under the laws of the United States into "The National 
Hank of Royalton," No 1673, and its capital was increased March 7, 1868, 
$50,000, making its whole capital $ioo,ooo. After this the directors 
learned that by buying the notes in circulation of national banks which 
iiad failed or gone into liquidation, and surrendering tliem to tlie Comp- 
troller at Washington, they could obtain from him circulating notes to 
an equal amount for their own bank, and this they did, paying par and 
three or four per cent, premium for the broken bank notes until they had 
obtained in this way $90,000, being their full quota of circulation. On the 
night of April 26, 1870, the bank vault was blown open by burglars, and 
the walls of the banking house were badly damaged by the explosion, 
but they did not succeed in breaking the safe in the vault, and they car- 
ried off only about $5 of nickels then lying in the vault. In conse- 
quence of the damaged condition of the vault and building the bank was 
removed May 14, 1870, to South Royalton, about two miles distant. Dur- 
ing the summer and autumn of 1871 the vault and banking house were 
repaired, and the bank was moved back to its old quarters October 23, 
1871. Phineas D. Pierce was elected vice-president of the bank Janu- 
ary 12, 1875, and was annually re-elected till the close of the bank. Ly- 
man A. Peck, a resident of Royalton, on the 8th day of October, 1877, 
broke into the banking house for the purpose of stealing money from 
the drawer of the counter, while the cashier was at dinner, but the 
money was safely locked in the vault so that he obtained none, but was 
tried and sentenced to the State prison for five years for his luckless ex- 
ploit. On the night of October 17, 1 88 1, burglars again entered the 
bank and drilled through the outer brick wall of the vault to the heavy 
granite wall, and with powder or some other explosive, blew out a few 
brick and broke the windows, but obtained no money. January 10, 
1882, the stockholders voted to close the bank. In less than si.x months 
thereafter all liabilities were paid, and the stock at par was paid back to 
the stockholders. Afterwards thej' were paid $21,200 on the capital of 
$100,000, it being twenty one and one-fifth per cent, more than par. 
South Royalton, the junior of the two villages of tlie town, yet con- 



Town of Royalton. 



m 



siderably the larger, was brought into existence by the building of the 
Vermont Central Railroad ; and ics stores and other buildings, except 
dwellings, were of the character usually found in localities having a 
muihroom growth; that is, of frame and not substantial or enduring; 
neither were they attractive, especially after exposure to the storms of a 
few years. But, young though the village may have been, it has had its 
own fire record, and the old unsightly structures "passed away." In 
their stead there has been built a substantial two-story brick row ; plain, 
yet convenient buildings, and .'■- credit to the town. They front on the 
park, as also does the large ard attractive hotel, the property of Charles 
H. Woodward ; but the hotel and the stores are on opposite sides of 
the park, and on the other side, the park being in form a parallelogram, 
is the depot, and opposite to it some fine dwellings and one of the vil- 
lage churches. 

The churches of South Royalton village are two in number, a Con- 
gregational and a Methodist. The Methodist Society has been in ex- 
istence many years in the town, although its church home at the South 
village is comparatively new. Formerly the society had a chapel at 
Royalton village. The -South Royalton Congregational Church Society 
was formed in 1868, and an offshoot, practically, from the mother church 
at the other village. The church edifice on the park was built in 1868. 

Toivn Representatives in General Assembly. — 1778, October, Joseph 
Parkhurst ; 1779, none; 1780, Calvin Parkhurst; 1 781, Comfort Seaver; 
1782, Calvin Parkhurst; 1783, Elias Stevens; 1784, Silas Williams ; 
1785, Elias Stevens; 1786, Calvin Parkhurst; 1787, Elias Stevens; 
1788-89, Calvin Parkhurst ; 1790, Daniel Fuller ; 1791-95, Elias Stevens ; 
1796, Abel Stevens; 1797, Silas Allen ; 1798, Jacob Smith ; 1799, Elias 
Stevens; 1800, Jacob Smith; 1801, Abel Stevens; 1802-03, Elias 
Stevens; 1804-05, Nathan Page ; 1806, Elias Stevens ; 1807-12, Jacob 
Smith; 1813-14, Rodolphus Dewey ; 1815, Daniel Rix, jr.; 1816, Elias 
Stevens; 1817, Daniel Rix, jr., 1818, Rodolphus Dewey; 1819, Moses 
Cutter; 1 820, R. Dewey ; 182 1-22, Jacob Collamer ; 1823-24, R. Dewey; 
1825, Oel Billings; 1826, Nathan Kimball; 1827, Jacob Collamer; 
1828-29, Harry Bingham ; 1830, Jacob Collamer ; 183 1, William Wood- 
worth ; 1832, Calvin Parkhurst ; 1833, Nathaniel Sprague ; 1834, Samuel 
Selden ; 1835-37, Oramel Sawyer ; 1838-39, David Wheelock ; 1840- 

98 



778 History of Windsor County. 

41, Truman H. Safford ; 1842-43, John L. Bowman ; i 844, Henry Bing- 
ham ; 1845, J. L. Bowman ; 1846-47, Romanzo Walker ; 1848, James 
Davis; 1849, Daniel Woodward ; 1850-5 1 , John Coy ; 1852, Azro D. 
Hutchins; 1853, Rufus Kendrick ; 1854-55, Daniel L.Lyman; 1856- 
57, Ebenezer Atwood ; 1858-59, Minot Wheeler; 1860-62, Dudley C. 
Denison ; 1863-64, John S. Marcy ; 1865-66, Martin T. Skinner ; 1867, 
Henry H. Denison; 1868-69, William Goff; 1870-71, Cyrus B. Drake; 
1872-73, Edward Foster; 1874-75, Ebenezer Winslow ; 1876-77, 
Martin T. Skinner; 1878-79, Martin S. Adams; 1880-81, Charles 

West; 1882-83, ; 1884-85, George Ellis ; 1886-87, J. F. Shep- 

ard; 1888-89, William Skinner. 

Old Families. 

It wouitl be impossible within tiie compass of this work to give a 
genealogical sketch of each family that has been connected with the 
town. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to tliose who feel and 
have manifested an interest in preserving the records of their ancestors. 
For sketches received too late for insertion in this chapter please refer 
to a later chapter of this work. 

IJeiiiielt, Job. the son of Elisha and L\icretia (Hinkley) Bennett, was born in Clielsea, 
Vt., May 1.5, 1798. He became a resident of Ivoyalton in the spring of 1830. He mar- 
ried Jane Greene and had seven cliildren : Warren F,, living in Springfield, Mass.; Jean- 
nette (deceased), married, first, Thomas II. Gibson, second, Lewis Barnes; Alma 11. , a 
resident of Itoyalton ; Josiah G.; Helen Elizabeth, a resident of Royalion ; Charles W., 
lives at Palmer. Mass.; and Frances .1., wife of Norman W. Sewall, of Royalton. Joli 
died .Inne Li, LS7(). Josiah Greene, son of Job, was born in Royalton, married Elmina C 
Sewall. They have one cbilil, Carrie F., wife of Solon A. Buck, who has one child, 
Glenn Murray. Mr. Bennett is a farmer, and has alvv.ays lived in Royalton. 

Bingham. —The family of this name in Royalton are de.scended from Thoma.s, son of 
Thomas and Mary Bingham. He was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, al>ont Ui-1'2 
and came to America ami married Mary, daughter of Jonathan Rudd, December 12, IGGH 
He was one of the tliiity-live proprietors of the town of Norwich, Conn., when it was 
purch.'ised from the Muhegan Indians. He died in Windham, Conn., January 10, 172!), 
He hatl a family of eleven children Joseph, being ne.\t to the youngest, was born in 
Ui88 and married, fir.>;t, Aliigail Scott, of Harifoid, Mass., m 1711, by whom he had 
three children, he married, second. .Mr.s, Rachel Huntingdon. He died at Windham, 
Conn., September 4, 17(i-). Of Joseph's three children Gideon, the eldest, married Mary, 
daughter of Captain Eleazer Cary. He settled in Plainfield. Conn. By his first mar- 
riage he had thirteen children. His wife died in 1758 and he married second, Abigail 
Baker, bv whom he had five children. Thomas, the fifth child, was born July 14, 1742. 
and married in 17(ii> Marcia House, of Lebanon, N. H. He emigrated from Connecticut 
(o the latter town and afterwards to Royalton. He served during the whole period of 
the Revolutionary war as lieutenant. He was at the battles of Brandywine, Princeton, 
Monmouth, and wintered at Vivlley Forge in 1780. Thomas had twelve children and 
at Royalton, Seiileinlier 2:5, 1823; his wife died September 10, 1812. William, the 



uieu 



Old Families. 779 



seventh child of the twelve children, mentioned above, was born April 18, 1779, and. 
married, first. May 28, 1801, Olive Havens. He lived in Royalton and was a captain in 
tlie War of 1812, and was a man of energy and decision of character. He had three chil- 
dren by this marriage, viz.: Daniel Havens ; Mary Ann, married Cad Parkhurst ; Will- 
iam Reddmgton, died unmarried. His wife died August 29, 1819, and he married No- 
vember 20, 1820, Parmelia Ames, by whom he had three children, viz.: Henry, died 
young; George; and Olive, died aged fifteen years. William died August 29, 1857. 
Harry, the tenth child of Thomas and Marcia (House) Bingham, was born August 6, 
1786, and married January 27, 18.50, Marcia Dodge. He lived in Royalton and was en- 
gaged in public business and was a member of the Legislature for several years. He 
bad five children, viz.: Lucy Ann, Alma Jane, Harry A., William, and George. He 
died February 23, 1862. 

Button, John A., was born in Royalton, July 28, 1844, and is the only child of Asaph 
and Roxanna (Wight) Button. His father was born December 2, 1810; his mother 
July 27, 180.3. He married, first, Martha M., daughter of Landiis and Wealtha (Brown) 
Spear. She was born November 10, 1845. Her father was born October 8, 1811 ; lier 
mother October 10, 1812. They have one child, Albert, born July 16, 1871. John 
married, second. Alma J., daughter of Harry and Marcia (Dodge) Bnigham. She was 
liorn December 15, 1852. Her father was born August 6, 1786; her mother March 2G. 
1824. Mr. Button, excepting two years, when he resided in Tunbridge, has always 
lived on the place of his birth, which he now owns and occupies. 

Cleveland, Squire, was born in Canterbury, Conn., July 17, 1764. and married, No- 
vember 16. 1788, Pamelia Green. He came to Royalton in 1788, and settled on the 
farm now occupied by Seth Moxley. He had nine childien : Bradford, died in Royalton ; 
John, died at Braintree, Vt.; Anna, died single ; Polly (deceased), married Sanmel Bab- 
cock ; Olive (deceased), married Sanfoid Haunas ; Bethalisa; Pamelia (deceased), 
married Lucian Lathrop ; Zurviah (deceased), married Polydore Williams; and Nahum, 
died in Vermont. Squire Cleveland died June 14, 1834. Bethalisa, son of Squire, born 
in Royalton. May 31, 17!I9, married Philena Luce. They had twelve children : Ronaldo, 
died in Tunbridge; Enoch, resides in Wolcott, Vt.; George, died in Royalton; Brad- 
ford, died in Mansfield, Vt.; Anna, wife of Seth Moxley; Miranda (deceased), married 
Cooley Anderson ; Orlantha, wife of Marshall Cutler, of Red Wing, ilinn.; Hiram, died 
in Royalton ; Henry, died at Hyde Park, Vt.; Rosepha, wife of Sylvester Palmer, of 
Morrislown, Vt.; Nelson, resident of Winchendon, Mass.; and Pamelia, died single 
Bethahsa Cleveland died June 7, 1861. 

Dana, Israel Putnam, M. D., of Royalton. was born in Pomfret, February 10, 1855. 
His father, .John Winchester Dana, was thrice married. His Hi'sl wife was Jerusha 
Goodspeed. The following were their children: John Winchester, Isaac, Jerusha, Han- 
nah, and Sarah. He married, second. Eleanor Porter Lyon, by whom he had one child, 
Kleanor P. He married, third, Mary Emeline Wood. The children by this union were 
Mary Emily, Israel Putnam, Martha Jackraan, and Edward Youngs, John Winchester 
Dana died in Pomfret, August 12, 1862. Dr. Israel P. Dana, after the common school, 
attended the Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, N. H., studi'.-d medicine with Dr. 
C. P. Frost, of Hanover, N. H., and was graduated from the Medical Department of 
Dartmouth College, November 12, 1883. He w.as employed one year in the Asylum for 
the Insane at Somerville, Mass. He came to South Royalton, September 20, 1884, 
where he has since practiced his profession. He married, November 23, 1888, Mary 
Alice Hillery. Helen Emeline is their only child. 

Denison, Hon. Dudley C, of Royalton, the youngest son of Dr. Joseph A. Denison, 
was born at Royalton, September 13, 1819. After attending the district schools he be- 
came an attendant of the Royalton Academy. He entered tlie University of Vermont in 
1836, and was graduated from that institution in 1840. He studied law with John S. 
Marcy, of Royalton. and was admitted to the Wimlsor County Bar. May term, 184,5. He 
commenced, the same year, the practice of his profession in his native town, where he 



780 History ok Windsor County. 

still continues. He was a meml>er of the State Senate in 1853-54, State's Attorney in 
I.S5.S-G0, member of the House of Representatives in 1801, 1802, ami 18ti.'5, United Slates 
District Attorney for a uinnher of years, member of the Forty-fourth and Forty-tifth 
Congresses. He married Eunice Dunbar, and they liave a family of five children, viz.: 
Joseph D., an attorney, at West Kandolpli, Vt.; Catharine Amanda (deceased), married 
Charles H. Woodward; John H., an attorney at Denver, Col.; Gertrude M.; and 
Lucy D. 

Durkee, Seymour, was born in Rrooklield, Vt., November fi, 1815, the youngest son 
of Vine and Sarah (Doane) DurUee. His early life was spent on his father's farm. At 
the age of nineteen he learned the harness traile. He moved to Koyalton Center in 
July, 1844, and for a short time was employed in driving the stage to Montpelier. He 
then engaged at his trade, and removed to South Royalton, March 23, ist)8, where he 
still continues in the business. During the war lie was engaged on government work in 
Springfield, Mass. Mr. Durkee was never married. 

Kisli, Edgar J., M. D., of Koyalton. was born in Washington, Vt., February 7. ISol, 
the only child of John 1'. and Ann (Dulur) Fish. After attending the local schools he 
attended the Chelsea Academy, and afterwards studied medicine with Dr. Story N. 
(idss, of CheKsea. In the fall ot 1872 and winter of 1873 he took a course of lectures in 
the Medical Department of Dartmouth College, and was graduated from the Medical 
Department of the University of Vermont in 1874. He commenced the practice of his 
profession in Tunbridge, Vt., where he remained till May, 1887, when he removed to 
South Ivoyalton. Dr. Fish is a mendier of the Vermont State and White River Valley 
Medical Societies, and was presid(!nt of the latter in 1887. He married Eliza A. Lyman, 
of Washington, Vt., and has two chddren, J. Euclid and Harold. 

Fowler. — The families in Royalton and Bethel bearing this name were descended 
from William Fowler the " Magistrate." He arrived in Boston from London, England. 
June 2fi, 1<>37. In company with others he sailed from Boston, March 3(1. Ili38, for 
l^umnipiac, the Indi.an name for New Haven. In the spring of tlie following year he 
became one of the first settlers of Milford, Conn., being the first named of its trustees, 
and at the first meeting of tlie Milford Company was cho.sen one of the judges. He is 
the first incntioned in the deed of the town wliich was executed February 12, 17()!1. In 
the organization of the church he was elected one of the " seven pillars." He was 
elected magistrate and re-appointed yearly to 1(J54, and died in IGtiO. Of his family 
Captain William Fowler married Mary, daughter of Edward and Ann Tapp. Of his 
family of foiirchildren Jonathan, the youngest, was born May 20, KiDG, and married Han- 
nah Clark, and became a resideiitof Coventry. Conn., in Hit), where he died. His eldest 
son. Rev. Joseph Fowler, born at Lebanon, Conn,, in 1722, was graduated from Yale 
College, and was a Congregational minister at East Haddam, Conn., for twenty- 
one years, where he died June 10, 1771. He married Sarah, daughter of Rev. Joseph 
Metcalf of Lelianon, Conn. Of their family of eight children Elislia Adams, the fifth 
child, was born at East Haddam, Conn., September 2i), 1755, and married June 7, 1781, 
Mary Burr. He removed to East Bethel, Vt., at an early day, where he died February 
20, 1840. He had a family of nine children, viz.: William, died young; Mary, married 
.loiin F. Rierson ; Elizabeth, died at the age of twenty ; Electa, died at sixty ; Lncinda, 
died young; Joseph; Elisha; Lucinda, married Lemuel W ood worth ; and Sarah, died 
aged five. Joseph, tlie son of Elisha .Adams Fowler, born December 27, I7!13, married 
August 21), 1817, Cynthia GilVord. Their children were Norman, Lucinda. Alonzo. 
Edwin, George A,, and Jo.seph Lewis. Joseph Fowler died August, I84!l. Alonzo, 
the third above, was born Juiy, 1828, in Hartford, Vt., and died in Royalton, February 
17, 1877. He married Maria C. Ainsworth. Their children were Eva M.,died in 1877, 
a"ed twenty-four years and seven months; William F\, died in 1877, aged nineteen 
years and six months ; Bertie Alonzo, died in 1874, aged fourteen years and six months; 
and Anna M., died in 1877, aged ten years and two months. 

Gage, Harry, born in Enfield, N. IL, May 15, 1805, married, first, Mary Goss, by 



Old Families. 781 



whom he had two children, Lucy and Mary, both of whom died young. He married, 
second, Susan Alden Fuller. The issue of this marriage was Henry Fuller Gage. Harry 
settled on the farm now occupied by his son in 1835. 

Gage, Henry Fuller, was born in Royalton, June 4, 1845, and married August 20, 
1867, Esther M., daughter of Nelson W. and Jane VV. (Greene) Hunt. She was born 
in Royalton, August 15, 1848. They have five children: George Henry, born June 20, 
1.S6S; an infant died unnamed; Henjamin F., born May 2, ISTl ; Nelson, born Novem- 
ber 23, 1873, died September US. 1877, aged tour years; and Bessie M., born July 23, 
1883, died June 11, 1890, aged six years. 

Greene. — The Greene family of Royalton are descended from William Greene, born 
in Devon.shire, England, October lb, 151)1, settled in Cliarlestown, Mass., and died in 
Woburn, Mass., January 7, l(J54. He married Hannah Carter, who was born in Devon- 
shire, March 20, 150(1, and died in Woburn, September 20, 1057. They had a son Wi" 
iam. born in Woburn, who married Hannah, daughter of Francis and Mary (T^dd 
Kendall. She w!is born in Woburn, January 26, 1055, and died December 20, 1 
•lacoli, their son, was born in Woburn, October 14, 1001, and died in Hanover, N. H., 
December 10, 1700. He married Elizabeth Crouch, who was bom in Shrewsbury, 
Mass., October 27, l(i05, and died December 24, 1755. Their son David, born in 
Shrewsbury, March 2, 1725, died at Slaflord, Conn., about April 1, 1780. He married 
Ruth Rogers of Biimfield, .Mass.. January 30, 1752. fiy this marriage was born Josiah, 
in Stafford, Conn., August 26 1703. He married September 18, 1787, his cousin Susa, 
daughter of Samuel and Jane (White) Greene. She was born in Stafford, February 5, 
17oi;, and died in Brooklyn, N. Y., October 10, 1841. Josiah died at Auburn, N. Y., 
Sc'pteirdier 13, 1809. Rannay, of East Randolph. Vt., son of the above, was born in 
Newport, N. H., April 27, 1788, and married March 7, 1810. Pamella Kelsey, born in 
Tunbridge, Vt., May 6, 1780. She died at East Randolph, Vt., August 13, 1859. Ran- 
nay died Januaiy 15, 1873. One of the issues of this marriage was Josiah R., born in 
Tunbridge, December 21, 1810, and married October 31, 1843, Sarah H. Hanlcs. She 
was born September 5, 1817. They had three children, Sarah Hortensia, born January 
7, 184.5, resides at Royalton; Josiah Fayette, born in Royalton, June 21, 1848, and 
married October 16, 1884, Ellen Idella, daughter of Oel and Sabrina (Strong) Perrin. 
Their child, Wdliam Lester, born July 6, 1885, died January 24, 1886. Josiah R. 
died September 29, 1881 ; his wife November 4, 1881. George Lee, born October 31, 
18.50, died October 23, 1857. 

Kendall, Sumner B., eldest son of Samuel and Hannah (Harvey) Kendall, was born 
in Marlboro, N. H., May 20, 1815. His father moved to Canada in the spring of 181G, 
remaining till 182S, when he removed to Montpelier, Vt. Sumner B. continued to re- 
side in the latter place till 1851, when he removed to Royalton. Since 1847 he li.as been 
engaged in the railroad l)usiness, and was in the employ of the Vermont Central for 
thirty years. His first wife was Louisa Meade. Of tlieir tour children two are living: 
Annette, wife of George ( juimby, lives in Iowa, and Luke, a resident of Chicago, 111. 
Mr; Kendall married for his second wife Elizabeth Durkee. His third wife was Sarah 
Marsh. 

Lovejoy, Daniel, a native of Connecticut, settled at an early day in Sharon. He 
married Lorenza Havens, daughter of Robert Havens, who was one of the first settlers 
of Sharon. Their children were: Huldah (deceased), married Jonathan Morgan; 
of Middletown, Vt.; Betsey, married Jonathan Morgan; Thomas, died in Royalton; 
Charlotte (deceased), married Stephen Clark, of Lawrenceville, N. Y.; Joseph, died in 
the State of New York; Pamelia (deceased), married Collins Leach, of Grand Rapids, 
Mich.; Hannah (deceased), married Ira Curtiss, of Sharon. 

Lovejoy, Thomas, son of Daniel, was born in Sharon, married in 1818 Susan Spalding, 
and had seven children: WilMam I., a farmer, living in Mitchell. la.; Jason C, farmer, 
resides in Michigan ; Charles D., living in Royalton ; Henry Thomas and George B., 
living in Mitchell county, la,; Eliza (deceased), married John D. Fales ; and Daniel W., 
a physician, died in Royalton, July 18, 1880. 



782 History of Windsor County. 

Lovejoy, Cliarles D., son of Thomas, was born in Sharon, December 30, 1824, and mar- 
ried Laura J., daughter of Jacob and Dorolliy (Mclnlire) Wood. Mrs. Lovejoy was 
born in Ponifret, July 'Jo, 1836. They have tliree <,-l]ildren, Ada L., widow of John M. 
Miller; Thomas E.; and Mark H. Mr. Lovejoy owns and carries on tlie homestead farm 
in Royalton, and has filled the various town ollices. 

McCullough, James, was born in Shipton, now Richmond, Province of Quebec, Can- 
ada, February 27, 1813. lie removed to Malonc, N. Y., in 1837, and became a resident 
of Royalton in 1850. lie married Elizabeth Maria Clapp. Tliey have four children,. 
Frederick, a resident of Wendover, Wyoming Territorj' ; Samuel, resides in Royalton; 
Clara, wife of Henry Cole, of Hardwick, Vt.; Caroline, wife of Fred Fay, of Kverett, 
Mass. Satnuel Clapp, grandfather of Mrs. McCullough, was born in Dorchester, Mass., 
and had a family of four children, viz.: Stacey, who died during the War of 1812 at 
Plattsburgh, N. Y.; Samuel, died in Bethel single; Thomas, died married. Thomas, son 
of Samuel, born in Royalton, October 10, 1785, died Octolier 16, 1854, married Betsey 
Young. Their children were Aliiline (deceased), married Franklin Corbin ; Paulena 
(deceased), married Chester Griswold ; Carohnc Cdeceased), mariied Thomas J. Fi.<ke ; 
Carlton, resides in Barre, Vt.; Elizabeth M., wife of James McCullough; .Vlary, widow 
of Harper Johonnot, lives in Syracuse, N. V.; Jennet (deceased), married Roswell D. 
Lillic; and Clarissa, resides in Royalton, with James McCullough, who lives in the same 
house built by Samuel Clapp, grandfather of Maria McCullough, 102 years ag'^, and held 
in the Clapp family since built. 

Madgett, John, an early settler of Tunbridge, Vt., was a hotel-keeper in that town- 
He married Mary Chambers, and had two children. Ira, and Achsa, who married Ira 
Riddle, and died in Tunbridge. Ira married Abigail Knight, of Newburyport, N. H. He 
had six children: Sarah, Mary, Hannah, John, Abigail, Ira. .John, of the above familv, 
was born m Tunbridge, Fi'l)ruary !), 182!i, where he resided until twenty years of age. 
He then learned the machinist trade in Manchester, N. H.. which he followed for twenty 
years in Massachusetts, Penn.sylvania, California and Vermont. Mr. Madgett enlisted as 
a private in Company E, Fn-sl Vermont Cavalry, and received his discharge in April. 
18(32, and in August, 18G3, re-cidisted in Company G, Fourth Vermont Infantry, and 
received a final discharge January, I8')5. He was wounded at .Spott-sylvaiiia Court 
House, on which account he receives a pension. In 1877 he patented the " M.adgell 
Hay Tedder," which was re-patented in 1883. This machine has taken more than one 
hundred first premiums, and is sold in the States, Territories and foreign countries. He 
has been a resident of South Royalton since 1S(!0, removing from Tunbridge, and de- 
votes his time to the sale of the Hay Tedder. He married, first. Lavina Jane Mct'olley, 
of New Boston, N. II. They had two children, George A., a telegraph operator in New 
York city; and Nellie (deceased). He married, second, Mary L. Clifford. 

Moxley, Selh, reside<l in Tunbridge. where he died. He married Marcia Russ, and 
had a family of five children, none of whom are living. His son Joseph was born in 
Tunbridge, August 14, 1789, and died in January, 1850. He married Sophia Waldo. 
Seth, son of Joseph, was born in Tunbridge, October 12, 1828, and married .\nna Cleve- 
land. They had ten children : Sarah A,, marricil James Gould, April 19, 1882 ; Frank H., 
married N. Hunt, Novendier 19, 1879; Fred (5.; Kate A.; M. Lee; Lena L., married 
H. E. Russ, January 13, 1884; Lettie M., married George Day, September 4, 1890; 
Charles S.; L. Winifred ; and Susie M. Mr. Mo.xley is a farmer, and has been a resident 
of Royalton since 1813. 

Parker, Charles N., was born in Wilmington, Mass.. Mav 12, 1842, the only child of 
Newman .and .Mice (Sloan) Parker. His father moved with his family to Royalton in 
1850. He was a shoemaker by trade, but very soon after his coming to Royalton he 
became a meichant, in which business he remained until his <leath, which occurred Oc- 
tober 8, 18S3. His wife died June 23, 1886. They were buried in the North Royalton 
Cemetery. Mr. Parker attended the Academy School at Royalton. He was employed on 
the railroad aliout four years, but at the age of twenty-four ho went into company with 
his father in the mercantile business at Royalton, which was continued till the death of 



Old Families. 783 



his father. He then carried on the busine.ss till the time of his death, which occurred 
August 21, 1887. He was postmaster at Royalton seven years. Tie married Laura, 
daughter of John and Philena (Freeman) Williams, who was born in Royalton, Au- 
gust 3, 1842. 

Parkhurst, Benjamin, came from Plainfield, Conn., to Sharon, one of its early settlers. 
After a residence there of live year.s, on what is now known as the Dana farm, he re- 
moved to Royalton, settling a farm at the month of the second branch of White River. 
He was the third settler of the town, and was there at the time of the Indian raid. His 
daughter. Rachel, was the lirat white female child born in Royalton. He practiced 
medicine and was the first school teacher in the town. He married Sarah Shepard, and 
of their twelve cliildren, one died in infancy. The other.s were Rachel, married Syl- 
vester Day ; Amy, married Howe Wheeler, and died over ninety years of age; Betsey, 
married Abel vStevens ; Mary, married Otis Wilson; Sarah, married William Smith; 
Eunice, married General Lovell Ilibbard ; Simon, Phinea.s, Sterhen, Coit and Levi. 
Benjamin died aged ninety-six. Coit Parkhurst, above, was born in Royalton, Febru- 
ary 28, 1800, and died in Hinckley, III, July .o, 1884. He married Mary Ann, daughter 
of Willaim Bingham, of Royalton, who died at Hinckley, March 2.5, 1890. They had 
six children : Olive, died sixteen year.s of age; Helen, died aged twenty-four; Benja- 
min Franklin, born in Royalton, June 28, 1826, inarried Frances J. Grraves, and they 
have one child, Helen M., and reside in Worcester, Mass.; Agnes, died thirty-three years 
of age; William Frederick, died in infancy; and Fredei'ica, wife of A. F. Prince, of 
Hinckley, 111. 

Perrin, Asa, was born in Woodstock, Conn. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and 
was at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, and his sword is now in iH'ssession of liis 
great-grandson, Horace H. Perrin, of Randolph, Vt. His wife was Olive Bellows, of 
Canterbury, Conn. Three of his sons, Asa, Nathaniel, and Greenfield, came to Royal- 
ton as early as 178G. The latter was born in Woodstock, Conn., March II, 17GI1, and 
married in 1791 Sally, daughter of William and Tammesin (Cady) Ashoroft. She was 
born in Connecticut, December .3, 1775, and died in Northfield, Vt., while on a visit to 
her sister, June 18, 1842. Greenfield purcha.sed the farm now in possession of his son, 
Ira, of Daniel Fuller, the deed being dated June 2(1, 178»j. He died June 2. 1854. They 
had twelve children, viz.: William, born February 11, 1793, married Nancy Morrill, of 
Randolph, Vt,, and died in Wisconsin; Serepta, born April 16, 1797, died January 4, 
1878; Daniel, born February 16, 1799, died January 19, 1855 ; Fannella, born April II, 
1801, married Alfred Converse, died at Moretown, Vt.; John, born March 8, 1803, mar- 
ried Elsie Herrick, of Northfield, Vt., and lives in Lebanon, N. H.; Oel, born May 30, 
1805, married Salirina Strong, of Randolph, Vt., and lives in Brookfield, Vt; Eliza, born 
June 16, 1807, died October 21, 1826; Lucretia, born March 7, 1810, wife of James 
Murch, of Lebanon, N. H.; Alzina, born May 6, 1812, married Chester Green, died 
April 29, 1890; Asa, born March 20, 1816, married, first, Hannah Siraond.s, of Uox- 
bury, Vt., and second, Mary Strong, of Randolph, Vt., and died November 30, 1888;' 
Ira, born in Royalton, June 27, 1818, and married, first, December 21, 1841, Clarissa, 
daughter of Calvin and Betsey (Hincher) Ellis. Their only child, Lilla, is not living. 
Mrs. Perrin died in 1863, and he married, second, June 10, 1869, Mrs. Weltha A. Holden, 
nee Simonds. 

Rix, Daniel, born in Preston, Conn., in 1738, became a resident of Royalton in 1778, 
and marrieil Rebecca Johnson. Their children were Gardner. Joseph, Daniel, Elisha, 
Susannah, Rebecca and Jeru-^ha. Daniel died at Royalton in 1823. Elisha, son of Daniel, 
born in Preston. Conn., in 1778, married Betsey Flinn. They had eiglit children, viz.: 
Almira, Emily, George. Charles, William, Luiy, Susan and Edward. Elisha died in 1853. 
William, son of Elisha, born in Royalton, July 10, 1810, married Catharine F. Kendall. 
They have two daughters, Catharine Kendall, wife of William Skinner, of Royalton ; 
Elizabeth, wife of Joseph D. Dennison, at West Randolph, Vt. William Rix is a grad- 
uate of the University of Vermont, and from 1834 to 1865 was engaged in mercantile 
business in the South, since which time he has been a resident of Royalton. 



784 History ok VViNDSOR County. 

Russ, Jeremiah, one of the early settlers of Royaltoii, was a native of Connecticut, 
lie marrleil lOiinice Mo.xley and had three children, viz.: Thomas, Eunice died young, 
and Ilai inina died single. 

Ru.ss, Thomas, son of Jeremiah, was born in Royalton, March 31, 17S9, and married 
January 1, 1811. Judith Morrill, who was born Aitgusl Ki, 1789. They had si.x childien : 
Nifl, resides in East Bethel, Vt.; Nathaniel, died in Haverhill, Mass.; Jeremiah, died 
young; Kunice, died young; Jeremiah; and Ira M., reside.s in Royaltou. Thomas died 
in April, 18(i9. 

Russ, Jeremiah, son of Thoiruisi, liorn in Royalton, September 28, 1824, married. May 
29, 1845, Mary C. Kenworthy. They had two children : Thomas Jerenuah, born in 
Royalton, July 20, 1848, married Susan Perrin, resiiles in Brookfield, Vt.; and Martha 
Kimice (deceased). Mr. Russ resides on the farm settled by his grandfather. 

Sewall, Philip G., the son of John, was born at Wilmot, N. H., September 21, 1818. 
He has lieen a resident of Royalton since 183.0. He married Eunice M. Howe, and has 
three children, viz.: Elmina C, wife of Josiah G. Bennett, of Royalton ; Ellen A., 
widow of Samuel Heaton, resides in Keene, N. H.; and Norman W., born in Royalton, 
SBi)tember 5, 1847, married Frances J. IJennett. They have one child, Blanche C. 
Norman W. is engaged in farming. 

Stickney, Rev. Moses Parson.s, was born in Rowley, Mass., July 12, 1807. He spent 
two years in Demmer Academy m that town, afterwards went to Farmingham Acad- 
emy, and entered Harvard College in 1825 and remained two years, but was obliged to 
relinquish his stmlies on account of ill-health. He afterwards was graduated from Am- 
herst College in 1830. The next two years he was engaged in .school teaching. He 
then became a student at the Bangor Theological Seminary, where he remained two 
years, when he entered the Theological Department of Yale College, from which he was 
graduated in 183."). He was ordained at East port. Me., 1836, and settled over the Con- 
giegatioual church in that place. In 1841 he became an Episcopalian, and was or- 
dained by Bishop Griswold at St. Ann's church, at Lowell, Ma.s.s. His iirst parish was 
St. Michael's church, Marblehead, Mass., in 1842, where he remained five year.s. H|s 
next charge was St. Peter's church, Cambridgeport, Mass., where he also remained five 
years. From 1851 to 1852 he was rector of Burlington College, Burlington, N. J. From 
the spring of 1853 to the summer of 1871 he was assistant rector of the Church of the 
Advent at Hoston. At the latter period he removed to Vermont, and till 1888 was the 
rector of Christ's church at Bethel, Vt., and St. Paul's Epi.scopal church at Royalton. 
Vt. He married Jane Frances Curry, of St. Andrews, N. B., by whom he had live 
children, viz.: Elizabeth (deceased), married Nathaniel Whittier ; William Brunswick 
Curry, an attorney at Beihel; Agues died at fifteen years of age; Henry Storer, died 
five years of age; Cornelia Loring resides at Boston. 

Waldo, Zacliariah, born in Pomfret, Conn., December 25, 1765, married Abigail Cor- 
liin, of Dudley, Mass. Their children were Sarah, died single; Ralph ; William resides 
in Stonght n, Ma.--,s.; Mahala (deceased) married a Mr. Reynolds; Louisa, widow of 
Isaac Uphani, lives at North Grovensdale, Conn.; »Sullivan died in Royalton ; John died 
in the West ; and Jo.seph Warr n resiiles in Koyaltou. Zachariah was killed by falling 
from the roof of his house, August 3, 1818. Ralph, his .son, born in Royalton, Septem- 
ber II, 1797. married, Maieli 31, 1828, Parm- lia Wheat, who was born in Piltslield, Vt., 
March II, 1809. Their children were William Leavins; Emma Louisa, wife of George 
Curtis, of Stoughton, Mass.; Charles Francis; Marie Antoinette (deceased), married 
Chester D. Clark; Joseph Warren; Mary Elizabeth, wi<low of Nicholas Vesper, resi<les 
in Royalton ; Benjamin Franklin lives in Santa Cruz county, Cal.; George Washington 
resides in Allegan, Mich ; Henry R. hves in California ; Willis Wales died aged thirteen ; 
Flora .\delia, wife of the Rev. Alphonso Dunbar, Second Advent preacher, located in 
Ohio; and Jennie Adell, widow of Frank Bailey, resides in Royalton. Ralph died Jan- 
uary, 1809. Charles Francis, .son of Ralph, born in Royalton, October 11, 1833, mar- 
ried March 22, 1800, Ifannie, daughter of Mark and Sarah L. (Harris) Bowen. Their 




S. S. Abbott. 



Biographical. 785 



cliildren are Nellie, died in infancy; Edward C, assistant cashier of the Trader's Bank, 
of kirwin, Kan.; and Willis C. married Fannie M. Bigelow, of Barnard, and at present 
resides there. 

Waller, (Deacon) Israel, was the first settler of this family in Windsor county and lo- 
cated at Royalton. He was a native of Connecticut. He married Anna Buftinr;ton, 
and amonfr his children were David ; Calvin, a lawyer who resided in New York city, 
where he died; Silas, a doctor who lived and died in New York city ; and Sarah. Dea- 
con Waller was related to General Israel Putnam. 

Waller, David, son of Israel, was born in Royalton, and was captured diirin;; the In- 
dian raid on that town in 1780, was taken to Montreal and was two years away from 
his home. Amonc; his children were Daniel, Sarah, Anna and Israel. 

Waller, Daniel, of the above family, was born in Royalton in 1794, and married Mary 
Russell of Cambridge, Mass. Their children were Emily, wife of James Gilson of 
Brookfield, III; Julia, wife of Harvey Ellis of Springfield. Mass.; Patten died in Bethel, 
aged twenty years ; and David F. Daniel died in November, 1878. 

Waller, David F., was born in Royalton, February 25, 1824, and married Mary D,, 
daughter of Daniel S. and Lydia B. (Le\vi.s) Hallett, a native of Hyannis, Mass. They 
had two children, Mary E. and Daniel B. David F. was for a rinmber of years con- 
ductor on the Boston ami Worcester Railroad and died in Worcester Mass July 23 
1867. Daniel B. died July 29, 18(J7. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
BIOGRAPHICAL. 

ABBOTT, SOLOMON S., was born in Barnard, December 4, 18 14. 
His great-grandfather, Daniel, was one m the earliest settlers of the 
town of Stockbridge. He raised a large family. He died in Stockbridge. 
His wife survived him, and died in Stockbridge upwards of ninety years 
of age. Daniel, his son, born in Connecticut, married Eleanor Blodgett. 
They had ten children, only two of whom are living, viz.: Elam, living 
in Washington, on the Pacific Coast, and Amanda, wife of Reuben Whit- 
comb. Of these ten children, Daniel, father of S. S., was born in Ran- 
dolph, Vt., January i, 1789, and died in Stockbridge, aged seventy-three. 
He married Lucy Barnes, born in Barnard, November 20, 1787. Their 
children were Elvira, born January 16, 1812, widow of Wilham Strong, 
and lives in Stockbridge; Solomon S.; Roxanna, born February 12, 18 16, 
wife of Nelson Ellison, of Bethel, Vt; Harrison, born August 14, 1820, 
farmer hving in Stockbridge ; Lucy, born April 25, 1822, died August 
28, 1824; Benjamin F., born November 23, 1824, died August 20, 1825 ; 
99 



786 History of Windsor County. 

Daniel F., born December 17, 1827 ; Carpenter, lives in Rutland ; Lucy 
Celina, born August 25, 1830, wife of Ani)-; Guernsey, lives in Pitts 
field, Vt. Solomon S. married, March 10, 1S42, Lucy L., daughter of 
Irad and Sally (Lyon) Taggart. Mrs. Abbott was born in Stockbridgc, 
August 31, 1820. Their children were Elbridgel., born Marcli 4, 1844^ 
died in Michigan, October 23, 1884 ; Francilla S., born October 2, 1845, 
married Ir.i Ilolt, firmer living in Fittsfield, Vt.; Helen M., born A[jril 
25, 1848, died April 11, 1852; George I., born July 10, 1855, married 
June 10, 1879, Anna \i. Cady ; they have two children, Samuel L and 
Lucy M ; George I. is a merchant in Quechee, Vt ; Lillie L., born July 6, 
1 857, died March 2, 1866; Roxanna, born June 30, i860, married June 30, 
1887, William M. Angier, a grocer merchant of Rutland ; she has one 
child, an infant ; Fred S., born May 24, 1864, unmarried, living at home. 
Mr. Abbott has always been a resident of Stockbridge, a farmer by oc- 
cupation. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have been members of the Stockbridge 
Congregational church for many years. 



BISBEfi, AARON, was born in Springfield, January 21,1815. His 
grandfather. Captain Abner Risbee, was prominently identified with 
the early settlement of Springfield, and mairied Mary, daughter of 
George Hall, who was also an early settler of the town. Islisha, his 
father, was born in Springfield, Vt., and married Mary Grout, of VVeath- 
ersfield, Vt. They had a family of fifteen children, Aaron being the 
eighth child and fifth son. His education was limited to the district 
schools of his native town, his early life being spent on his father's farm. 
At the age of nineteen he went West, locating at Ann Arbor, Mich., 
which place w.is then in its infancy. Remaining there till 1839, he re- 
turned to Vermont, and was for a number of years engaged in the 
fnundr)- business at Brandon. At the death of his father he purchased 
the old homestead in Springfield, and engaged in farming. In 1853 he 
went to Oswego, N. Y., engaged in the roofing business, and finally went 
to Buffalo, and for one year was connected with his brother-in-law, uniler 
the firm name of Warren & Bro., in the manufacture of roofing ma- 
terial. He afterwards removed to Long Island City, N. Y., and was for 
twenty years connected with the Warren Chemical Manufacturing Com- 
pany at Hunter's Point, Long Island, and was for many years superin- 




CUU^^.^^- ^'d-Hyi'^yy^ 



Biographical. 787 

tendent of their works. During this time he was also identified with the 
Warren Bros. Oil Company, M. M. Steel & Co., at Long Island, Bisbee & 
Steele, of New Jersey, who were engaged in the gravel roofing business, 
and E. B. Warren, of Washington, D. C, in the appliance and manu- 
facture of roofing material. He returned to his native town in 1875, 
where he resided until his death. In politics he was a Democrat. Mr. 
Bisbee was but once a candidate for political honors. On the organiza- 
tion of Long Island City, at the earnest request of his party friends, he 
consented to be their nominee on the Citizens ticket for mayor, but was 
defeated by a small majority. He married, January 21, 1844, Elvira F., 
daughter of Jesse and Betsey (Jackson) Warren. She was born inDed 
ham, Mass., February 10, 18 17. They had two children: Charles 
Eugene resides in Springfield, and Fred Warren died unmarried. Mr. 
Bisbee died September 14, 1882. 



BURKE, UDNEY, the third son of Elijah and Grace (Jeffcrs) Burke, 
was born in Westminster, Vt., September i, 1806. In his early life 
he learned the trade of tanner and currier, and removed to Stanstead, 
Province of Quebec, Canada, where he followed his trade for a number 
of years. In 1836 he removed to Michigan City, Ind., where, after re- 
maining four years, he came to Springfield. From this time till 1878 he 
was engaged in the mercantile and manufacturing interests of the latter 
town ; was one of the organizers and members of the Board of Directors 
of the First National Bank of Springfield, Mr. Burke was originallv a 
Democrat in politics, but after the organization of the Republican party 
became one of its supporters. He married, January i, 1833, Mary, 
daughter of Alexander and Mary (Chaplin) McKinstery. She was born 
in Royalton, Vt., August 17, 1812. They had three children, viz.: Ed- 
mund Chaplin ; Olivia Adelade, born February 4, 1835, married, Octo- 
ber 26, 1 857, Lieut. Henry W.Closson,U. S. A., and died at Fort Schuyler, 
New York city, June 21, 1866, leaving two children, Henry Burke and 
Olivia Texeta ; and Ellen Adell, who died at the age of six years. Mr. 
Burke lost his wife April 14, 1866, and during the last ten years of his 
life withdrew from all active business. His death occurred May 7, 1888. 
Edmund Chaplin Burke, mentioned above, was born in Stanstead, 
October 5, 1833, and married, first, January 15, 1857, Elnora Mason. 



788 History of Windsor County. 

Their child, Arthur Udney, was born in Springfield, March 25, 1859, 
and was married at Independence, Mo., June 27, 1886, to Ida l^lankin- 
.ship ; they reside in Kansas City, Mo., and have one child, Velma I-linora. 
Mr. E. C. Burke married, second, September 6, 1864, Loantha, daugh- 
ter of Gardner and Lucy Herrick. She was born in Springfield, June 
25, 1844. Their child, Mary Edna, married, June 29, 1887, Charles H. 
Moore; they have one child, Edmund Burke, born May 12, 1888, and 
reside in Springfield. 



CALL JOSEPH A., the only son in a family of eleven children of Ira 
and Hannah (Hastings) Call, was born in Colerain, Mass., Decem- 
ber 19, 1828. His father was a farmer, and o.ur subject received onl)' 
the benefit of a common school education. At the age of si.xteen he 
was apprenticed to learn the trade of weaver in C. T. Shattuck's cotton- 
mill, located in his native town. At the age of twenty-one he was over- 
seer of the weave-room, and afterwards became superintendent of the 
works. In 1865 he acquired a quarter interest in the mill, the firm 
being then Shattuck & Whitton, and retained his interest till 1869, when 
he removed to Perkinsville and became an equal owner in tlie cotton - 
mills at that place, under the firm name of Whitton & Call. This firm 
suffered disastrous losses in the flood of 1869, and at the death of the 
senior partner in 1873 Mr. Call became sole owner and carried on the 
works successfully till 1886, when he retired from active business. In 
politics a Republican, Mr. Call was never an aspirant for political hon- 
ors. He married, July 5, 1848, limily, daughter of Charles and Philana 
(Lyon) Elmer. She was born in Ashfield, Mass., September 3, 1S29 
They had three children, viz.: Ira, died at two years of age ; Edwin I., 
born in Colerain, October 10, 1857, married Adelaine, daughter of 
George C. and Emily (Houghton) Shcdd ; they have one child, Fred E.; 
and Joseph W., born in Weathersfield, February 10, 1873. The two 
brothers carry on the business on the site occupied by their father under 
the firm name of Call Manufacturing Company. Mr. Call died Febru- 
ary 4, 1889. 



DILLON, WILLIAM, born in the parish of Glanverth, County 
Cork, Ireland, March 5, 1834, is the eldest son of John and Mary 
(Sullivan) Dillon. His parents emigrated to America in 1846, with a 



Biographical. 789 



family of two sons and three daughters, one of whom died on the pass- 
age. They landed in New York city December 3, 1846. Our subject's 
early education was attained at a private school in his native town. His 
fatlier was engaged in farming in the old country, but soon after his ar- 
rival in America obtained employment in a woolen-mill in Oxford, Mass. 
Mr. Dillon, then only a youth of twelve years, commenced work in the 
carding-room, where he was employed till 1854. The next three years 
he was an employee in a woolen-mill at Millbury, Mass. From 1857 to 
1864 he was superintendent of the carding-room of the Otter River 
Manufacturing Company, at Otter River, Mass., and filled the same po- 
sition from 1864 to 1866 at the Pascoag Woolen-Mills, at Pascoag, R. I. 
In the latter year he removed to Ballston Spa, N. Y., and for one year 
had charge of tiie carding-room of the Glen Woolen Company. He then 
returned to Burrillsville, R. I., and till July, 1871, was superintendent of 
the carding-room of the Granite Mills. Removing to Springfield at the 
date last mentioned he formed a partnership with Michael Collins and 
Hamlin Whitmore, under the firm name of Collins, Dillon & Co., and en- 
gaged in the manufacture of woolens. After three years the senior mem- 
ber retired from the firm, and in 1880 Mr. Whitmore's interest was pur- 
chased by Mr. Dillon, who has since conducted the business alone. In 
politics till 1884 Mr. Dillon was a Democrat, but upon that party ad- 
vancing free trade doctrines, he joined the Republican party, and has 
since affiliated with that party. He married Ellen Berrigan, and has had 
five children, viz.: Mary Ellen, resides at home ; Kate Agnes, wife of 
Hugh Quinn, of Springfield; John Emmett; Frederick William; and Ed- 
ward Franklin, who was killed at the Hartford bridge disaster on the 
Central Vermont Railroad. 



FORBUSH, Hon. CHARLES A., the eldest son of Rufus and Fe- 
dilia (Hapgood) F"orbush, was born in Reading, Vt., January 8, 
1823. After attending the district schools he became a student at the 
Unity Academy, Unity, N. H., under the tutelage of James Ashton 
Hull. He afterwards, for several terms, attended the South Woodstock 
Academy. He taught school for five or six winters, and by this means 
completed his education. He engaged in the mercantile business, and 
was for seven years a clerk in a general store at Felchville, Vt. In 1853 



790 History of Windsor County. 

he opened a store in Springfield, wliich he successfully conducted for ten 
years, doing during that period the largest business in the village. He 
helped to organize the First National Bank of Springfield in 1863, and 
is still an active member of its board of directors. In 1874 he was 
elected president of the Springfield Savings Bank, and on the death of 
the treasurer in 1880 he was elected treasurer, which position he now 
iiolds. But few men have done more in the past twenty years to ele- 
vate the public schools in his town than Mr. Forbush He v/as a mem 
ber of the Board of Directors of the State Prison for several years, and 
for twenty years in the Board of Directors of Windsor County Mutual 
Fire Insurance Company. He served for a number of years as first se- 
lectman, and represented the town in the Legislature of the State in 
1864-65. Mr. Forbush married Elizabeth Davis, and has one son, 
l^Vank Davis, a graduate of Vermont University, at present engaged in 
the furniture manufacturing business at Grand Rapids, Mich. 



GRAVES, LELAND J., M. D., was born in Ikrkshire, I-'ranklin 
county, Vt., May 24 1812. His grandfather, a native of Massa- 
chusetts, married a Miss Jewett, reared a family of ten children, four sons 
and six daughters, all except one of whom reached adult age and reared 
families. His father, David J. Graves, born October 29, 1785, at Leo- 
minster, Mass., was the second of the boys. After the death of his 
father his mother married for her second husband Colonel John Boyn- 
ton, and he came with the latter from Massachusetts and settled in 
Weathersfield, Vt. lie married at Chester, Vt, first, Mary Leland, 
born at Grafton, Mass., December 26. 17S6, and had children as follows: 
Sereno W., born October 11, 1810; Leland J.; Calvin Jewett, born 
April 17, 1814; and Zuinglius Franklin, born September 10, 1815, died 
March 7, 1829. Sereno W. and Calvin J. are farmers, living in Rut 
land, Wis. Mary Leland Graves died at Berkshire, Vt., July 4, 1817. 
David J. married, second, Sarah Colbath. The children by this union 
were Mary L., born June 16, 1818, died June 11, 1S71; Hannah B, 
born November 17, 1820, died December 31, 1870; she was the wife 
of Simeon Mor.se; Lydia S., born September 13. 1824, married, first, 
a Mr. Robson, second, Hiram Spenser; Joanna, born in 1826, married, 
first, Mark Hardy, .second. Piatt Gregory. Lydia S., a widow, and 



Biographical. 791 



Joanna are residents of San Jose, Cal. David Jewett Graves died at 
Rutland, Wis., December 31, 1873, aged eighty-nine. Lclaiid J. lived 
at home until seventeen years of age, and up to this time had been kept 
upon the farm, with extremely limited attendance at school. Having a 
thirst for education, he left home in 1829, and hired out to his uncle, 
Cyrus Boynton, of Weathersfield, with the stipulation that he should 
have three months' schooling during the year. This life of hard labor 
was continued for four years, his father receiving all his wages beyond 
what he needed for clothes. On attaining his majority his first thought 
was school, and having made good use of his scanty advantages he had 
prepared himself for teaching, and he taught for nine successive winters, 
working at farming in the summer. At intervals he attended the acade- 
mies at Chester, Cavendish and Ludlow, and in these schools was fitted 
for college. But his unceasing labors in school and on the farrn proved 
too much for his health, and a long disease, from the effects of which he 
has never recovered, iield him prisoner during the four years he had pro- 
posed to pass in college. The treatment, or, as he regarded it, the mal- 
treatment of his case, determined him in his choice of profession. He 
became satisfied an improvement ought to be made upon the practice of 
physicians, with whom .yrf/vation and i'fl/Zvation were synonymous terms. 
He entered the office of Dr. Lowell, with whom he studied one year. 
He then attended medical lectures at Woodstock, Vt, and afterwards was 
a private student under Drs. Crosby, Peaslee and Hubbard, and was 
graduated from the Medical Department of Dartmouth College, May 10, 
1842. On May 24, 1842, he located in practice at Langdon, N. H. 
From this as a center it extended eventually into the neighboring towns 
of Alstead, Acworth, Walpole, Charlestown, Bellows Falls, and other 
towns. He remained at Langdon twenty-six years. In 1868 he pur- 
chased the home in Claremont, N. H., where he has since resided. It 
was his intention to retire from active practice, but he has continued to 
answer calls of some of his old families. He married, May 24, 1843, 
Caroline E , daughter of Reuben an 1 Elizabeth (.McEwen) Strow, born 
October 6, 18 19, in Weathersfield, and died in Claremont, August 29, 
1885. She was a woman of superior mental endowment, and previous 
to her marriage was a teacher in the Unity Scientific and Military 
School, where she gave great satisfaction. She was a highly conscien- 



792 History of Windsor County. 

1 

tious and religious worker, and possessed riclily of those Christian virtues 
which so round and complete character. She was universally esteemed 
and at her death was mourned by a large circle of friends. Dr. Graves 
is a member of the Connecticut River Medical Association and New 
Hampshire Medical Association. Whig and Republican in politics, he 
represented Langdon in 1867-68 in the State Legislature. As a laborer 
in scientific fields, the Doctor was well-known. He has pursued the 
studies of botany and geologj' with zeal. His botanical researches have 
extended from Maine to the Rocky Mountains, and few have been more 
conversant with the practical details of the scientific analysis of plants. 
He has made a large geological collection, which has taken years to 
gather. He has always taken an active part in all public enterprises, 
especially those relating to education. He was fourteen years superin- 
tendent of schools. In religion he is a Baptist ; a member of that church 
in Springfield fifty years, now of the Claremont church. He has been 
for many years a'^prominent member of the order of Free Masons. Dr. 
Graves stands well with his professional brethren, has honored his social 
and official relations, and enjoys in the highest measure the esteem of 
the entire community where he resides. The children of Dr. and Mrs. 
Graves were Mary E , born January 9, 1846, principal for eleven years 
past of the Acadia Female Seminary, VVolfville, Novia Scotia, now a 
student of German Literature and Art at Berlin, Germany; Harriet M., 
born October 17, 1849, died in Kansas City, June 21, 1886, was the 
wife of James M. Coburn, and who left two children, Mary Agnes, born 
January 3, 1874, and Grace Eleanor, born August 25, 1876; Agnes J., 
born March 20, 1851, married, October 15, 1879, Pascal P. Coburn, 
She resides at the homestead. They have two children, Elizabeth 
Ames, born July 30, 1881, and Harriet Graves, born April 27, 1889. 



KIDDER, Rev. MOSES, was born in Walpole, N. H., November 14, 
1817, the third son, and si.xth child, in a family often children, of 
Abiah and Achsah (Winchester) Kidder. 1 lis father was born in Tewks- 
bury, Mass., September 14, 1786, and at the age of two years came to 
Walpole to live with his grandfather, Dr. Jesscniah Kittridge. The lat- 
ter was a celebrated physician of that locality, and was famous for his 
skill in all bone diseases, and was the originator of the " Kittridge Oint- 



Biographical. 



793 



ment" Mr. Kidder attended the local schools of his native town; also 
the Literary and Scientific Institute of Hancock, N. H., and the Hamp- 
ton Falls Academy, of Hampton Falls, N. H. He finished his studies 
in the latter institution in the summer term of 1841. He came to Wood- 
stock in June, 1842, and was ordained as a minister in the Christian 
cluirch, March 15, 1843. After his ordination he preached part of the 
time in connection with Mr. Hazen, to January, 1847, since which time 
he has been the pastor of that church in Woodstock. During his min- 
isterial career he has married 1,172 couples, and preached 2,364 funeral 
sermons. These statistics, coupled with the fact of his almost forty- 
eight years of continued services in one pulpit, abundantly attest the es- 
timation in which he is held by his church and the community in which 
he has passed his professional life. Mr. Kidder married, August 29, 
1844, Laura W., daughter of Rev. Jasper and Abigail C. (Thomas) 
Hazen. She was born in Woodstock, September 30, 1822. They have 
had a family of four children, viz.: Ella, died in infancy ; Ellery W., born 
June 12, 1849, a resident of Woodstock ; Warton H., born January 31, 
1852, was engaged in railroad business, and died in Council Bluffs, Oc- 
tober 7, 1883; and Fred T., born October 14, 1858. The latter, after 
attending the public schools, prepared for college under a private tutor, 
and entered the University of Vermont, and was graduated from that 
institution in 1880. He then commenced the study of medicine with 
Dr. Edwin E. Hazen, of Woodstock, and, after three courses of lectures, 
graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Vermont 
in 1883. In the fall of that year he commenced the practice of his pro 
fession in Woodstock. Dr. Kidder is a member of the State and the 
White River Medical Societies. 



M 



ARTIN, ALONZO A., was born in Nashua, N. H., Decembei 2, 
1842, the fourth in a family of seven children of Nason C. and 
Cynthia G. (Center) Martin. His father, a native of New York State, 
was born April 9, 1810. He moved from York State and settled in 
Litchfield, N. H., where he married, in 1836, Cynthia G. Center, born in 
Litchfield in 18 17. After his marriage he removed from Litchfield to 
Nashua, N. H., where all his children were born. In 1852 he went to 
100 



794 History of Windsor County. 

California, and was engaged in business at Sacramento city for two 
years. Upon his return East he moved from Nashua to Barnard, Vt., 
where he remained three years, wiien he moved to Woodstock, Vt., 
where he lived till 1863 ; he then moved to Hartland, and in company 
with his son, Alonzo A., carried on the sash, door, and blind manufact- 
ure. He also carried on a woolen manufactory. The establishment of 
these manufactories by the iVIartins gave the name of " Martinsville" to 
the hamlet in Hartland where they are situated. The father retired 
from business in 1 870, removing to Claremont, N. H., where he died 
April 12, 1874. His widow survives him, and lives in Martinsville. 
Their six children were William D., dealer in machinery in Chicago; 
Eliza A., wife of George Thompson, a retired farmer, living in Clare- 
mont, N. H.; Alonzo A.; Henrietta, died, aged two years; hVank P., 
manufacturer in company with Charles Stickney, at Martinsville; and 
Clarence L., jobber and contractor, living in Claremont. 

Alonzo A. received his education in the common schools of his native 
town. At the age of nineteen, and on his birthday, he enlisted in Com- 
pany H, Seventh Vermont Regiment. He received his discharge, on 
account of disability, June 23, 1863, at St. Rosa Island, near Fort Pick- 
ens. Upon his return from the war he engaged with his father in the 
manufacturing business at Martinsville. He purchased his father's in- 
terest in the business in 1866, and has carried it on by himself ever 
since. His business will average from $20,000 to $30,000 per year. 
He married, September 28, 1868, Ella M. French, born in Windsor, 
January 19, 1850, daughter of Robert E and Lucia A. (H;ig]e\') French, 
riuy have no children. 



M' 



ORGAN, HARVEY D., was born in Stockbridge, December i, 
1816. Justin Morgan, his grandfather, came from Springfield, 
Mass., with his family, and settled in Randolph, Vt., and died there. He 
married Elizabeth Lee, and reared a family of seven children, one son 
and six daughters. Of the latter, Mrs. Emily Edgerton was a prom 
inent lady of her time. He introduced into the State the world-wide 
famed " Morgan " breed of horses. Justin, his only son, and father of 
Harvey D., was born in Springfield, Mass. He married Sally Durkee^ 
and died in Stockbridge. His wife died in Binghamton, N. Y., but was 



Biographical. 795 



buried with her husband in Stockbridge. Their children were Justin, 
died in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Mrs. Walter Mahony, of Columbus, O., is his 
only child living; Harvey D.; Charles, died in Rochester, Vt.; Azro B., 
died in Troy, N.Y.; and Elizabeth, wife ot Josiah B. Rogers, farmer, in 
Binghamton, N. Y. They have one child, Annie Morgan. 

Harvey D., when a young man, clerked in the store of Cushman & 
Flint, at Warren, Addison county, Vt., and subsequently became a part- 
ner with them. Afterwards Mr. Flint retired, and the business was con- 
tinued in the name of Cushman & Morgan. Mr. Morgan then went to 
Columbus, O., where, for five years, he clerked in the hardware store of 
Gere & Abbott. In i860 he returned to Stockbridge, where he pur- 
chased half of the homestead farm of Dr. Timothy Fay, his wife's 
father, which he carried on till his death. He also carried on the mer- 
cantile business during the same period. He was postmaster from 1861 
to 1886. He was a thorough businessman, filled a number of the town 
offices, and commanded the esteem of the entire community in which 
he lived. He married, June 14, 1841, Emily D., daughter of Dr. Timothy 
Paige and Eunice (Denison) Fay, born December 25, 18 17, in Stock- 
bridge. Her father, born in Hardwick, Mass., May 9, 1788, came with 
his parents to Vermont when six years of age, settling in Gilead, town of 
Bethel. He practiced his profession in Stockbridge many years, and 
died there August 29, 1865. His wife, Eunice, was a daughter of Daniel 
and Eunice (Stanton) Denison, born in Lisbon, Conn., June 17, 1785, 
and died in Stockbridge, September 29, 1839. They had eight children, 
five of whom, all daughters, lived to adult age, and were married. All 
are deceased except Mrs. Morgan. Mr. Morgan died at his residence in 
Stockbridge, November 3, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have no chil- 
dren living. Mrs. Morgan survives her husband, and owns and carries 
on the homestead farm in Stockbridge. 



PAUL, Hon. NORMAN, was born in Pomfret, Vt, February 29, 
1832, the third in a family of four children, of Ora and Abigail 
(Harvey) Paul. Hial Paul, his grandfather, came with his family from 
Walpole, N. H., and settled in Hartland, Vt., in 1808, on the place now 
owned and occupied by his son-in-law, William S. Crooker. He married 
Betsey Stevens, and had children as follows : Ora; Hial, lived and died 



796 History of Windsor County. 

in Hartland ; Eliza, was the wife of Landrus Spaulding, and died in Hart- 
land ; Rebecca, was the wife of Isaac Seavy, and died in Woodstocl< ; 
Paulina, was the wife of William S. Crocker, and died at the old home- 
stead in Hartland; Candace, died unmarried in Pomfret; Alba, died in 
Le Roy, N. Y.; and Holland F., died in Iowa. Hial Paul died in Hart- 
land, December 28, 1832 ; his wife died August 3, 1852. 

Ora Paul was born in Walpole, October 3, 1799. He was nine years 
old when his father moved to Hartland. He became a resident of Pom- 
fret December 21, 1825, represented the town in the Legislature in 
1840-41 and held various town offices. He married Abigail Harvey, 
born February 22, 1799. He died in Pomfret, August 29, 1863; his 
wife died March 27, 1825. They had six children, two of whom died 
in infancy. Those who reached adult age were Isabel, born December 
26, 1823, married Charles M. Case, a farmer living in Woodstock. Their 
children are Ella I., Ora E., Edwin, George B., Norman R., and Abbie 
M. George W., born January 24, 1830, married Jennie Paul. They 
have no children. He was educated in the common school and at the 
Newbury Seminary. He served three months in the War of the Rebel- 
lion as a member of the Woodstock Light Infantry. He has been a 
merchant for many years in Woodstock, has served as its town clerk for 
eight years and has held other village and town offices. Ora, born June 
25, 1836, married Sarah E. Grover, of Harvard, Mass. Clarence J., 
clerk in the store of Frank J. Simmons, is his only child. Ora was 
educated in the common schools and at Newbury Seminary and the 
Green Mountain Perkins Academy. He served three months in the war 
as a member of the Woodstock Light Infantry, and at the e.xpiration of 
that term of service he went again, August 9, 1862, as captain of Com- 
pany H, Twelfth Vermont Volunteers, and received his discharge, at the 
expiration of his term of service, July 14, 1863. In 1866 he was elected 
town Representative from Pomfret, and re-elected in 1867, and again in 
1876. In the same year he was appointed by Governor Proctor a 
member of the State Board of Agriculture, and was its chairman for two 
years. He was State Senator in 1880 and 188 1, and served as one of 
the trustees of the Otta Quechee Savings Bank for several years, which 
office he held at the time of his death. He was appointed by the County 
Court road commissioner for the county of Windsor, which office he held 



Biographical 797 



for a number of years. He was secretary of the Windsor County Agri- 
cultural Society, and filled the several offices of selectman, lister, town 
agent and justice of the peace. He was often employed in the settle- 
ment of estates. He died in Pomfret, January 15, 1886. His widow 
lives with her son in Woodstock. 

Norman Paul received his primary education in the common schools 
of Pomfret, for several terms under the instruction of Hosea Doton- 
He prepared for college at Newbury Seminary and at the Green Mount- 
ain Perkins Academy. He entered the University of Vermont in 1856 
and was graduated from that institution in i860. He then commenced 
the study of law with Washburn & Marsh at Woodstock, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1862. In February, 1863, he began the practice 
of Ins profession in Woodstock and has occupied the same office ever 
since. He was State's Attorney from 1876-78, and State Senator in 
1884-85. He was treasurer of the Windsor County Agricultural Society 
seventeen years, and is the present chairman of the County Board of 
Road Commissioners. He was for a number of years the secretary of 
the Otta Quechee Savings Bank of Woodstock, and is one of its present 
trustees. 



POTTER, SANFORD H. Captain Freeman Potter, grandfather of 
Sanford H , was a native of England and emigrated to America 
prior to the War for Independence. He was a soldier in that war, and a 
captain in the War of 1S12. After his marriage he settled in St. Albans, 
Vt., and died there about 1847. His children were Mosley, Solon, Dar- 
win, Freeborn, Lyman, Fidelia, Daniel R. and Doll}'. All were married 
and reared families. Only Daniel R. is living. 

Daniel R., of the above, married Adeline Marsh and had children as 
follows: Eliza J., the wife of Truman Warner, lives in Georgia, Vt.; 
Sanford H.; Ellen S., married, first, Albert Johnson, second, Charles 
Warner, both deceased. Mrs. Warner lives in St. Albans, Vt. Emma 
is the wife of O. B. Johnson, lives in St. Albans, Vt.; Adeline is the wife 
of Henry Jennison, lives in Iowa; and Mary is the wife of Charles War- 
ner, lives in St. Albans Adeline Potter, the mother, died in St. Albans 
in 1855. Daniel R. is still (1890) living in St. Albans, the owner of the 
Potter homestead, a well preserved man at the advanced age of eighty- 
three. 



798 History of Windsor County. 

Sanford H. Potter was born in St. Albans, October 21, 1839. After 
attending the common school he prepared for college at the St. Albans 
Academy, hnt owing to the death of his mother did not enter upon a 
college course. At the age of seventeen he began the study of theology 
with the Rev J. E. Rankin, a Congregational clergyman of St. Albans, 
with the view of entering the ministry, but at the expiration of six months, 
becoming satisfied he could not conscientiously become a preacher of 
that faith, he abandoned it. In 1859 he became an employee of the 
Vermont Central Railroad as fireman, in which capacity he served until 
the breaking out of the war. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted as private 
in Company L, First Vermont Cavalry. During the time of his service 
he filled the positions of bugler and quartermaster-sergeant. He was 
not absent a day from the service, and was present in forty-five different 
engagements, and came out of the war uniiarmed. He received his 
discharge at the close of the war. Upon his return to V^ermont in 1865 
he again entered the service of the Vermont Central Railroad as loco- 
motive engineer and continued in that capacity until 1885. 

Mr. Potter is a Democrat in politics and has been the candidate of his 
party for town Representative three times, and for State Senator once. 
When Cleveland became President he received from him the appoint- 
ment of postmaster at White River Junction, a position which he held 
four years. He has filled the office of justice of the peace for a number 
of years. He is a Knight Templer in the Masonic Order, a member of 
the I. O. O. F., a Post Commander of the Abraham Lincoln Post, No. 
85, G. A. R., and a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. 

He married, first, Sarah Patterson, second, Etta Phillips, and third, 
Eva Britton, daughter of Wilson Hrittoii, of Ilartland. Ma)-, a daughter 
by the second marriage, is his only child. She is the wife of Frederick 
Short, a farmer living in Amsden, Vt. They have one child, Raymond. 
Mr. Potter has been a resident of White River Junction since 1870. 



RAYMOND, Judge ISAIAH, was born in Woodstock, Vt , Febru- 
ary 15, 1788. He descends in direct line from John Raymond, 
who emigrated with his brother Wilham from Essex county, England, 
and settled in Beverly, Mass., about 1662, where he died January 18, 
1703, aged eighty-seven. John, eldest son of John and Rachel (Scruggs) 



Biographical. 799 



Raymond, born in 1650, is mentioned in history as the first soldier to 
enter the fort in tlie battle with the Narraganset Indians, which occurred 
in December, 1675. He died at Middleboro, Mass., June 5, 1725. 
John, son of John and iVIartha Raymond, who first lived at Beverly, 
subsequently moved to Middleboro. He married for his first wife Deb- 
orah Perry. Barnabas, the third son of the above, was born at Mid- 
dleboro, May 21, 1710, and married Alice . William, born 

July 2, 1744, married November 30, 1769, Phcebe Thomas, of Middle- 
boro. He moved to Woodstock, Vt , in 1780, and died September 20, 
1822. His wife died April 27, 1829. Isaiah, the subject of this sketch, 
was the youngest child of William and Phoebe Raymond. He was a 
resident of Bridgewater, Vt., and Judge of Probate ten years. He was 
a merchant by occupation, and represented the town in the Legislature. 
He married, October 4, 1814, Abigail, daughter of James Topliff, of 
Bridgewater. They had two children, viz.; Charles Stewart, born Sep- 
tember 20, 1815, and Mary Ann, born January 21, 1821. The latter 
was married to Dr. Ripley Clark, August 9, 1848, and nuw resides in 
Windsor, Vt. The have one son, Isaiah Raymond, born January i. 
•853, a graduate of Dartmouth College, class of '73, and now a member 
of the law firm of Ranney & Clark, Boston, Mass. He married Kate R. 
Cummings, November 14, 1878. Charles Stewart married, July 15, 
1840, Charlotte M., daughter of Charles Dana, of Woodstock. They 
had four sons, viz.: Charles, born June 16, 1841 ; William Cushing, born 
November 9, 1844; Edward Dana, born July 27, 1847, ^^^^ March 20. 
1851; and Frank Isaiah, born June 30, 1853, died July 24, i86i' 
Charles S. was a merchant by occupation. He served in both branches 
of the Legislature, and was a member of the last convention called to 
amend the State constitution. He died June 20, 1883. His widow re- 
sides with her son in Bridgewater. Their oldest son, Charles, married 
I'^llen Walker, November 17, 1868. They have two sons, Charles S., 
born April 22, 1875, and Frank S., born February 5, 1886. Charles 
Raymond is a merchant, and is located in Ludlow, V . William Cush- 
ing married Lucia Ann Merrill, January i, 1866. They have one son, 
ICdward Dana, born June 8, 1868, a graduate of Amherst College in the 
class of 1890. William C. was for fifteen years engaged in mercantile 
business in Bridgewater. He was a member of the State Legislature in 



8oo History ok Windsor County. 

1882-83, census enumerator 1880 and 1890, justice of the peace fourteen 
years, and town auditor twelve years. Judge Raynionii died in Bridge- 
water, Ueceiiiber 22, 1868. His wife died June 7, 1866. We add tlie 
'ollowing from the pen of one who knew him well : " Sound judgment 
may be considered as the cliief characteristic of Isaiah Raj'mond's merit. 
This quality developed early, and predominated in all the business trans- 
actions of a long life. His estimate of men, as a rule, was very correct, 
and to this must be attributed in large measure the success that attended 
all his operations in the business world. Being from the first a moneyed 
man, it may be said that for a long period of years, when banks were 
few and money was scarce, he acted as a sort of general banker among 
his neighbors, with this principle, among others, carefully observed, 
namely, that his bank was a place of loans only, never of deposits. An- 
other principle he observed was that in all loans there should be good 
security with moderate rate of interest, six per cent, being the fi.xed 
limit with him in all transactions of this character. Indeed, the offer to 
pay him more than this he looked upon with suspicion, because in his 
opinion no man could afford to pay more. Another proof of his moder- 
ation of spirit he gave towards the close of his life. To the common 
remark that the more a man has, the more he wants, he replied, ' The 
rule has its exceptions, and my case is one ; I have all I want, and don't 
care to make my life bigger.' In social life Judge Raymond was a man 
of singularly amiable and cheerful spirit. His temper was never ruffled, 
and in consequence his deportment was uniformly cheerful and friendly 
towards all his neighbors. His affection for his children and grand- 
children was extreme. He bestowed upon them liberally of his means, 
and sought in every way to promote their comfort and welfare." 



STOCKER, SAMUEL RUSSELL, was born in West Windsor, Vt., 
(then Windsor,) November 12, 18 15. His grandfather, Samuel, 
born in Newbtiryport, Mass , in 1737, was twice married. His second 
wife was Hannah Morrison, born in 1742, by whom he had si.x children, 
of whom Eben, father of Samuel R., born in 1779, married, first, Abi 
gail Kimball, and had six children, as follows: Lydia, who was the wife 
of Lewis Patrick, died in Windsor ; Clarissa, the wife of David Hunter 
(the oldest man now, 1890, living in Windsor). She died in Wind- 



Biographical. 8oi 



sor. Emma, the only one of the children now living, is the widow of 
Harry Shedd, and lives in Hartland ; Eben M., formerly a merchant in 
Hartland, then an insurance agent in Hartford, Conn., where he died ; 
Samuel R.; and Ormond, died in Hartland. Eben Stocker, the father, 
married, second, Sally G. Parsons, of South Woodstock ; no children. 
He died in Hartland, November, 1859. Samuel R. Stocker spent his 
childhood on the home farm in West Windsor. His first employment 
away from home was as clerk in the store of Oilman Shedd, at Shedds- 
ville, then with Dr. George B. Green, at Windsor, and finally in Hart- 
land, in the store of Stocker & Bates. He eventually became owner of 
this store, but subsequently sold it to his brother, E. M. Stocker. In 
December, 1847, ^'^ came to Windsor, where, for about eighteen months, 
he carried on a restaurant in company with his nephew, N. W. Patrick. 
He then opened a dry-goods store in the old Constitution House. He 
next formed a partnership with Luther C. White, under the firm name 
of Stocker & White, and for many years this firm did the leading busi- 
ness in the town. He eventually purchased White's interest, and for a 
few years carried on the business in his own name. In 186 1 he sold to 
M. C. Hubbard and Major L. C. Fay, and at the same time purchased 
the mills and water-power at North Enfield, N. H., and established there 
the Mascoma Woolen-Mills, and carried them on in partnership with 
Allen Hayes. Upon the dissolution of this partnership he rented out 
the mills for a number of years, again opening a dry -goods store in 
Windsor in company with Charles Story, the firm becoming Stocker & 
Story, and at the termination of this partnership he formed another 
with H. C. Phillips, and his son, L. W. Stocker, and carried it on under 
the title " One Price Store," until his death, which occurred April 21, 
1885. Mr. Stocker married, first, Martha Ann Hayes, of Hartland. 
Abbie Kimball, born October 4, 1841, died in Indianapolis, Ind., Feb- 
ruary 12, 1881, was the only child by this marriage. She was the wife 
of Daniel E. Stone. They had six children, viz : Mary E., Nettie S. 
(deceased), John S , Carrie L., Emma, and Jet C. Martha Ann, his first 
wife, died March, 1843. He married, second, April 13, 1845, Betsey, 
daughter of Zebina and Abigail (Spaulding) Spaulding. Mrs. Stocker 
was born November 24, 1822, in Hartland. Tliey had nine children, 
viz.: Samuel F., born April 18, 1847, married, first, September 25, 1870, 
101 



8o2 History of Windsor County. 

Mary Ella Houston, second, Kate Caldwell. He is a fruit dealer in 
Spokane Falls, Washington. Henry Walbridge, born February 22, 
1849, rnarried, November 25, 1879, Lizzie Ann Edminster. They have 
two children, Henry Samuel, born September 2, 1881, and Howard Ed- 
minster, born May 6, 1890. Henry is a merchant in Windsor. Luther 
White, born October 17, 1850, married Mary Frances Jones ; no chil- 
dr'-n. He is engaged in the real estate business at Spokane Falls. 
George Kendall, born October 8, 1852, married, August 30, 1877, 
Clara C. Twilchell ; no children. He is a partner in the firm ofTilton, 
Stocker, Frye & Co , at Spokane Falls, and one of the leading business 
men of that place. Mary Lizzie, born October 17, 1854, died May 19, 
1874. Mary Hollis, born January 15, 1857, married, November 18, 
1885, Nettie Church, of Farmington, la. Their children are Samuel 
Church, born August 25, 1887, and Alvin Ormond, born March, 1889- 
He is a druggist in Iiidiana[)olis, Ind. An infant son died in Novem- 
ber, 1858. Minnie Amelia, born March, i860, lives at home. Ormond 
Sylvester was born July 21, 1862. He was in company with his 
brother, Luther W., in the mercantile business at Windsor for a number 
of years, but at this time (1890) they have closed out their business at 
Windsor, with the view of all si.x brothers settling at Spokane Falls in 
the near future. Samuel R. Stocker, though a Democrat in politics, was 
yet selected to fill the offices of selectman, lister, and justice of the peace. 
He rendered efficient service as selectman in filling thequota of the town 
for soldiers during the war period. He was one of the prime movers 
and principal owner of the stock of the Windsor Aqueduct Company. 
In his religious belief he was a Universalist. He was a thirty-second 
degree member of the Masonic fraternity; also a member of the onler 
1 O. O. F. Scrupulously honest in all business relations, genial and 
entertaining in society and in the home circle, the communit\' felt tluy 
had indeed suffered a loss in the death of Mr. Stocker. 



ALDRICH, Hon JOSHUA MADISON, was born in Weathersfield, 
Vt., June 12, 1809, and was the son of Joshua and Lucretia (Cow- 
ing) Aldrich. His father emigrated from Westmoreland, N. H., to 
Weathersfield, and was by trade a carpenter, though he settled and car 




^7c^ e^-^^/zx^ 



Biographical. 803 



ried on a part of the farm now occupied by Charles F. Aldrich. Our 
subject received only the benefits of a common school education. In 
politics, though originally a Whig, he afterwards acted witii the Free. 
Soil party, and upon the organization of the Republican party became 
one of its active members. He was deeply interested in freeing the 
slaves, and was one of the earl)' exponents of anti-slavery principle.s. 
Mr. Aldrich was a civil magistrate for over twenty years, and besides 
holding the various town offices was a member of both branches of the 
Vermont Legislature. He became a member of the Baptist church in 
1832, and was the first superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Per- 
kinsville Baptist church. On October 5, 1837, Mr. Aldrich married 
Mary Williams, daughter of Rufus and Esther (Gile) y\twood. She was 
born in Chester, July 19, 1815. By tliis union there were five children, 
four of whom died in infancy; the survivor, Maria L, married O. D. 
Crockett, but died in 1883. Mr. Aldrich died May 27, 1880; his wife 
February 21, 1885. Upon the old homestead now resides Charles 
Frank Aldrich, the adopted son of the above couple. He was born in 
Springfield, Vt., March 28, 1843, '^'''d married Abbie L., daughter of 
Rev. Alvah Spaulding, who was for many years pastor of the Congre- 
gational church at Cornish Center, N. H. They have seven children, 
viz.: Charles Spaulding, Willis Wood, Mary Fidelia, Jessie Marion, 
Fannie Maria, James Madison, and Augustus Wheeler. 



BROCKWAY, JOHN. Edward Brockway, grandfather of John, was 
born in Hartford, Conn., July 21, 1737, and married Mary Ely, 
May I, 1760. Their children were Azuba, Mary, John N., Edward, jr., 
Clara, Bridget, and Lucinda. Edward Brockway 's first wife died Feb- 
ruary 23, 1796 He married, second, February 23, 1800, Martha Mor- 
gan, who died August 27, 1824. He died October 5, 182S. John N. 
Brockway, their third child, and father of John, was born in Hartford, 
Vt., November 29. 1766, and married Hannah Simonds. Their children 
were William Ely, born February 16, 1791 ; Sally, born August 30, 
1792; Linus, born August I, 1794, died January 9, 1796; Linus, 2d, 
born May 17, 1796, died in 1799; Lyman, born December 5, 1798, 
died July, 1833; Desire, born November 18, 1801 ; Mary, born May 8, 
1803 ; Simon, born February 11, 1806; and John, born April 21, 1807. 



8o4 History of Windsor County. 

All these children, except the eldest two, were born in Sharon, Vt, and 
all except Lyman raised families and settled in Windsor county, and 
with the exception of Simon, who died in Randolph, Orange county, 
died in Windsor county. John N. died in Hartford, October 28, 1842 ; 
his wife, Hannah, there in 1855. John Brockway was twelve years old 
when his father purchased of John Udall the farm in the east part of 
Pomfret and moved there from Sharon in 1819. The farm then con- 
sisted of 300 acres, but by subsequent purchase by John and his son 
Henry it now embraces 700 acres, a portion of which is in the town of 
Hartford. In 1836 John bought the farm of his father, and carried it on 
until his lieath. He married, first, January i, 1834, Desire M. Simonds, of 
Bridgewatcr, born January 26, 1808, who died in Pomfret, September 2, 
1844. He married, second, Ann H., daughter of Daniel and Lydia 
(Hawkes) Gile, September 17, 1847. She was born in Enfield, N. H., 
February 19, 18 18. The children by the first marriage were William L., 
born October 21, 1837, married November 16, 1858, Lydia A Williams. 
He lives in Lynn, Mass. Sarah A., born June 8, 1837, married November 
9, i860, Andrew Lamb. The latter died November 23, 1884. Mrs. 
Lamb makes her home with her brother, George C. Brockway. Julia A., 
born September 22, 1838, married, March 25, 1872, Carlos Hazen, and 
resides in Lowell, Mass. John S., born September 20, 1840, married 
November 16, 1869, Mary Gibson. He died December 31, 1871. Chil- 
dren by the second marriage were: Daniel G.,born October 4, 1847, mar- 
ried June 15, 1874, Fanny Howe, of Manchester, N. H. Her father. 
Dr. L. B. Howe, is Professor of Anatomy in the Medical Department of 
Dartmouth College. Daniel G. was graduated from Dartmouth College 
in 1870 and from the Medical Department of New York University in 
1873, settled in Lebanon, N. H., in 1874, and has practiced his profes- 
sion there since. George C, born September i, 1849, married Novem- 
ber 8, 1881, Emma Stone, born August 12, i860, in Hartford. He was 
educated in the Kimball Union Academy, Norwich Academy, and two 
years in the Scientific Department of Dartmouth. In 1890 he was 
elected representative from Hartford. He owns and carries on a farm 
in West Hartford. His children are John, born September 23, 1882 ; 
Anna Laura, born June 24, 1884; Jennie Hazen, born December 23, 
1885. Henry, born April 23, 1852, married, October 18, 1883, Flora 



Biographical. 805 



Doyle, of Royalton, born January 6, 1866. He prepared for college in 
Norwich and Kimball Academies, and was graduated from the Scientific 
Department of Dartmouth in 1874. He is the owner of and carries on 
the homestead farm. He is justice of the peace, town lister, and was 
the representative of the town in the State Legislature in 1888. His 
children are Daniel, born November 5, 1884 ; Andrew L., born Novem- 
ber 13, 1886; and William L., born April 22, 1888. John Brockway 
was one of Pomfret's most successful farmers. He was for many years 
selectman, town lister, and was town representative in the Legislature in 
1870-71. He was often employed in settlement of estates, and enjoyed 
in the highest deeree the confidence and esteem of his fellow townsmen. 
He died at his residence in Pomfret, January 8, 1887. His widow sur- 
vives him, and lives with her son, Henry, at the homestead. 



COOK, SELDEN, is descended from Thomas Cook, who came from 
Johnston, R. I., to Springfield about 1795. He married Mrs. Betsey 
Turner, whose maiden name was Cook. They had a family of seven chil- 
dren, viz.: Hopestill died aged two years; Edward removed to Canada, 
where he died ; Oliver died in infancy ; Oliver ; Whipple died in Canada ; 
Otis died in Springfield; and Charlotte, who died single aged eighty years. 
Thomas, the pioneer settler in Windsor county, died in New York State. 
Oliver, mentioned above, who was the father of our subject, was born 
in Johnston, R. I., August 29, 1 78 1, and married in 1804 Polly, daugh- 
ter of Joseph and Philadelphia (Wheeler) Bruce. Her parents were early 
settlers of Baltimore, Vt. They were Quakers and died the same day, 
and were buried in the same grave. Her grandfather was an aid on Gen- 
eral Washington's staff during the Revolution. Oliver and Polly (Bruce) 
Cook had eight children, viz : Barna A. resides in Chester, Vt; Selden ; 
Seymour O. dijd in Chester ; Mary Ann died single ; Franklin B. died 
young; Charlotte R., widow of Rev. Isaiah Shipman, lives at Lisbon, N. H.; 
Lewis E. died in North Springfield, Vt.; Susan B., widow of Solomon 
Winchester, resides in North Springfield. Oliver died August 20, 1863. 
Selden, of the above family, was born in North Springfield, May 4, 1808. 
He spent his early life on his father's farm, attending the district schools, 
and at the age of twenty-one commenced his mercantile life. He was for 
two years engaged in the shoe business at Proctorsville,Vt., after which he 



8o6 History of Windsor County. 

came to Springfield, and was until his death a merchant in that town. In 
politics originally a Whig, he joined the Republican party on its organiza- 
tion. Mr. Cook married, January 15, 1829, Marj-, daughter of Edmund 
and Rachel (Barlett) Bachelder. She was born in Baltimore, Vt., Novem- 
ber 14, 1808. They were both members of the Congregational Church 
of Springfield for c)ver forty years. They had a f imily of seven children : 
Mary Ellen, born in Cavendish, June 5, 1830, died August 6, 1832 ; Ro- 
sella, born in Springfield, November 21, 1833, died August 31, 1842; 
Selden, jr., born in Springfield, December 25, 1834, died December 26, 
1835 ; Ellen Maria, born in Springfield, February 7, 1840, widow of Col- 
onel O. S. Tuttle, resides in her native town ; George Selden, born in 
Springfield, September 27, 1841, lives at Bellows F'alls, Vt.; Adams Per- 
kins, born ill Springfield, October 2, 1844, died August 26, 1846; and 
Everett B, born in Springfield, January 30, 1852, married Jennie O. 
Wolfe. They have two children, Bernice May and Bruce, lie is a 
boot and shoe merchant in Springfield Selden died January 16, 1882; 
his wife February 24, 1872. 



DEWEY, Hon. ALBERT GALLATIN, the oldest child of John 
and Mary (Wright) Dewey, was born in Hartford, Vt , December 
16, 1805. He was a member of the seventh generation in lineal descent 
from Tiiomas Dewey, who emigrated to America in 1633 from Sand- 
wich, Kent, England, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. His father was 
a farm-ir of limited means and died November 23, 1833, leaving a wife 
and five children, thiee of whom were under eight years of age, to the 
care and support of Albert G., then eighteen years of age. His early 
education was of the most limited character, consisting of only a few 
terms' attendance at the district school. He served a full apprenticeship 
of three years to the carpenter's trade, and afterwards worked at that 
trade for several years. In 1831 he obtained employment in the ma- 
chine shop of Daniels & Co., builders of woolen machinery at Wood- 
stock, and was soon sent out by them to set up their machinery in dif- 
ferent places, which he followed until i8j6, when he, in company with 
others, built tlie factory known as Dewey's Mills, near Ouechee village, 
in Hartford, and commenced the manufacture of woolen goods, which 
he continued till his death. Mr. Dewey was always interested in every- 



Biographical. 807 



thing promotive of the growth and prosperity of his section, and was a 
friend to all internal improvements. He was an active promoter and 
one of the original incorporators of the railroad from White River Junc- 
tion to Woodstock, and on the organization of the company was elected 
as a member of its board of directors. In February, 1 870, he was chosen 
its president, which he retained till January I, 1883, when he declined 
a re-election. In political life he acceptablj- filled all offices of trust 
committed to him. He represented the town of Hartford in the General 
Assembly in 1850-51, 1863-64. In 1858 he was elected one of the 
board of selectmen and held that office continuously until 1866. In 
1869 he was elected State Senator from Windsor county, an:l was re- 
elected in 1870 for two years. He married, June 18, 1840, Emily, 
daughter of Hon. William Strong of Hartford. The issue of this mar- 
riage was three children, William S , John J., and Emma P., wife of 
Henry C. Denison, of New Bedford, Mass. Mrs. Dewey died April 23, 
1875, and on August 26, 1876, he married Miss Eveline Trumbull of 
Hartford. Mr. Dewey possessed eminent business qualifications, was 
firm in his convictions, prompt and energetic in the performance of 
duty, frank, thoroughly conscientious, modest and deferential, genial 
and agreeable, by which qualities he gained the confidence of all witii 
whom he had social or business relations. He died at Hartford, Au- 
gust 26, 1886. 



DAVIDSON. JOHN, was born in Belfast, Me., September 9, 1776. 
and was the eldest of three sons of John and Mary (Lancaster) Da 
vidson. His father was engaged in farming and during the boyhood of 
our subject removed to Windham, N. H. Mr. Davidson received only a 
common school education and previous to his coming of age worked on 
.1 farm. He then came to Acworth, N. H , and afterwards learnt the 
trade of cabinet-making at Charlestown, N. H. He followed the cabinet 
trade and carpentering for a number of years. During this time he in 
vented a churn, and afterwards a cloth-dressing machine. Heconmienced 
the manufacture of the latter article at Acworth, N. H., and in 1829 re- 
moved his works to Springfield to obtain better facilities for power 
Mr. Davidson married Miss Abigail Prouty, who was born in Langdon, 
N. H., June 8, 1778 Of their eight children all but two died in infancy. 



8o8 History ok Windsor County. 

The others were Elvira and Mary ; the latter married Amasa Woolson 
and died in Springfield. In religious belief Mr. Davidson wasaCon- 
gregationalist, and in politics in his later day he affiliated with the 
Whigs. He died March 24, 1850, his wife April 17, 1859. 



PARKS, FREDERICK, was born in Charlestown, N. H , April 13, 
I So I, being the tenth child in a family of twelve children of Aaron 
and Anna (Jennison) Parks. He passed his life till he was twenty one 
years of age on his father's farm. His education was obtained at the 
district schools of his native town. In 1823 he came to Acworth, N. H., 
and learned the trade of machinist and after his marriage became a part- 
ner with his father-in-law, Mr. Davidson, and came to Springfield on 
the removal of the factory to that place in 1829. He was a practical 
machinist and up to the time of his death was connected with the works 
which he and his father-in law establislied at Springfield. Though an 
active worker in the Republican party Mr. Parks would not accept any 
public office, but was always interested in all improvements that tended 
to increase the prosperity of Springfield. A Congregationalist in relig- 
ious belief, he was always willing to help and encourage all enterprises 
for the religious benefit of his fellow citizens. Mr. Parks married No- 
vember 17, 1827, Elvira, daughter of John and Abigail (Prouty) Da- 
vidson. She was born in Acworth, N. H., May 6, 1808. They had 
five children, none of whom are living ; three died in infancy ; L. Milan, 
a member of Company E, First Vermont Cavalry, was killed during a 
reconnoitering expedition before Richmond, Va.; John Milton died at 
eighteen years of age Mr. Parks died September 28, 1877 ; his widow 
scill survives him and resides in Springfield. 



HARLOW, HERMON W,, was born in Charlestown, N. H., No- 
vember 16, 1835, and is the only son of Willard B. and Lucretia 
(Britten) Harlow. His father removed to Springfield in 1836, he being 
a native of that town. Our subject's education was attained at the pub- 
lic schools of Springfield and Windsor, and he was also a student at the 
Springfield Wesleyan Seminary He has been engaged in mercantile 
business in Springfield and New York city, but since 1865 has been a 
permanent resident of Springfield. A Republican in politics, he has 



Biographical. 809 



been called upon to fill various positions. He was Representative from 
Springfield in the Legislature of 1890, and was chairman of the House 
committee on grand list. He has been many times moderator of the 
annual town meetings ; also has held the offices of town auditor, lister 
two years, member of the Windsor county board of education one year, 
was ten years committee of graded schools, and has held many other 
minor town and village offices. Mr. Harlow married, August 27, 1863, 
Miss Nettie L. Parks, the adopted daughter of Frederick Parks. They 
have two sons, viz : Frederick M. and Milan P. 



MORGAN, CHARLES, was born in Bethel, Vt, July 30, 1818. 
(For genealogy of the Morgan family see article in this volume 
under title Harvey D. Morgan.) He married, September 3, 1851, 
Julana, daughter of Hiram and Lucinda (McWain) Hodgkins, born in 
Stockbridge, January 4, 1825. Her grandfather, Thomas, was a colonel 
in the Revolutionary War. He was a native of Connecticut, and moved 
from Hampton, in that State, and settled in Rochester at an early date. 
He married Tryphena Durkee, and reared a family of two sons and 
three daughters, all of whom are deceased. Colonel Thomas and his 
wife died in Rochester, and are buried there. Hiram, her father, born 
in Rochester, December 14, 1799, married Lucinda McWain, and had 
four children, viz: Julana; Diana, born December 23, 1827, died 
October 21, 1852; Jane, born August 10, 1829, was the wife of Plii- 
lander Baker, died in Rochester, August 4, 1869; Hiram, born August 17, 
1831, married Frances, daughter of John Emerson, of Rochester. They 
have three children, viz.: Lana, Georgiana and Ro^^al T. He lives in 
Ames, la. Ann B.,born May 17, 1836, died October 12, 1840. Hiram 
her father, died January 30, 1881, in Rochester. His wife died in Bing- 
hamton, N. Y., March i, 1883. 

Charles Morgan received his education in the district schools of 
Bethel, and at an academy at East Randolph. He was clerk in stores 
at Bethel and Rochester in the early years of his life. He became a 
permanent resident of Rochester in 1 830, where he engaged in general 
merchandising. He was postmaster for many years, and represented 
the town in the Legislature in 1877-78. He was State Inspector of 
102 



8 10 History ok Windsor County. 

Finance in 1875 and 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan had one child, 
WilHs H., born December 30, 1852, died March 27, 1856. They have 
adopted one child, Jessie M., born October 19, 1868. 



MARSH, FREDERICK VV., is descended from Rev. Ehsha Marsh, 
a ijraduate of Harvard College, and who was pastor of a Congre- 
gational church at Westminster, Mass , from October 20, 1742, till 1757. 
He afterwards removed to Walpole, N H., and practiced law, and was a 
jndge of the Court of Common Pleas of Cheshire county, N. H. He 
had a large family, and one of his sons, Benjamin by name, born June 
7, 1754, settled in Chesterfield, N. H., about 1785. He married, in 
1788, Mrs. Hannah Graves, who was born in November, 1757 Benja- 
min died April 17, 181 i. His wife died April 12, 1S19. They had a 
family of two sons and two daughters. Asa, their youngest son, and 
the father of our subject, was born April 22, 1791, and married, in 1821, 
Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac Hall. They had a family of six children- 
Frederick W., the fourth child and third son, was born at Chesterfield, 
January 14, 183 1. After attending the district schools he became a 
student at Chesterfield Academy, where he remained till he was eighteen 
years of age. He then was employed byZelatus Dickinson in the dry- 
goods trade at Brattleboro, Vt., with whom he remained a year. He 
afterwards was employed for a year by John Frost, who carried on the 
grocery business in the same town In 1852 Mr. Marsh went to Cali- 
fornia, but returning the fall of the same year he became a partner in 
the firm of J. L Pierce & Co., at Londonderry, Vt. They carried on a 
general store, and the partnership continued till 1859. Mr. Marsh con- 
tinued to reside at Londonderry till the spring of 1864, when he came to 
Chester. In the fall of 1865 he formed a partnership with P. H. Rob- 
bins, which continued for 23 years. Mr. Marsh has been a life-long 
Democrat, liaving followed his father's footsteps. Though differing with 
a majority of his townsmen in politics, he has been called upon to fill 
various offices. He has held the positions of justice of the peace and 
town grand juryman for a number of years. He married, first, Miss 
Mary Jane Robinson, of Boston. His second wife was Miss Ellen M. 
Allen, of Boston. The issue of this marriage is one child, George F., 
born February 2, 1877. 



Biographical. 8ii 



ROBERTS, WILLIAM G., was born in Sharon, Vt, July 28, 1835, 
the third child in a family of eight children, of John and Lydia 
(Gordon) Roberts. His parents died in Siiaron, and of their family but 
tiiree are living, Cyrus, section foreman on the Passumpsic division of 
the B. & M. Railroad ; Mrs. Charles H. Maxham, of Pomfret; and Will- 
iam G. The latter, upon the death of his mother, then seventeen years 
of age, bought his time of his father, and worked on a farm about a year 
for Mr. Tilden, at Centerville, when he came to Hartford, Vt , as an em 
ployee of the Vermont Central Railroad. He was soon promoted to a 
foremanship, which position he filled till 1871, when he was appointed 
roadmaster on the New London and Northern Railroad, being located 
at Palmer, Mass. He continued in the employ of this railroad for two 
years, when he received the appointment as roadmaster on the Passump- 
sic division of the B. & M. Railroad, in charge of the track from White 
River Junction to Lyndonville ; afterwards his supervision was extended 
to Sherbrook, P. Q. Mr. Roberts married, October 7, 1856, Mary A., 
daughter of Joshua and Deborah (Neal) Huntoon She was born in 
Hartford, Vt., April 14, 183S. She has three brothers and one sister 
living, viz.: Neal, Francis and Sylvester, farmers living in Hartford, and 
Laura, widow of John Chandler, resides in Alstead, N. H. Mr. and 
Mrs. Roberts have four children: Josie M., born August 5, 1858, the 
wife of George D. Mowe, of Franklin Falls, N. H.; Lena M., born Jan- 
uary 7, 1861, the wife of William M. Kendall, jr., editor in Manchester, 
N. H.; Editli M., born July 8, 1864, the wife of Herbert H. Thayer, an 
employee of the B. & M. Railroad ; and Willie G., born March 10, 1869, 
married Alice M. Clough, of Lisbon, N. H., and is an employee of the 
B. & M. Railroad. 



RUGG, DAVID FLETCHER, M. D., was born in Londonderry, 
Vt., December 15, 1852. His great-grandfather, Daniel, was born 
in Massachusetts, April 17, 175 1 ; died in 1834. He married Sarah 
Bancroft, born June 4, 1754, died June 6, 1837. They moved to Hins- 
dale, N. H., about 1790, and died there. Elijal., the doctor's grand- 
father, was born in Framingham, Mass., May 3, 1775, and died at South 
Londonderry, Vt., September 2, 1848. He married, about 1796, Lu- 



8i2 History of Windsor County. 

cretia Farr, who was born December 22, 1776, at Chesterfield, N. H., 
and died at South Londonderry, May 26, 1857. About 1800 they lived 
in Baltimore, Windsor county. They had nine children, eight of whom 
lived to be upwards of fifty-two years. Their son, William W., father 
of the doctor, was born in Windham, Vt., November 4, 1810, and died 
in South Londonderry, August 2, 1863. He married, February 11, 
1836, at Londonderry, Rachel Dodge, who was born in Andover, Vt., 
November 18, 1814, and died at South Londonderry, July 29, 1871 
They had five children, as follows : William Henry, born in South Lon- 
donderry, April 9, 1838, married h'annie M. Webster, at Waliingford, 
April 6, 1870. William H. is the present clerk of the town of Weath- 
ersfield, Vt. Elijah h'rancis, born in .South Londonderry, February i, 
1840, married Mrs. Harriet Augusta Bu.xton, at Bellows Falls, Vt., De- 
cember 31, 1868, who died at South Londonderry, November, 1889. 
Rachel Lucretia, born in South Londonderry, March 6, 1843, married 
Charles Hamilton, January, 1862. John Ouincy Adams, born in South 
Londonderry, August 4, 1847, married Mary Louisa Kirby, at Burling- 
ton, Vt., October 18, 1 87 I. Dr. David Fletcher, their youngest child, 
after the district school of his native place, attended the West River, 
Chester and Black River Academies. He began teaching when fifteen 
years*of age, and taught the winter schools in Winhall.Shaftsbury, Lud- 
low and Weathersfield, from 1868-76. While engaged in teaching 
he also prosecuted the study of medicine. After studying with Dr. 
William F. Eddy, of Londonderry, he attended his first course of lect- 
ures at the Medical Department of Vermont University, his second 
course in the Medical Department of Dartmouth in the fall of 1875, and 
was graduated from the first named college June 27, 1876. He was 
valedictorian of his class, and received the faculty prize for the best 
thesis. In August, 1876, he commenced the practice of his profession 
in Hartland, where he has continued ever since. He is a member of 
the American Medical Association, the Vermont State Medical Society, 
the White River Valley Medical Association and the Connecticut River 
Valley Medical Society. He was a member of the Ninth International 
Medical Congress, held at Washington, D. C, in 1887. He was vice- 
president of the Vermont Medical Society in 1883. He has been chair- 





^ 






Biographical. 813 



man of the Board of Censors for the State of Vermont. He has been a 
member of the order I. O. O. F. since 1883. A RepubUcan in pohtics 
the doctor takes an active part in the local poUtics of his locality He 
was town superintendent of schools three years, and is a member of the 
County Board of Education and its present secretary. The doctor mar- 
ried, December 28, 1881, Julia A., daughter of Albert D. and Sarah 
(Goddard) Hager, born in Proctorsville, Vt.. August 21, 1853. Her 
father was State geologist for Vermont for a number of years. Mrs. 
Rugg was his eldest daughter. Her sister, Sarah, is the wife of Charles 
Goddard, of Ludlow. Her brother, Charles C, lives with his mother at 
Proctorsville. The doctor and Mrs. Rugg have but one child, Harold 
Goddard, born January 21, 1883. 



SLACK, JOHN A., wa^ born in Springfield, December 29, 1818, and 
was the youngest child, and only son, in a family of five children of 
John and Hannah (Taylor) Slack, His father purchased the farm on 
which John A. now resides, and settled on the same in [805. It is 
pie isantly situated on Black River, and is now known as Riverview. The 
daughters of John and Hannah (Taylor) Slack were Sally, who died sin- 
gle ; Emily (deceased), married Stephen P. Cady, of West Windsor, 
Vt.; Pluma, a widow, resides in Clinton, la.; and Hannah (deceased), 
married John W. Heath. John A. Slack, after attending the district 
schools, became a student at Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, N. H. 
His early life was spent on his father's farm, and at the age of twenty- 
one he went to Lowell, Mass., and was for about two years employed in 
the carding- room of the Tremont Cotton-Mills in that city. Returning 
to his native town till 1846 he carried on farming, besides working in the 
cotton-mill of FuUerton & Martin. In the spring of that year he learned 
the trade of machinist, and has ever since been engaged with the Parks & 
Woolson Machine Co. An old-time Whig in politics, he cast his first 
presidential vote for General William Henry Harrison Since the or- 
ganization of the Republican party he has always voted that ticket. Mr. 
Slack has been for about fifty years a member of the Methodist church. 
He married, first, January i, 1843, at Lowell, RTass., Miss Mary A. Mc- 
AUister, a native of Fryeburg, Me. The result of this union was six 



8i4 History of Windsor County. 

children, viz.: William H. H., senior member of the firm of Slack Bros., 
shoddy manufacturers, of Springfield ; Eliza, wife of J. P. Way, of 
Springfield ; F"rances A , wife of Professor J. W. F"reley, of Wells Col- 
lege, Aurora, N. Y.; Ella, wife of W. R. Jacobs, of Springfield ; John T , 
born in Springfield, August 3, 1857, married Lilla E. Bowman, and is a 
member of the firm of Slack Bros., of Springfield ; and Effie 11., wife of 
I'.lmcr T. Merritt, of Springfield. Mr. Slack married, second, January 
I, 1870, Mrs. Jane C. Jacobs, «<r Knights, and was united in marriage 
the third time June i, 1S81, to Miss Emma M. Cady. 



VAIL, THE FAMILY. The first settler of the family in Pomfret was 
Thomas Vail, known as " Leftenant Vail." He was of the fifth gen- 
eration from Jeremiah Vail, the emigrant ancestor of the Vail family. 
Jcreiniali landed at Salem Mass, in 1644, and subsequently removed to 
Southampton, Long Island. Four generations bearing the family name 
Jeremiah lived in Southold and Oyster Pond, Long Island. Jeremiah, 
the father of the first settler in Pomfret, married April 16, 1732, Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Judge Joshua Young, who was a descendant of Rev. 
John Young, the first minister of Southold. Thomas, the second son of 
this marriage, was born at Southold, August 18, 1734. He was sergeant 
in Captain Terry's company of Colonel De Lancy's New York battalion, 
and was at the capture of Fort Niagara in the summer of 1759. The 
following year he was promoted to lieutenant and served under General 
Amherst, and was present at the siege of Fort Levi and the capture of 
Montreal. At the time of Thomas Vail's service under Amherst he had 
been married two years to Hannah, daughter of Richard and Hannah 
(1 lawkes) Brown, of Oyster Pond (now Orient, L. I.). At the close of the 
war Lieutenant Vail settled on Long Island and engaged in farming, ami 
some twelve years later removed to Lebanon, Conn. Here he purchased 
of the original granteesof Pomfret, Vt., their rights to land in that town. 
Lot 52 was purchased by John Abbe for eleven pounds, being originally 
owned by Edward Holyoke, president of Harvard College. On Janu- 
ary 27, 1773, he purchased from William Newcomba lot originallj' drawn 
in the name of John Winchester. A knoll on the farm has since been 
known as Newcomb Camp ; this was probably the first clearing on the 



BlOGKAPHICAL. 



815 




^<S« 






m. 



Portrait of Joshua Vail and view of the Vail Homestead in Pomfret. 



8i6 History of Windsor County. 

farm which was occupied by Thomas Vail in June, 1771, and has been 
held by his descendants ever since. Under date of May 8, 1 JTC), Thomas 
Vail was commissioned lieutenant of militia company of foot in Pomfret 
by the Provincial Congress of New York. He cleared his farm and built 
a lart,'e frame house and died on the Vail homestead in Pomfret at the age 
of seventj--five years. He had a family of ten children ; the eldest six 
were born at Oyster Pond, Long Island, the others in Pomfret. Thomas, 
born January 11, 1760, died in Pomfret, in March, 1820 ; Gamaliel, born 
January 7, 1 762, studied medicine and probably died at Charlestown, 
Ind.; Hannah, born November 18, 1763, married Ransom Durkee; Eliz- 
abeth, born September 17, 1765, married John W. Throop, and died at 
Baton Rouge, La.; Augustus, born September 6, 1767 ; Cynthia, born 
August 12, 1770, died unmarried; Anna, born June 18, 1772, married 
John Hutchinson, and died near Batavia, N. Y.; Mehitable, born July 28, 
1774, married Benjamin Merritt ; Samuel, born January i, 1778, printed 
the first paper issued at Louisville, Ky., in 1800. He afterwards joined 
the United States army and was breveted major for gallant conduct at 
the battle of New Orleans. He died at Baton Rouge, La., in 1848. 
Joshua was born Sept. 7, 1779, the date of his death not known. Au- 
gustus, of the above famil)', followed farming and carried on the home- 
stead farm in Pomfret He married Lavinia Leonard, who was born at 
Bridgewater, Mass, May 6, 1777. They had nine children, the eldest 
two died in infancy. They adopted Sybele (Parsons) Vail, born January, 
1798, and died February 26. 1813. Their other children were Hiram, 
born June 3, 1800, died October 7, 1826; Joshua, born February 10, 
1804; Elvira, born November 17, 1S06, died August 27, 1826; Thomas, 
born August 5, 1809, died March i, 1813; Hannah, born March 29, 
1812, died March 12, 1886; Harry, born April 29, 1815, died Febru- 
ary 28, 1889, without issue; and Fanny, born December 21, 18 18, died 
March 17, 1819. Augustus Vail was an easy, good humored man, short, 
and in his old age somewhat fleshy. He was known as Captain Vail from 
his rank in the militia, fie died m Pomfret. Joshua, mentioned above, 
was born in Pomfret, and married at Royalton, Vt., June I, 1836, Harriet 
Warren, daughter of Jonas Warren and Elizabeth Russell. She was 
born June 12, 1814. The issue of this marriage was George Thomas, 



Biographical. 817 



born June 15, 1837, removed to Clinton, Mo., in 1868; the following year 
he went to the Pacific coast, locating in California ; from there he went to 
Alaska. He finally settled near Joseph, Union county, Oregon, where he 
has ahorse ranch. He is unmarried. Henry Hobart, born May 27, 1839, 
graduated at Middlebury College in i860 and went to Ohio; taught 
school at Dayton, served in the 131st Regiment, O. V. I., in the civi] 
war, became a resident of Cincinnati in 1866, where he became a pub- 
lisher, and moved to New York in 1890. He married, October 10, 1867, 
Minerva Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Major Sylvester M. and Catherine 
(Miles) Hewitt. She was born June 10, 1846. Their children were 
Cora Lucy, born July 7, 1868, died January 2, 1884; Bessie Hewitt, 
born August 27, 1869; Mary Catherine, born June 9, 1872; and Clara 
Warren, born November 3, 1875. Homer Warren, born August 5, 1842, 
married March 9, 1880, Sarah Angier, daughter of Jackson A. and Sa- 
rah H. (Angier) Vail. She was born in Montpelier, Vt., April 18, 1852. 
Their children are Ralph Warren, born June 9, 1881, died June 20, 1881 ; 
Solon Joshua, born August 23, 1884; Henry George, born November 14, 
1886; and Homer Jackson, born June 19, 1890. Homer Vail is widely 
known throughout the State. He served two terms in the Legislature, 
and has been a useful member of the State Board of Agriculture. Laura 
Matilda, born July 28, 1844, married July 12, 1870, Andrew Price Mor- 
gan. They reside at Preston, O. Clara Warren, born December 10, 
1849, married Robert Perkins, and resides at Rutland, Vt.; Lucia Harriet^ 
born December 13, 1853, married Edward George O'Connor, and resides 
at Montreal, Canada; Mary Elizabeth, born August 7, 1855, married Oc- 
tober 5, 1882, John Thompson Snodgrass. They reside at Riverside, 
111. Joshua Vail was a man of excellent busincrjs qualifications and held 
office as justice of the peace and as selectman. He was a member of the 
Vermont Legislature in 1849 ^^^'^ 1851. He died at Pomfret, Decem- 
ber 30, 1 87 1. 



WASHBURN, Hon. PETER THACHER, was born in Lynn, Mass., 
September 7, 1814, andin 1817 his father's family moved to Cav- 
endish. After attending the district school he became a student in the 
Black River Academy and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1835. 

103 



8i8 History ok Windsor County. 



Immediately after his graduation he commenced the study of law with 
his father, whore he remained excepting some three months, when he 
was in the office of Hon. WilHam Upham, an eminent lawyer of Mont- 
pelier, until admitted to the Windsor County Bar in the December term 
of 1838. In January of the following year he began the practice of his 
profession at Ludlow. In 1844 he moved to Woodstock and entered 
into partnership with Charles P. Marsh, and the law firm of Washburn 
& Marsh became cuie of the most widely known in the State. This 
partnersliip continued until hi.i death, February 7, 1870. General 
Washburn, by which title he was better known throughout Vermont, 
held many political offices. He was from October, 1844, to October, 
185 I, inclusive, reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court, and 
represented Woodstock in the Legislature of 1853-54, On the breaking 
out of the war he went to t!ic front as captain of the Woodstock Light 
Infantry, was subsequently lieutenant-colonel, and at the close of his 
services was colonel of his regiment. He fully intended to continue in 
the service, but on account of his health it was thought by him and his 
friends that he could do better service in the place to which he was ap- 
pointed soon after his return to Vermont In October, 1861, he was 
appointed adjutant and inspector- general of Vermont, which position he 
filled uiilil the close of the war. The character of his work as adjutant 
and inspector-general was o.xceptional in its extent and thoroughness, 
aiul his reports were models of their kind. At the State election held in 
September, 1869, General Washburn was chosen governor of Vermont 
and was in office at the time of his death ; he was also at this time trustee 
of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, and presi- 
dc-nt of the Woodstock Railroad. He always took an active interest in 
the politic. d and educational interests of the State. Governor Washburn 
was twice married, his first wife being Miss Almira Ferris, of Swanton, 
Vt. By this marri.ige there were two children, viz : Ferris Thacher. 
dieil at the age of eighteen, while <i student of Dartmouth College ; 
Emily May, died at the age of six \'ears. His second wife was Miss 
Almira Hopkins, of Glens Falls, N. Y. Of their family of four children, 
three are living, viz.: Elizabeth Almira, wife of Prof T. W. D. Worthen, 
of Dartmouth College; Mar\' Hannah, uife of George B. Parkinson, an 




(y. tA :^<5_^ /L^<^^?-T^y::P 



Biographical. 819 



attorney of Cincinnati, O.; Charles Hopkins, engaged in the railroad 
business at St. Paul, Minn. 



T T 7RST0N, HORACE, was born in Rockingham, Vt, December 27, 
VV '802. He was the second in a family of eight children of Jo- 
seph and Lucinda Weston. Joseph was born March 31, 1774, and mar- 
ried I^ucinda Mather, P'ebruary 5, 1 801 ; the latter was born Novem- 
ber 17, 1780. Joseph died January 14, 1838. The brothers and sis- 
ters of Horace were Lewis, born October 14, 1 80 1, married Sophia 
White, January 23, 1834, died in Springfield, Vt.; Horace; Jehial, born 
July 31, 1804, married Almira Bates. January 23, 1834, died in Spring- 
field ; Randilla, born June 14, 1806, is the widow of Aaron Leland 
Thompson, and lives in Bellows Falls, Vt.; James, born January 24, 
1808, married Mary A. Murray, November 12, 1835, died in Weathers- 
field, Vt.; Lucinda, born November 16, 1809, was the wife of William 
Dana, died in Charlestown, N. H.; Joseph, born October 1, 1813, mar- 
ried Marianna Savage, April 10, 1838, died in Weatliersfield ; Reuben, 
born December 16, 1816, married April 2, 1839, Mary Jane Barrett, 
died in Windsor. James Weston and all his sons were farmers. Hor- 
ace received only a common school education. From the time he was 
old enough, and up to the time of his majority, he worked out, his 
wages going to the support of the family. Wlien twenty- one years of 
age he hired out to John Davis, afterwards his father-in-law, for $150 
per year, a large sum for those days. He worked for him until the time 
of his marriage. He mariied May 1, 1827, Mary, daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Herrick) Davis. She was born November 16, 1804. After 
his marriage he bought on credit the " Asa Locke farm " in Rocking- 
ham, Vt., and stocked it with the money saved while in Mr. Davis's em- 
ploy. In 1834 he sold this farm, and purchased the farm of 150 acres 
in Springfield, known as " Parker's Place," on Parker Hill, south part of 
Springfield. Here he lived nineteen years, during which time he had 
paid for the farm, also another farm adjoining of 150 acres. In 1853 he 
sold out, and purchased in Windsor the property known as the " old 
Engolsal " farm consisting of 500 acres. The price paid was $15,000, 



820 History of Windsor County. 

all of which, except $3,000, he paid down. He carried on this farm up 
to the time of his death, which occurred May 20, 1871. The question 
often raised whether farming in Vermont pays, the above facts in the 
life of one of its successful farmers would seem to answer emphatically 
in the affirmative. Mr. Weston represented Springfield in the Legisla- 
ture of Vermont in 1852, and filled the positions of selectman and lister 
in both Springfield and Windsor. In physique he was large and robust 
with great power of endurance. His judgment in all business matters 
was sound. He was fond of reading, and a great home man. He was 
a member of the Universalist church in Springfield, one of its most 
active members, and a liberal contributor to its support. His children 
are; Albert Weston, born in Rockingham. Vt., August 19, 1830, married 
November 4, 1855, Almira, daughter of John and Anna Allison, of 
Weathersfield. She was born November 23, 1836. Her father, born 
in Dublin, N. H,, February 26, 1790, married, first, Jerusha Sweet, of 
Hanover, N. H., born January i, 1824, died July 23, 1829, and had 
three children, viz.: Boliver, James Stockwell, and Jerusha. He mar- 
ried, second, Mrs. Anna Mann, nee Porter, of Bradford, February, 1832. 
She was born December 16, 1800. The five children by this union 
were Lutetia, John Q., Almira, De Forest, and Cynthia Ann. Only one 
of the former and all of the latter set of children are living. Her father, 
Allison, died July 29, 1863; her mother died February 20, 1845. ^^' 
bert and Almira Weston have had one child, John Albert, born Decem- 
ber 31, 1856, died August 30, 1870. Upon the death of his father Al- 
bert came into joint possession, with his brother Horace, of the home 
farm in Windsor, and until 1 871 carried it on together. He then sold 
his interest to his brother. In 1885 he purchased the Stoughton man- 
sion in Windsor village, and has resided there ever since. Mr. and Mrs. 
Weston have spent their last eight winters in the South and California. 
They are members of the All Souls church at Windsor. Horace Wes- 
ton, born in Springfield, October 31, 1835, was eighteen years of age 
when his father moved to Windsor. He received his education in the 
common schools of Springfield, and fitted for college in the Wesleyan 
Seminary of that place, but decided not to take a college course. As 
before stated, he became sole owner of the large home farm in Windsor, 



Biographical. 821 



and in addition thereto has purchased land in the town of Weathers- 
field amounting to 700 acres. He is one of the most extensive farmers 
in the region. He represented Windsor in the Legislature in 1872—73, 
was selectman seventeen years, fifteen years in succession, town lister 
thirteen years, and justice of the peace twenty years. He married De- 
cember 6, 1859, Sarah C , daughter of George and Susan (Wait) Dake. 
Mrs. Weston was born December 18, 1838, in Windsor. They have 
three children living, viz.: George D., born August 9, i860, a graduate 
of Dartmouth College, in class of 1884, studied medicine, and received 
his diploma from the Medical Department of the Philadelphia University, 
and is now practicing his profession in Fort Payne, Ala.; Fred H., born 
April 7, 1S63, was graduated from Dartmouth in 1885, is now head 
clerk for Joseph Whitcomb & Co , in Springfield, Mass.; Charles A., 
born October 19, 1873, a student in the High School at Windsor. 



DAVIS, Hon. GH.BERT A., was born in Chester, Vt, December 18, 
1835. He descends tiie fifth generation from WilHam Davis, of 
Ro.xbury, Mass., born in England in 1617. His son, Jacob, the fourth 
child of eight children, born in Ro.xbury, September 17, 1742, married, 
October 30, 1764, Dorothy Baker of Dediiam, Mass. Stephen, the 
eldest of eight children of Jacob, born in Ro.xbury, March 20, 1765, 
died March, 1821. He married Martha Tileston, and had eight chil- 
dren, of whom Asa, father of Gilbert A., born in Roxbury, August 22, 
1789, married, October 12, 1815, Mary Hosmer, born in Chester, Vt, 
March 21, 1799, daughter of Amos and Sibbel (Parker) Hosmer, who 
came to Chester from Concord, Mass. They had children as follows : 
Charles L., Martha T., and Gilbert A. Asa Davis came to Chester, Vt., 
in 18 1 2, and died in Reading, January 13, 1873, at the home of his son. 
He was a hatter hy trade. His wife died in Chester, March 22, 1872. 
Gilbert A. received his education in the district school and at the Ches- 
ter Academy. When fifteen years of age he commenced teaching 
school in Vermont, and in 1852 went to New Jersey, where for four 
years he taught in Port Colden and Belvidere, in Warren county, and 
at Mount Pleasant, in Hunterdon county. When in Belvidere he began 



822 HisTOHY OF Windsor County. 



the study of law with the Hon. J. G. Shipman, a prominent lawyer of 
the latter place. Upon his return to Chester he continued the study 
with the lion. William Rounds, of that place. In 1858-59 he studied 
in the office of Washburn & Marsh, at Woodstock, Vt., and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in the May term of the latter year in his native county. 
He remained with Washburn & Marsh until March, i860. He then set 
tlen at Felchville, in Reading, where he first opened a law office, remain- 
ing there until June, 1879, when he removed to Windsor, where he has 
since resided, but has always kept a branch office at Felchville, where 
he has had a large clientage. Mr. Davis has been identified politically 
with the Republican party, and often a member of the county and 
State conventions. In 1858 and in 1861 he was assistant clcik of the 
House of Representatives, being assigned to the dut\of making up the 
grand list. He was Register of the Probate Court of the District of 
Windsor, Vt., from December 1, 1864, to February, 1869. In addition 
to numerous minor offices he was town superintendent of schools, town 
agent, and auditor of Reading for ten consecutive years, represented the 
town of Reading in the State Legislature in 1872-74 and 1874-76, 
serving on Committee on Education, of which he was chairman at the 
latter session ; was State Senator in 1876-78, serving as chairman of the 
Committee on Education, and on the Judiciary, and State's Attorney 
for Windsor county from December i, 1878, to December i, 1880. By 
appointment of Governor Peck he compiled the " School Laws of Ver- 
mont" in 1875, and compiled and published the " History of Reading" 
in 1874, a publication requiring much patient research, and by it has 
been gathered many facts of iocal interest. He delivered the oration 
at the centennial celebration of the settlement of Reading, in 1872, and 
was also orator on the occasion of the centennial celebration of the 
adoption of the constitution and the name of the State, held at Wind- 
sor, August 9, 1877. He was a delegate from Vermont to the Anti 
Saloon Conference held at Chicago in 1887, serving on the Committee 
on Credentials, and was acting delegate from Vermont at the Chicago 
Republican Convention in 1888. He has been identified actively with 
the public improvements in Windsor; was one of the commissioners to 
put in the water-works, and was trustee of the village in 1889-90; is a 



Biographical. 823 



director of the Windsor Electric Light Co., and the president, treasurer, 
director, and the largest stockholder in the Windsor Machine Company, 
a successful enterprise established in 1888, and is the largest resident 
taxpayer. He has a large and carefully selected law library, and has 
been a diligent student both of professional and miscellaneous topics. 
He has had with him from time to time young men who have pursued 
the study of the law under his supervision. Few men have been more 
often called upon to act as administrator, executor, guardian, trustee. 
His legal practice has taken a wide range in the courts of Ver- 
mont and New Hampshire, and in the United States courts, and before 
the Pension and Treasury Departments at Washington. His Vermont 
Supreme Court practice commenced in 1864, with the case of Town vs. 
Lamphere, reported 37 Vt, 52, February term, 1864, and cases with 
which he has been connected as counsel are to be found in every volume 
of Vermont reports since, and his briefs show careful study and prepa- 
ration. Mr. Davis is a member of the Congregational church at Wind- 
sor, its clerk, and Sabbath-school superintendent since 1881, one of its 
prudential committee, and has ever been ready to do whatever he could 
to promote its interests, to aid other churches of the Congregational 
faith, and when residing at Reiding was for many years the superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school there. He has for many years been an 
officer of the Vermont Historical Society, and taken an active interest 
in the preservation of the materials which go to make up the source of 
the history of the State and the towns and county where he has resided. 
He was a delegate to the Triennial Congregational Council held in Wor- 
cester, Mass., in 1889. He is a member of the Vermont Commandery, 
Knights Templar. Mr. Davis was married, April 13, 1862, by the Rev. 
J. r. Hanna, in the Methodist church at Turner. Du Page county. 111., 
to Delia I., daughter of Lemuel and Mary A. (Weaver) Bolles. Mrs. 
Davis was born in Grafton, Vt., January 13, 1840. They have had four 
children, viz: Charles Esek, born at Reading, January lO, 1864, died 
at Turner, III, August 24, 1865 ; George Gilbert, born at Reading, 
December 7, 1866, died at Reading, September 5, 1868 ; Mary Isabella, 
born at Reading, July i, 1872, a graduate of Windsor High School, 
now a member of the Freshman class of Smith College, Northampton, 



824 lIisTOKY OK Windsor County. 

Mass.; and Gilbert Franklin, born at Reading, June 19, 1877, living at 
liomc. For many years Mr. Uavis has been active in the cause of 
temperance, having been frequently a speaker at temperance meetings, 
a member andofficer of temperance organizations, the Sons of Temper- 
ance and I. O of G. T., and twice has been elected a delegate from Ver- 
mont to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars, but has 
each time been prevented by business from attending the session. 



t^IELD, Hon. ABNER. The Field family was first settled in Wind- 
sor county by Pardon I"'ield. He was burn at Cranston, R. I., April 
13, 1 76 1, and was the son of James, who was the son of Jeremiah. He 
became a resident of Chester, Vt., between 1784-88. He married Eliza- 
beth Williams, who was descended from Roger Williams, being of the 
fifth sreneration. Their children were Hannah, who married John Kib- 
bling ; Lydia, married Robert Field ; James; Jeremiah; Abner; Joseph; 
Sarah, married Stephen Austin; Welcome; Elizabeth; and Pardon- 
The pioneer of the family died October 28, 1842 Our subject was born 
in Chester, November 28, 1793. His education was limited to the com- 
mon schools of his native town. When twenty-two years of age he 
commenced his mercantile life by entering the store of Peter Adams, on 
" East Hill," in the town of Andover, where he remained seven years. 
He then returned to his native town and engaged in trade with Nathan- 
iel Fullerton. In 1831 he removed to North Springfield and formed a 
co-partnership with Sylvester Hurke, and opened the store now occupied 
by his son. He continued business at this point till about 1845. It was 
through his instrumentality that a post-office was established at North 
.Springfield, and he was appointed the first postmaster. He was one of 
the incorporators of the Windsor County Mutual Fire Insurance Com- 
pany, of the Springfield Savings Bank, and of the Bank of Black River, 
being for a number of years president of the latter institution. In poli- 
tics he was originally a Whig, and on the organization of the Republican 
party became one of its members. In 1835 and 1837 he represented 
Springfield in the General Assembly, and was Senator from Windsor 



Biographical. 825 



county in 1842-43. He was regarded as a man of good judgment, with 
the courage to express his own opinions as well as to form them. Mr. 
Field married, February 16, 1832, Louisa, daughter of Daniel and 
Annah Lenthal (Ames) Griswold. She was born in Springfield, Decem- 
ber 5, 1807. They had four children, all of whom were born in Spring- 
field, viz.: Walbridge Abner ; Cordelia Louisa, died at eight years of 
age; Fred Griswold ; and Isadore L., wife of Durant J. Boynton, of 
Springfield. Abner died December 19, 1864. 

Walbridge A. Field, the eldest son of Abner, was born April 26, 1833, 
graduated from Dartmouth College in 1855, having attended the pre- 
paratory school at Perkinsville, Springfield Wesleyan Academy at 
Springfield, and Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N. H. He served 
as a tutor at Dartmouth College for two years, attended Harvard Law 
School, and studied law with Hon. Harvey Jewell, of Boston, Mass., 
was a member of the Boston City Council, and assistant United States 
District Attorney for Massachusetts, under Richard H. Dana, jr. In 
1869, during General Grant's administration, he was assistant attorney- 
general of United States, under Attorney- General E. R. Hoar, and 
resigned that position to practice law in Boston ; was member of the 
law firm of Jewell, Gaston & Field, afterwards Jewell, Field & Shepard. 
In 1876 he received the certificate of election of representative from the 
Third Congressional District of Massachusetts, but the seat was con- 
tested, and was finally decided against him, but he was returned from 
that district in 1878. At the expiration of his term in Congress in 1880 
Governor John D. Long appointed him one of the justices of the Massa- 
chusetts Supreme Court, and in 1890 he was elevated to the position of 
chief justice, which position he now holds. Judge Field married, Oc- 
tober 4, 1869, Miss Ellen Eliza McLoon, of Rockland, Me., by whom 
he had two daughters, viz.: Eleanor Louise and Elizabeth Lenthal. 
His wife died March 8, 1877, and in 1882 lie married Miss Frances Far- 
well, of Rockland, Me. Fred G., the youngest son of Abner, was born 
January i, 1842. He is a merchant engaged in business at North 
Springfield. He represented Springfield in the Legislature of 1870 and 
1872, and was Senator from Windsor county in 1880. He married, July 
2, 1872, Miss Anna M. Tarbell, of Cavendish, Vt. They have two chil- 
dren, viz.: Fred Tarbell, born December 24, 1876, and Bertha Isadore. 

.104 



826 History of Windsor County. 



ROBBINS, CHARLES, was bom in Chester, April 20, 1818, and is 
the eldest son of Pliileinon and Patty (Duncan, nee Carter) Robbins, 
He finished his education at the age of fifteen j-ears, having only attended 
the district schools of his native town He then engaged in the mercan- 
tile business, being employed by Cummi;igs & Manning, of Ludlow, Vt, 
He remained with tiiis firm two years, and was employed the two fol- 
lowing years by William Marsli. of Cuttingsville, Vt Returning to Ches- 
ter he was for a year in the employ of Sherwin & Richardson, who had 
a general store on the North street. By the advice of physicians he 
gave up indoor work, and in 1840 commenced driving stage on the mail 
route detween Boston and Burlington, which he followed until Decem- 
ber, 1846. He married, November 27, 1846, Miss Elizabeth Hicks, but 
there was no issue from this marriage. After his marriage Mr. Robbins, 
in company with George Orcutt, became proprietor of the P'ranklin 
House in Rutland, Vt. In less than a year he sold his interest to his 
partner and purchased and ran what is now the Bomosecn House in 
Castleton, Vt. After running the latter hotel for a year he sold it, and 
till December, 1849, drove stage between Rutland and Middlebury. 
The Rutland and Burlington Railroad being at this time put in operation 
Mr Robbins was appointed station agent at Cuttingsville, Vt., where he 
remained eighteen months, and in May, 185 1, was appointed station 
agent at Chester, which position he filled till May, 1856. He then ac- 
cepted the position of station agent at Kewanee, 111., a station on the 
C. B. and Q. Railroad. He remained West till April, i86o, when he 
returned to Chester and became a clerk in his brother's store, where he 
remained till March, 1873, when he was elected town clerk and treas- 
urer. Mr. Robbins filled these positions till 1888, when he positivel\- 
refused a re-election. He was assistant postmaster at Chester Depot 
from 1873 to 1876, and from the latter date, til! he resigned in 1890, 
postmaster ; he has also been a notary public for seventeen years. 



ROBBINS, PHILEMON H., was born in Chester, July 25, 1825, and 
is the youngest son of Philemon and Patty (Duncan, iiee Carter) 
Robbins. llis father was born in .Sterling, Mass., in 1783 and came to 
Chester from Templeton, Mass., in 1806. He married for his first wife 



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>^^yt^^ 



z^/V 



Biographical. 827 



Lucy Sawyer and they had five children: Hannah and Orrick L., both 
died single ; Otis died in Cavendish without issue ; Lucy (deceased) 
married D. H. Onion ; and Sophia died single at the age of sixty-seven 
years. He married, second, Mrs. Patty Duncan, nee Carter. Their 
children were Charles, James, died single, and Philemon H. The elder 
Philemon was a harness-maker by trade, but in 1819 opened a hotel on 
the North street, which he ran for twenty-seven years. Our subject 
received a common school education, also attended the Chester Academy, 
but at the age of fifteen was obliged to leave school, his father having 
become paralyzed, and from this time till he was of age he had the sole 
charge of his father's business. Upon reaching his maturity he com- 
menced his mercantile life and entered the employ of Joshua C. Dana, 
who carried on a general store in Chester. He was in Mr. Dana's em- 
ploy for one year, after which he was clerk in William Marsh's store at 
Cuttingsville, Vt. Owing to the failure of Mr. Marsh our subject was 
only four months in his employ and for the next two years and eight 
months worked for Jones & Dow, who succeeded William Marsh at 
Cuttingsville. In 1850 Mr. Robbins in company with his brother-in- 
law, Charles C. Holden, under firm name of Robbins & Holden, pur- 
chased Messrs. Jones & Dow's interest in the Cuttingsville store. They 
continued business till 1854, when they purchased a stock of goods of 
Brown & Gleason and associated with them as partner x^ustin P. Storey, 
the firm being Robbins, Holden & Co. This firm was dissolved in 1857 
and on April 15th of the following year Mr. Robbins retired to his native 
town. At this time there was but one mercantile house at Chester 
Depot, and Mr. Robbins then built his present store-room and engaged 
in the hardware, iron, steel, flour, grain and grocery business. He con- 
tinued business alone till 1863, when he formed a partnership with 
George D. Barton, the firm name being Robbins & Barton. This firm 
was dissolved in 1865, when Mr. Robbins was alone for a few months, 
and in the same year he formed a partnership with Frederick W. Marsh, 
the firm being Robbins & Marsh. This partnership continued till April 
I, 1888, when Mr. Marsh's interest was purchased by the senior mem- 
ber of the firm. The original store has been enlarged from time to time 
so that it is now I 20 x 28 feet, the front of the building being in addition 



828 History of Windsor County. 

twelve feet wider than the back. A store-room 30 x 80 feet is also 
located on the side of the railroad track. A two-story building 30 x 30 
feet is used for the sale of agricultural implements. Mr. Robbins's trade 
is not confined to Chester, but e.xtends over a radius of thirty miles. He 
carries the largest stock of blacksmitii supplies of any retail house in the 
State. His assortment of bar iron is not equaled by any competing 
house in Vermont. Mr. Robbins does some jobbing trade, but is mostly 
confined to retailing, and the fixtures of the retail department of his 
store are not excelled in any of the cities of Vermont. Mr. fvobbins, 
politically, is a Republican and has never been an aspirant for official 
honors. He has been a member of the Universalist church for over 
twenty years. He married November 16, 1853, Martha H., daughter 
of Harry and Elizabeth Green (Spencer) Holden. She was born in 
Shrewsbury, Vt , January 16, 1832. They have two children : Charles 
O., born March 4, i860, was educated at Goddard Seminary, Barre, 
Vt., and married Alice Weston of Westficld, Mass., and is engaged in 
the hardware business at Brattleboro, Vt; and Martha Elizabeth, born 
January II, 1865, is the wife of h'rank J. .Smith, of Chester Depot. 



HARLOW, Colonel HIRAM, was born in Rockingham, Vt, Octo- 
ber 16, 1 8 10, the oldest in a family of four children of William and 
Margaret (Campbell) Harlow. His father was twice married. He mar- 
ried, first, Margaret Campbell, and had children as follows : Hiram ; 
Amelia was the wife of Urbane Britton, of Springfield, Vt.; George died 
in Neenah, Wis.; and John died in New York city. He married, second, 
Amelia Fling and had eight children, viz.: Lucia, Alvord, Horace, 
Frank, Susan, Henry, Mary, and Ellen. William died in Windsor, his 
first wife in Rockingham, his second in Windsor. Colonel Harlow, as 
he was familiarly known, losing his mother when six years of age, lived 
with his grandfather, Campbell, until he was nineteen years of age. He 
then went to Springfield, where he learned the millwright trade, which 
he followed there for a few years, then purchased a farm and carried it 
on until 1845, when he was elected superintendent of the Vermont 
State prison, which necessitated his removal to Windsor. He had, 



Biographical. 829 



while a resident of Springfield, taken an active part in public affairs, and 
represented that town in the Legislature in 1843-44 and 1845. He 
held the office of superintendent of the State prison eighteen years. 
This position was at first an arduous and trying one. Under his ad- 
ministration all of the affairs of the institution were systematized, and 
thenceforth conducted with that vigor, efficiency and integrity which 
characterized all his business transactions. He was widely and favor- 
ably known in business and political circles, and was repeatedly called 
to positions of trust and honor, not only by his townsmen, but by his 
county and State. He served in the Legislature as representative from 
Windsor in 1849, 1850 and 1851, and again in 1859. He was elected 
to the State Senate in 1866, and declined a nomination in 1857. In 
1884 he was chosen one of the electors-at large in the presidential can- 
vass. He was much interested in municipal affairs, and his judgment 
could be and was relied upon as to the best management of all public 
affairs. For twenty- two years he served as selectman, and to his pru 
dence and sagacity much is due for the excellent condition of the 
town's finances. He was closely identified with many of the business 
interests of Windsor, and to him the village is chiefly indebted for the 
aqueduct, gas works, and other public improvements. He was deeply 
interested in the new cemetery, the land for which he presented to the 
town, and which, through his own generous contribution and earnest 
solicitations, has been so far improved and beautified. Upon the resig- 
nation of the Hon. Allen Wardner as president of the Ascutney National 
Hank, Colonel Harlow was chosen president, which office he acceptably 
filled till the bank went into voluntary liquidation. Later he was elected • 
president of the Windsor National Bank, which office he held at the time 
of his decease. He was also president of the Jones-Lamson Machine 
Company and the Ascutney Cemetery Association. His high sense of 
honor and strict integrity inspired tiie fullest confidence of all with whom 
his business relations brought him in contact. Universally esteemed he 
deservedly occupied the high position he held in the community. Col- 
onel Harlow died at his home in Windsor, July 26, 1886. On the oc- 
casion of his funeral all places of business were closed, and many people 
from neighboring towns joined with the residents of the place in paying 



830 History of Windsor County. 

the last token of respect to the deceased. Colonel Harlow married, 
March 23, 1835, Rachel S., daughter of Jeremiah and Sally (Farrar) Ab- 
bott. Mrs. Harlow was born in Springfield, Vt., August 24, 1 81 3. Her 
paternal ancestor in this country was George Abbott, who emigrated 
from Yorkshire, England, about 1638, was among the first settlers of 
Andover, Mass., and died in 1657. Her grandfather, Jeremiah Abbott, 
married Susan Baldwin, of Tevvksbury, Mass., August 19, 1768, and had 
nine children, of whom her father, Jeremiah, the eldest son, was born 
February 26, 1772. lie married Sally Farrar in May, 1800. The 
latter was born April 17, 1775, died June i, 1819. Jeremiah Abbott, 
her father, died in Springfield, Vt., October, 1850. 



HAZELTON, DANIEL W., M. D., of Springfield, was born in Heb- 
ron, N. H., May 11, 1824, being the eighth child in a family of 
nine children, of Daniel and Mary (Walker) Hazelton. He had an aca- 
demical course of study in his native town, and commenced the study of 
medicine with Dr. Gilman Kimball of Lowell, Mass. He graduated 
from the Vermont Medical College, at Woodstock, Vt, in 1848. The 
following year he was appointed house physician of one of the city in- 
stitutions of Boston, then located at South Boston, now on Deer Isle. 
He first started for himself in his chosen profession in 1850, at Antrim, 
N. H., remaining there three years, when he was obliged to relinquish 
his practice for a year owing to ill-health. In 1855 he located at Stod- 
dard, N. H., where he practiced till the spring of 1857, when he re- 
moved to Cavendish, Vt. He remained at the latter place till 1878, 
when he removed to Springfield, where he is now located. In the fall 
of 1 861 a large amount of sickness was prevalent among the troops of 
the First Vermont Brigade, and Dr. Hazelton was commissioned by 
Governor Holbrook, and ordered to report to the general of that brig- 
ade, which was then attached to the Army of the Potomac. Though 
never mustered into the United States' service Dr. Hazelton at different 
times during the war was engaged on the field of action During the 
illness of the surgeon of the Fourth Vermont he occupied the position of 
surgeon in that regiment. He was present at the battles of the W'ikler- 



Biographical. 831 



ness, Cold Harbor and several others that took place in Virginia. He is a 
member of the State and Connecticut River Medical Associations. Dr. 
Hazelton married LauretteH. Hammond, and has one child, William F., 
born in Cavendish, Vt., January 5, i860, who fitted for college at the 
Vermont Academy at Sa.\ ton's River, Vt., after which he studied medi- 
cine with his father, and attended the University of Vermont one year, 
graduating in 1884 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New 
York city, where he had been two years. He was on the house staff at 
the Bellevue Hospital, New York, eighteen months, and is now engaged 
in business with his father. 



GUERNSEY. Rev. GEORGE SMITH, was born in Westminster, 
VVindliam county, Vt., December 30, 1818. Amos, his grand- 
father, was born in Richmond, N. H., April 9, 1768, and married, first, 
August 30, 1789, Abigail Bolls. On the 9th of March following he 
moved from Richmond and settled in Westminster, Vt., and here five 
children were born. They were Lucy, born October 30, 1791, married 
Jedutham Russell, and died at Saxton's River ; Reuben, father of George 
S.; Eunice, born Marcli 12, 1797, died in Pittsfield, Vt; Phebe and 
Simeon both died in infancy. Abigail, his wife, died June 30, 1801. 
Amos married, second, March 13, 1803, Mrs. PLlizabeth Kittridge, ncc 
Eaton, and by this marriage there were five children, viz.: Willard and 
Wilder, twins ; Allen and Deborah, twins ; and Corrinna C. Amos died 
August 21, 1841, in Westminster, aged 73 years. Reuben above, born 
October 18, 1 793, married Achsah Smith, eldest daughter of George 
and Eurania Smith, of Westminster, Vt.. born June 21, 179S, and had 
thirteen children, four of whom died in infancy. Those who grew to 
adult age were Lorinda, the wife of Ransom R. Farnsworth, and died at 
Sa.Kton's River, aged 52 years; George S.; Amos F., blacksmith, lives 
in Pittsfield, Vt., and married Lucy C, daughter of Daniel and Lucy 
Abbott, of Stockbridge, Vt.; Lucy J., the wife of Jonathan H. Ranney, 
a farmer of Pittsfield, Vt.; Lucinda, widow of Norman Durkee, lives in 
Bethel, Vt.; Moses R., died in Barton, Vt., aged 24 years; Lora Ann, 
was the wife of Charles S. Mason, of Ludlow, and died September 16, 
1 864, aged 3 I years ; Lorilla, the wife of A. E. Baker, a farmer of Stock- 



832 History of Windsor County. 

bridge; Ransom A., married Adelaide Brown, of Stockbridge, and is a 
coal merchant living in Hudson, Mass. Reuben, in the fall of 1834, 
with his family, moved from Westminster to Pittsfield, Rutland county, 
Vt., and bought the farm wliere he died, October 14, 1878, aged eighty- 
five. Achsah, his wife, died March 3, 1875, aged seventy nine. George 
S. prepared for college at Burr Seminary, Manchester, Vt., and at the 
Liberal Institute, Lebanon, N. H., and was assistant teacher in the for- 
mer and associate principal in the latter. He taught school six years, 
common and select, in Rochester, Vt, and vicinity, and had students in 
his family for private instruction for many years. Instead of entering 
college he entered the ministry, preaching his first sermon in Roch- 
ester on the third Sunday in August, 1843, and in the spring of 
1844 became the settled pastor of the UniversaHst parish in said town, 
and occupied that position .sixteen years. During his pastorate, and 
mainly through his influence, their present house of worship was built, 
being dedicated February 6, 1850, the pastor preaching the dedicatory 
sermon. Mr. Guernsey received the fellowship of the Vermont State 
Convention of Universalists at its session in Plainfield in August, 1843, 
and was ordained by a council held in Rochester, March 6, 1844. And 
while he has made Rochester his permanent home, he has filled the pul- 
pits of his denomination at nearly fifty different places, and some of them 
for many years. He married, first, November 26, 1844, Elizabeth R., 
daughter of Samuel and Anna (Merrifield) Eaton, born in Westminster, 
Vt., March 23, i 824. They have two sons, George RoUa, born Ma)- 1 1 . 
1846, married, January 26. 1870, Susie B., daughter of Cclim E. and 
Emmalissa E. (Chamberlain) I'rench, of Barnard, Vt. They have one 
son, George French, and live in Windsor, Vt. Frank Eaton, born June 
7, 1855, married, September 19, 1889, Louisa Frank, and lives in Cleve- 
land, Ohio. Mrs. Guernsey died December 5, 1863, aged thirty-nine. 
Mr. Guernsey married, second, January 26, 1865, Mrs. Elmira Lamb, 
nee Steele, born January 22, 1833, in Roxbury, Vt., daughter of Israel 
and Ervilla Steele. Mr. Guernsey was town superintendent of schools 
for many years, and postmaster 12 years under the administrations of 
Presidents Pierce, Buchanan, Johnson and Cleveland. He has been an 
active member of I. O. O. F. for forty years. He has officiated at 553 



Biographical. 833 



funerals, and married 648 persons, and was secretary of the Vermont 
State Convention of Univeisalists for nine years. He now lives in the 
same house he moved into forty -seven years ago. 



SANDERS, COLEMAN, was born in Windsor, Vt, October 2, 1820, 
and was the eldest child in a family of eight children of Levi and 
Betsey (Lewis) Sanders. His father was a shoemaker by trade and 
was a native of Weathersfield, Vt. He removed to his native town 
when Coleman was five years of age and carried on a farm in connec- 
tion with his trade. Our subject attended the local schools, also the 
Perkinsville Academy, and on becoming of age was employed as clerk 
in a general store at Perkinsville, where he remained two years. He 
then went to Claremont, N. H., and worked three years for William 
Farwell, and afterward one year for Jonathan Chase, of Springfield. In 
1848 he came to Chester and was for four years clerk in F. E. Fuller- 
ton's store. In the spring of 1852 he formed a partnership with 
David Gray under the firm name of Gray & Sanders, and opened a 
store on the South street, and in the fall of the same year they removed 
to what is now Chester Depot. The store-room, now occupied by his 
son, was built for them and was the first building, except the depot, 
that was erected at Chester Depot. This firm continued business for 
two years, when Mr. Gray's interest was bought by Mr. Sanders. The 
latter continued the business alone till 1873, e.xcepting that Charles 
Heald was his partner for one year and Horace Parmenter for one year. 
After his retirement from business Mr. Sanders carried on a farm until 
his death. In politics a Republican, he was called upon by his fellow 
citizens, at different times, to fill the office of selectman. In his religious 
belief he was an Episcopalian. On May 27, 1847, he married Celinda, 
daughter of Elias and Mehitable (Marcy) Hoadley. Her father was a 
native of Massacluisetis, her mother of New Hampshire. She was born 
in Martland, Vt., June 6, 1828. The)' had four children, all natives of 
Chester, viz : Coleman H., born April 24, 1849, married P. Ellen Car- 
penter and has two children, viz.: Roy L. and Emily ; Ella C, born 
10.5 



834 History of Windsor County. 

September 2, 185 i, died September 3, 1854; Willie F., born April 12, 
1856, married Ella Sawyer, resides at Winchester, N. H.; and Cora, 
born August 31, 1862, is the wife of Henry W. Brownell, of Chester. 
Mr. Sanders died August 17. 1888. 



GILLETTE, DANIEL O. This gentleman traces his descent back 
to one Joliii Gillette, one of the fifty- one charter proprietors of 
Lebanon, Conn. He had a son Jolin, who married Abigail, daughter of 
Stephen and Elizabeth (Woodward) Lee. They had several children, 
among whom was Ebenezer, born June 5, 1705. He was one of the 
charter proprietors of Hartford, Vt., and received as his share in the first 
division lot No. 16, lying on the Connecticut River north of White River. 
He never became a resident of 1 larlford, but made subsequent purciiases, 
which he afterwards deeded to his sons, John and Israel. He married, 
September 23, 1730, Mary, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Wright) 
Ordway. She was born August 16, 1712. They had children as fol- 
lows : Israel, Rhoda, Ezekiel, John, Mary, Isaac, Rebecca, Ebenezer, 
and Jacob. He died October 19, 1776; his wife September 4, 1791. 
Israel, of the above family, was born September 17, 1738, and married, 
first, January 8, 1761, Martha, daughter of William and Elizabeth 
Thrope, of Lebanon, Conn. She was born May 17, 1739, and died 
July 4, 1763, leaving one child, Daniel Ordway, born in Lebanon, Conn., 
March 23, 1762, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1787, went 
West and there died in 1823. He married, second, November 15, 1764, 
Susanna Durkee, of Woodbury, Conn. Their children were: Martha, 
born in Lebanon, Conn, Sc]Jtcmber 21, 1765, married, December 9, 
1802, David Haze, and was accidentally drowned in the Connecticut 
River, June 17, 1833; Roger, born in Lebanon, August 6, 1767, died 
in Hartford; Susanna, born January 31, 1769, died December 18, 1779; 
Mary, born July 22, 1770, married, October 19, 1809, John Smith, of 
Hanover, N. H.; Ebenezer, born June 27, 1772, died April 24, 1859; 
Abel, born May 17, 1774, died May 15, 1852; Israel; Rhoda, born 
April 17, 1778, died October 23, 1780 ; Jacob, born March 9, 1780, 
died in 1866; and Susanna R , born September 4, 1783, married John 



Biographical. 835 



Smith, of Hanover, N. H. Israel moved from Lebanon, Conn., to 
Hartford, Vt., about 1768, and first settled in the immediate vicinity of 
the villatje of Olcott. He built and lived in the house now occupied by 
his grandson, Daniel O., where he died July 8, 1829. His wife died 
July 26, 1821. He participated largely in the affairs of the town, was 
selectman from 1769 to 1771, one of the Committee of Safety in 1777, 
took an active part in military matters and was a lieutenant. Israel, son 
of Lieutenant Israel, born April 7, 1776, married Mary Sanborn, of 
Haverhill, N. H. She was born May 12, 1779. He was a farmer in 
Hartford. His children were: Elizabeth S., born September 21, 1801, 
married Edward P. Harris; Nathan, born September 18, 1803, died in 
Hartford, July 15, 1878; Justus, born April 12. 1806, died December 
22, 1845 ; Martin S., born June 26, l8oS ; Athela, born July 17, 1810, 
married Jedediah Sprague ; Nancy M., born February 27, 18 13, married 
Albert Buel ; John, born in 1815, died aged twenty-four years; Mary, 
born January 15, 1817, married Wolcbtt Hatch; Cummings, born in 
1821, died in Michigan when twenty-one years old; and Daniel O. 
Israel died January 5, 1835; his wife February 29, 1856. Daniel O., 
the youngest of the above family, was born March 21, 1819, and mar- 
ried, September 20, 1843, Julia ^-i daughter of Jacob B. C. and Susan 
(Loveland) Burton. She was born October 23, 1821, and died October 
21, 1873, leaving two children, Susan A., born October 8, 1850, married, 
November 29, 1879, Charles C, son of John and Julia A. (Heath) Kins- 
man. He was born July 30, 1852. They have children as follows: 
Harry G., born January 16, 1881 ; Julia B., born February 28, 1884; 
Belle H., born August 10, 1885 ; and Lawrence C, born June 11. 1888. 
Bennie Burton, born July 21, 1865, graduated from Dartmouth in 1888, 
an organist and teacher of music in Boston. Daniel O. is a farmer and 
extensive landowner, resides on the old homestead, was selectman from 
1858-65, and is a public spirited, hospitable and worthy citizen. 



FLETCHER, Hon. RYLAND, the youngest child of Dr. Asaph 
Fletcher, was born in Cavendish, February iS, 1799. His early 
opportunities for an education were limited to the common schools of 



836 History of Windsor County. 

his native town and a brief attendance upon the military academy of 
Captain Alden Partridge, at Norwich, Vt. At the age of seventeen he 
taught the winter terms of school for five years, the rest of the year being 
spi.-nt in laboring upon his father's farm. He early took a great interest 
in the militia of the State, and at his first appearance for parade was 
chosen a sergeant in the militia company in his native town. He was 
then eighteen years of age. The following year he was made a lieu- 
tenant, and two years afterwards a captain. In December, 1826, he was 
commissioned a major, in July, 1828, a lieutenant-colonel, and in No- 
vember, 1830, colonel of his regiment. He attained the rank of brig- 
adier-general in November, 1835, which position he filled a year, when 
he resigned. In early days of temperance and temperance legislation 
he became an active worker in the cause. He became prominently 
known in his native State, and also abroad, for his positive opinions on 
the questions of slavery and temperance ; and was a co-laborer with Gar- 
rison, Phillips, Birney, Slade and other prominent agitators for freedom 
of the slave, being actively engaged in the cause from 1837 until Abra- 
ham Lincoln proclaimed that slavery was no more. In politics Gover- 
nor Metcher was an active Whig, but became identified with the Free 
Soil party, and in 1854 received the nomination as lieutenant governor 
on the coalition of the Whig and Free Soil parties in Vermont. He was 
elected lieutenant-governor in 1854 and 1855, and in 1856 governor, 
holding the latter position two years. At the time of the election of 
Governor Fletcher as the chief executive of the State the law requir- 
ing the enrolled militia to do military duty, excepting in cases of insur- 
rections and wars, had been repealed for more than fifteen years. The 
State had ceased to make apjiropriations for the support of the militia, 
and the uniformed companies had one by one disbanded, so in 1856 
there had not been for ten years a semblance of a military organization. 
Governor Fletcher, having the foresight to see that slavery was bound 
to throw the country into a civil war, also having been connected with 
the militia under the old regime, felt a strong interest in its revival. In 
the summer of 1858 an invitation was extended to the various com- 
panies in the State to muster at Brandon for inspection and review. 
Nine companies responded to this invitation, and about 450 muskets 



Biographical. 837 



were mustered on this occasion. During the second day a sham battle 
was given, the governor taking the command of the forces. This mus- 
ter generated a pubHc interest in miHtary affairs throughout the State, 
and company after company was formed, and thereby Vermont was in 
position to successfully fill her quota on the first call for troops made in 
1 86 1 by President Lincoln. Governor Fletcher, in his first message, 
speaking in regard to slavery, said as follows: " The change in the re- 
lation of slavery to the National government is total and complete. 
At first it was merely a local institution admitted to be an evil, its exist- 
ence deeply deplored and onI\- tolerated on account of the supposed 
difficulty and danger of its sudden abolition, while on the other hand its 
extension was universally depreciated and positively prohibited. Now 
it has become an aggressive and powerful principle which has taken pos- 
session of every department of the Federal government except the pop- 
ular branch of the Legislature." In the same message he recommended 
improvements and efficiency in the State militia, which were acted upon, 
also the establishing of a reform school for juvenile offenders, previously 
to this they having been consigned to the State prison as a place of con- 
finement. During his administration the State House was burned and 
he called an extra session of the Legislature, which passed the bill build- 
ing the present edifice. Governor Fletcher's administrations were noted 
for rheir economy and progress. At the close of his term of office he 
returned to Cavendish, occupying his time in farming. He became a 
member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1862 and 1863, 
and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1870. He at- 
tended two National Republican Conventions, and was a member of the 
Electoral College of 1864. Governor Fletcher married Mary Ann, 
daughter of Eleazer May, of Westminster, Vt., and had three children, 
viz.: Addison, died young; Ann May, died unmarried; and Henry 
Addison. Governor Fletcher died from a disease of the heart, Decem- 
ber 19, 18S5, loved and respected by all who knew him. 

Henry Addison Fletcher was born in Cavendish, December 1 1, 1839. 
He received his education in the common schools of his native town 
and in Chester and Ludlow Academies. He enlisted as a private in 
August, 1862, being mustered into the United States service October 



838 History ok Windsor County. 

22, 1862, as first sergeant of Company C, Sixteenth Vermont Regiment. 
He was appointed March 9, 1863, sergeant-major, and commissioned 
April 2, r863, second lieutenant of Company C ; mustered out August 
10, 1S63, on the e.xpiration of his term of enlistment. He represented 
Cavendish in the General Assembly of 1867-68, 1878-80, and 1882, 
and served on the general committee in 1878, on the revision of laws in 
1880, and as chairman of the committee on banks in 18S2 He was 
appointed by Governor Redfield Proctor aid-de-camp on his staff, with 
the rank of colonel. In 1886-87 he was one of the senators to the 
popular branch of the Legislature from Windsor county. He is the 
present lieutenant-governor of the State of Vermont, having been 
elected to that office on the Republican ticket in 1890. He resides on 
the farm which was settled by his grandfather, and follows the occu- 
pation of a farmer. 



STEELE, FRED E., M. D., of Stockbridge, son of Samuel Warren 
Steele, was born in Northfield, Vt., May 28, 1859. His gre it- 
grandfather, James, was born in New Hampshire, and moved from there 
and settled in Ro.vbuij', Vt. James, his son, born in New Hampshire, 
came to Vermont with his father, married Esther Smith and had six 
children. Samuel Warren Steele married March 10, 1857, Martha L 
Cram, who was born in Williamstown, Vt., April 15, 1838. Their fnii 
children were Clarence W., Fred E., Henry D., and Flora E. Samuel 
Warren Steele is a tinsmith by trade and resides in Northfield. Freil E., 
after attending the common schools of Northfield, was a student in the 
Northfield High School, and afterward for one year at the Norwich 
University. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. W. H. 
Mayo, of Northfield, who was his preceptor for three years. During 
that period he attended two courses of lectures at the Hahnemann Medi- 
cal College and Hospital at Chicago, and secured his diploma from that 
institution February, 1882. He has been much interested in the cause 
of education, was superintendent of schools from 1883 to 1887, and rep- 
resented the town of Stockbridge in the State Legislature in 1 890. 
The March following he located in the village of Gaysville, where he 



Biographical, 839 



has since continued in the practice of his chosen profession. He was 
united in marriage to Luna May, daughter of Josiah P. and Fanny 
(Densmore) Brooks, who was born on the 29th of August, i860. They 
have had born to them two children, namely, Fred E., who was born 
September 11, 1883; and Roy, who was born September 17, 1889, 
and died September 19, 1889. 



ROBBINS, OTIS, was born in Templeton, Mass.. June 13, 1805. He 
passed his early life in Chester, attending tlie common schools, and 
in 1822 he went to Cavendish village and became a clerk with Ingalls 
& Fletcher, they being located at the old red store in that village. The 
senior member of the above firm retiring from the business in 1827, his 
interest was purchased by Mr. Robbins and the firm became Fletcher & 
Kobbins. The death of Mr. Fletcher necessitated another change in the 
firm, and Mr. Robbins took as a partner Mr. Williams, who after a few 
years removed West, and Joseph A. White became a partner, the style 
of the firm being Robbins & White. This firm carried on business at 
Cavendish village for over forty years, and was dissolved on account of 
the death of its junior member. Mr. Robbins carried on the business till 
1 88 1, but during the latter years of his life retired from active business. 
He held the office of town clerk of Cavendish for over sixteen years, and 
during his term of office the records are exceptional specimens of pen- 
manship and neatness. Mr. Robbins was also for a number of years one 
of the board of selectmen of Cavendish. He married in 1835 Susan 
White, and there was no issue of the marriage. Mrs. Robbins died 
February 24, 1883. Mr. Robbins died at Cavendish, Vermont, on the 
7th of March, 1887. 



TAYLOR, JAMES C, was born in West Windsor, September 22, 
1845. Abram, his great-grandfather, married a Miss Davis, of 
Reading, came to West Windsor prior to 1800, located on the farm now 



840 History of Windsor County. 

owned and occupied by Charles Stearns, where he reared a family of ten 
children, nine of wliom reached adult age, viz : Levi, Simeon, Jnhn, 
Reuben, Justin, Lois, Chloe, Olive, and Sally. Abram and his wife 
died in this place, and were buried in the Sheddsville burying ground. 
West Windsor. Levi, of the above, married Sally Robinson, and after 
his marriage purchased what was then known as the Wilson place, and 
lived there until his death, which occurred October 17, 1864. His wife 
died tiiere Januarj' 20, 1879. Of his children only one is living (1890), 
viz.: Susan Maria, born April 20, 1817, widow of Jonas V. Bowers. 
She has four children living, viz : Oscar, Arietta, De Forest, and Alma. 
She resides with the latter, now Mrs E. B. Lord. James Madison, 
father of James C, born in West Windsor, August 29, 1812, was the 
only one of Levi's sons who reached adult age. He married Emelinc 
ICIvira, born January 13, 1818, daughter of Noah and Hannah (Davis) 
Cady. Upon the death of his father he came into the possession of the 
home farm, and l>uiit in 1849 the present stone farm house. He died 
there February 12, 1888 ; his wife died December 3, 1880. They had 
three children: Adelaide Ann, born March I2, 1842, married March 13, 
1864, W. H. H Ralph, farmer living in West Windsor, and has two 
children, Ktta Fmeline and Hugh Henry; James Clinton, born Septem- 
ber 22, 1845; and Albert Cady, born October 12, 1854, died July 7, 
1864. James Clinton has always lived on the farm named above, which 
came into his possession on the death of his father, consisting then of 
upwards of 200 acres, to which he has added, by purchase, lOO. He is 
a Republican in politics, and has taken an active part in the public in- 
terests of the town. He has filled the positions of lister, selectman, and 
represented the town in tiie Legislature of 1886-87, also 1890-91. In 
reHgious belief Mr. Taylor is a Universalist. He married, January 12, 
1870, Charlotte A , daughter of Bezaleel and Emily Sophia (Bagley) 
Bridge, born June 6, 1849. Of her nine brothers and sisters only two 
are living, viz.: Corodon S., a provision merchant in Boston, and George 
Colamer, farmer living in West Windsor. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have 
had five children : the eldest two died infants unnamed. Those living 
are Luna Mabel, born December 15, 1872; Guy Cady, born May 31, 
1878; and Emily Gertrude, born September 4, 1884. 



I 



'W. 




^ \ w 



y. ^. 7<^i^-^cri^ 



Biographical. 841 



WEBBER, Hon. SUMNER ALLEN, was born in Rutland, Vt, 
December 19, 1798. He was a son of Christopher Webber, who 
moved from Rutland and settled in Cavendish, Vt., where Sumner A. 
spent his boyhood. He received his education in the district school in 
Cavendish, and at the Norwich Military Academy. He studied law, and 
after being admitted to the bar commenced the practice of his profession 
in Rochester, Vt., attaining a high position as a counselor and advocate, 
ranking with the foremost men of his day in the profession. He was 
cotemporary with Judge Colamer, Hon. Andrew Tracy, and ex- Gov- 
ernors Washburn and Converse. He served two terms in the House 
of the State Legislature, and one term in the Senate. He took an act- 
ive pari in the political discussions of the day and was among the ear- 
liest advocates of the principles of the Free Soil party, and was at one 
time the candidate of that party for Congress. As a speaker he was 
logical, forcible and efifective, and was also an able writer. He was espe- 
cially regarded as a safe counselor, oftentimes to his own seeming per- 
sonal disadvantage advising a settlement of causes rather than make 
expensive litigation for his clients. In his social life he was genial and 
entertaining. His home was noted for its hospitality. He married, 
January 5, 1 83 1, Phebe J., daughter of Joseph and Phebe (Jefferson) 
Guernsey. She was born in Rochester, September 9, 1810. They had 
children as follows: an infant son, born January 21, 1832, died the 
same day; Sumner Jefferson, born June 29, 1833, died August 18, 
1834; Christopher Allen, born August 8, 1837, educated at Barre and 
West Randolph Academies, studied law with his father and practiced 
his profession in company with him until the death of the latter, and 
thereafter till his death, which occurred July, 1878; married October 16, 
1862, Julia E. Cooper, and have had three children, Eveline, La Fayette 
and Marvelle Christopher; Phebe Augusta, born January 22, 1840, 
died September 13, 1849; Adaline Electa, born October 9, 1842, 
married Dr. Frederick Langdon Morse, born July 27, 1847, son of Jo- 
seph L. and Eliza (Chandler) Morse. Dr. Morse was a graduate from 
the Medical College at Ann Arbor in 1871, and practiced his profession 
in Windsor until his death, which occurred June i r, 1888. Mrs. Morse 
keeps house for her father-in-law in Windsor. Charles Sumner, born 

106 



842 HisTOKY OF Windsor County. 

November 12, 1848, died September 24, 1849. Sumner A. Webber died 
at Rochester, May 20, 1862, and his wife died there September 29, i860. 



WALKER, Hon. WILLIAM HARRIS, of Vermont, was born in 
Windham, \^t.. February 2, 1832, and is the second son of Eph- 
raim and Lydia (Harris) Walker. His mother was a sister of the late 
Judge William Harris, for whom our subject was named. After attend- 
ing the Leland Academy of Townshend, Vt., for one term, he entered 
Black River Academy in 1852, where he remained one year. His clas- 
sical education was attained at Middlebury College, from which he grad- 
uated with full honors, and has been one of its trustees for many years, 
lie then accepted the position of principal of the Little Falls Academy 
at Little Falls, N. Y., being engaged there two years. While filling the 
above position his leisure hours were employed in studying law in the 
office of Judge Arpha.xed Loomis, a prominent attorney of Little I-"alls. 
Judge Walker came to Ludlow in the fall of i860 and completed his 
studies with Hon. F. C. Robbins, and became a member of the Windsor 
County Bar in the fall of 1861. The practice of his profession was com- 
menced in Ludlow the year he was admitted, and has been continued to 
the [present time. Judge Walker has not only been called by his towns- 
men but by the citizens of his native State to fill various positions of 
political and judicial trust. He was Assistant Secretary of the Senate in 
1857, member of the Vermont House of Representatives of 1865-66 and 
1884, member of the State Senate from Windsor county in 1867-68. 
State's Attorney in 1874-76, Supervisor of the Insane 1878-80, Probate 
ludge of Windsor District from 1878 to 18S4, and in the latter year was 
elected by the Legislature a member of the Supreme Bench, which po- 
sition he was obliged to resign in 1887 011 account of ill- health. Judge 
Walker married Ann ICliza, daughter of Dr. Ardain G. Taylor, of Lud- 
low, and has one child, Frank A. 

Walker, Frank A., was born in Londonderry, Vt., March 7, i860. 
He took an academical course at BUck River Academy ; graduated from 
Middlebury College in 1882. He studieil law with his father and Mar- 



Biographical. 843 



tin H. Goddard, became a member of the Windsor County Bar in 1886, 
and resides and practices law at Ludlow, Vt. He married Miss Jennie A. 
Leland, and has one child, Carmen. 



WARNER, HIRAM LINDSAY, was born in Mount Holly, Vt., 
July 4, 1825, and is the youngest son of Aaron and Esther 
(Pierce) Warner. His fatlier was a farmer, and our subject onl)' had the 
benefit of a common school education. Before he became of age he 
purchased a mountain covered with timber in his native town, and from 
that time till 1S64 he was engaged in lumbering and farming". In the 
latter year he enlisted in Company I, Second Vermont Regiment, and 
served till the close of the war. He then returned to his native town, 
and in tile spring of 1866 came to Ludlow and was employed by Lawson 
Dawley. at that time proprietor of the Ludlow House. He was in Mr 
Dawley's employ seven or eight months, and in 1867 he purchased a 
hotel at East Wallingford, Vt , which he carried tn about nine )ears. 
Mr. Warner then spent some months traveling in the West, but re- 
turned to Athol, Mass., and in JDecember, 1876, rented the Batchelder 
House at North Brookfield, Mass., which he ran for five years. He then 
went West again, remaining a short time, and returned to Winsted, 
Conn., and carried on the Beardsley House for about six months. In 
1882 he bought the Ludlow House, and successfully ran the same for 
five years, when he rented the property, and built a residence two miles 
from Ludlow village, and engaged in farming. Mr. Warner was a Re- 
publican in politics till 1884, in which year he voted for Grover Cleve- 
land for President, and has since affiliated with the Democrats. He was 
the first Democratic member of the Vermont House of Representatives 
ever elected from Ludlow, representing the town in 1890. He is one of 
the present selectmen of the town, and was a member of the Board of 
1889 Mr. Warner married. May, 1849, Drusilla, daughter of Ethan 
and Hannah (Dawley) Priest. She was born in Mount Holly, June 27, 
1830. They have two children: Ina L., born in Mount Holly, Au- 
gust 5, 1853, is the widow of Eugene Dickerman, and has one child, 



844 History' of Windsor County. 

Lindsay M., born in Ivast Wallingford, April 26, 1884; Irwin, born in 
Mount Holly, December 7, 1856, married Mattie Holt, and has two 
children : William L., born in North Brookfield, Mass., October 5, 1879, 
and Arthur E., born in Mount Holly, July 23, 1881. 



MACKENZIE FAMILY, THE. Among the old families of Scot- 
land were the Monros and Mackenzies. Captain David Monro, 
who was shot at the Battle of the Boyne, July i, 1690, married Mary, 
daughter of Sir John Davis, of Whitehall, Carrickfergus. They had one 
son, Joseph, who in 1695 married Elizabeth Ross of Balblain. They 
had two childien, David and Margaret. David became a distinguished 
lawyer in Edinburgh, and was a writer to the Signet. From 1720 to 
1760 he was a prominent and successful business man of Edinburgh and 
thereby was enabled to redeem his ancestral estate, which, during his 
father's life, had suffered from lawsuits and various unjust attempts that 
were made on the property. Included in his purchase was the estate of 
Mickle Allan. He died in 1767, unmarried. Margaret, the sister of 
David, married John Mackenzie, who owned corn-mills and resided near 
Inverness. Five sons were the issue of this marriage, viz.: David, Mal- 
comb, Alexander, Charles and Joseph. Charles, mentioned above, at 
the request of his uncle, David Monro, took his name and settled on the 
estate of Mickle Allan. He married, first, Mary MacLeod, daughter of 
Laird of Granils, in 1769. She died in 1800, leaving no issue, and he 
married, second, Catharine, eldest daughter of Hugh Houston, esq., of 
Craik, Sutherlandshire. They had a family of two sons and four daugh- 
ters. Charles died in 18 1 8. David, son of Charles, served for a few 
years as ensign in H. M. 76th Regiment, and married Elizabeth, only 
daughter of William Bennett, esq. Of their family of eight children, si.\ 
were sons, viz.: Charles, born in 1834, was a lieutenant in the Fourth 
Bombay Rifles, and diedjn 1855 on board the steamship Euxitie, 
and was buried in the Bay of Biscay ; William served as ensign in the 
Seventy-sixth Regiment; David, a lieutenant in the Madras StafifCorps 



Biographical. 845 



and inspector-general of Constabulary of Scotland, married Louisa, 
daughter of Hon. Charles Pelly of the Madras Civil Service ; Francis, 
captain in the Madras army, married Eugenia, daughter of Charles Mac- 
key, an officer of the Madras Civil Service, by whom he had one child, 
Archie Claude Allen Monro, born at Raipore, India, February 28, 1872, 
was adopted in 1881 by Frank S. Mackenzie, and resides in Woodstock, 
Vt.; Robert Clifford Lloyd was lost at sea in January, 1855, when a 
midshipman on the Madagascar; George Alexander Ross, lieutenant 
Fourth King's Own Regiment, died in tlie twenty-first year of his age. 
Joseph, .son of John and Margaret (Monro) Mackenzie, was born at 
Paisle)', Scotland, January 1, 1733, and married December 7, 1761, 
Elizabeth Calhoun, who was born in Edinburgh, March 23, 1744. He 
learned the weaver's trade in Edinburgh, and in June, 1775, embarked 
with his family from Greenwich, England, for America. The British at 
this time occupied Boston Harbor, and after a voyage oi sixteen weeks 
Mr. Mackenzie landed at Marblehead, Mass. He finally came to Lon- 
donderry, N. H., where he remained nine years, then removed to New 
Boston, N. H. After eight }'ears' residence at the latter place he re- 
moved to Hartland, Vt , where he died July 30, 1825 ; his wife Janu- 
ary 10, 1827. He had a family of nine children, viz.: John and David 
died in infancy; Charles, born November 29, 1768, died at Hartland, 
January 5, 1847; Peter, born July 20, 1771, died at Berlin, Vt., June 
4, 1810 ; John, born January 3, 1774, became a blacksmith, and settled 
in Woodstock, where he died July 29, 1854; Joseph; Betsey, born Sep- 
tember 22, 1779, died at Hartland, August II, 1858; Margaret, born 
March 23, 1782, died at Woodstock, March 2, 1848 ; and David, born 
November 15, 1785, died at Hartland, November 13, 1800. Joseph, 
above, born at Londonderry, N. H., August 11,1776, married Septem- 
ber 5, 1805, Mercy, daughter of George Thomas of Woodstock. Her 
father was a Revolutionary soldier, and purchased the farm now occu- 
pied by Joseph C. Mackenzie in Woodstock with Continental money re- 
ceived for his services during the war. Joseph Mackenzie came to 
Woodstock in 1799 as apprentice to his brother John, and from that 
time till his death, December 16, 1869, was a resident of the town. His 
wife died June 28, 1856, aged seventy-two years. Their children were 



846 HisTOKY OF Windsor County. 

Mary, born July 20, 1806, married Bela F. Simmons, and died in Wood- 
stock ; George T., born in 1808, married Angeline Comstock, and in 
1835 settled at Adrian, Mich,, where he died ; Joseph C. anil John 1'"., 
twins, born April 11, 1813; the former resides in Woodstock ; the latter 
died August 13, 1841 ; Justin F.; Theresa, born October 24, 1819, mar- 
ried Ransom M. Russell, and resides in Woodstock ; Harriet, born Feb- 
ruary 10, 1822, married R. C. M. Howe and resides at St. Johnsbury, 
Vt.; and Vaiucia, died in infancy. Justin F., of the above family, was 
born in Woodstock, May 5, 1816, and lived till he was eighteen years 
of age on his father's farm. In May, 1834, he emigrated West with his 
brother, locating at Adrian, Mich. The following year he returned to 
his native town, having contracted fever and ague in Michigan. In 1836 
lie was employed by Jasper Strong, at Quechee, in erecting a woolen - 
mill at that point, and with A. G. Dewey made all the leather belts b}' 
hand used in supplying the mill. Mr. Mackenzie continued to be em- 
ployed at these mills till the spring of 1838, when, owing to financial 
difficulties, they were shut down. I'Vom this time till the fall of 1839 
he had charge of the dye- house of Mallory & Co., at Quechee, and from 
the latter date till 1842 he was employed by Francis Kidder & Co., of 
Bristol. N. H., as head dyer. On account of the failure of Messrs. Kid- 
der & Co Mr. Mackenzie rcturnrd to Quechee, and for a short time 
was employed in the mills there ; but in the latter part of 1843 he ]5ur- 
chased a farm in the northwestern part of Woodstock. From this time 
till 1858 he was engaged in farming, though at dift'erent intervals he w.is 
employed in woolen mills ; from 1854 to 1858 he had charge of the dye- 
ing at the Woodward mills. In the winter of 1858 Mr. Mackenzie 
formetl a partnership with A. G. Dewey and William S. Carter, under 
the firm name of A. G. Dewey & Co., and manufactured woolens at the 
lower mill in Quechee. He retained this interest till his death, July 25, 
1889. Mr. Mackenzie married, December 26, 1842, Mary, daughter of 
lohn Dewe)'. The)- had two children, Frank S. and Charles. He re- 
moved from his farm to Quechee, where he continued to reside till the 
winter of 1869, when he came to Woodstock village, purchasing the 
property situated at the head of the park, the house having been built 
b)' the late Dr. John D. Powers. Mr. Mackenzie was largely interested 



Biographical. 847 



in the building of the Woodstock railroad, and was at the time of his 
death its vice-president. He represented Woodstock in the Vermont 
House of Representatives in 1884. In 1885 he superintended the build- 
ing of the Norman Williams Memorial Library, and also obtained the 
charter for the Woodstock Aqueduct Company. 



MORRISON, MARQUIS F., was born in Windsor, Vt, March 2, 
1825. He descends the fifth generation from (1) Robert, [irob- 
ably born in Ireland, died in Londonderry, N. H.; settled there in I 7 19, 
was one of the 1 19 persons to whom the charter of the town was given. 
His wife's name was Elizabeth. They had three children, viz.: Robert, 
William and Sally. Robert, born in Ireland in 1 7 14, was half owner- 
with his brother William of the homestead farm in Londonderry, an 
elder in the West Parish church, never married, and died February 7, 
1794. Sally married a Mr. Coburn, and lived and died in Dcrry, N. II. 
(2) William, born in Londonderry, November 30, 1726, died February 
28, 1788. His wife was Jane Rogers; she died in 1794. Their chil- 
dren were : Robert, Hannah, Jane, Lizzie, David and Mary. Of these (3) 
David, grandfather of Marquis F., born in Londonderry, October 14, 
1756, settled in Windsor, Vt., about 1794, and died there January 5, 
1826. He took a deed of his farm in Windsor, October 12, 1795. His 
wife was Margaret McGrath, born in Portsmouth, N. H, July 5, 1766. 
Her father was a native of Ireland. In February, 1781, he went as a 
soldier in the army of the Revolution. She died August 30, 1843, aged 
seventy-seven years. The children of David and Margaret Morrison 
were William, Hannah, John Bush, Eliza, Daniel, Diadama, Relief and 
Lorenzo. Of these children (4) Daniel, father of Marquis F.. was born 
in Windsor, November 9, 1796, and died there January 12, 1839. He 
married, June 2, 1822, Chloe Bishop, born in Barre, Vt., June 12, 1800. 
She died June 10, 1852. Daniel Morrison was a shoemaker as well as 
farmer, working at his trade after his day's work on the farm was done. 
Their children were Solon, Marquis F., Lorenzo and David. Solon, 
born April 14, 1823, was educated at the academy at Unity, N. H., at 



848 History ok Windsor County. 

Meriden, N. H., the New England Seminary at Windsor, V t., at Lon- 
gueuil, and three years in college at St. Hyacinth. He paid especial 
attention to the study of the languages, having acquired the ability to 
speak and write in seven different languages. While in Longucuil he 
wrote his first letter as correspondent of the Vermont Journal, a corres- 
pondence which he has kept up for forty-five years. At the centen- 
nial celebration held in Windsor, July 4, 1874, he delivered the poem. 
He has followed the profession of teaching in the main as an occupa- 
tion, but at the present time has retired from active work. He resides 
at Rougemont, Canada. Lorenzo, born June 5, 1827, married Feb- 
ruary 4, 1850, Adaline L, daughter of Jonathan and Sophia (Lull) 
Davis, born November 14, 1833. He was educated for the medical pro- 
fession, but practiced it but a short time. He lives at Windsor with his 
daughter, Mrs. Roswell Boyd. David, born May 4, 1830, died April 5, 
1877, and was twice married, first, to Ellen Blood, born September 13, 
I 83 I, died March 6, 1864; second to Sarah D. Towne, born September 
4, 1833. David filled positions of trust in Windsor and West Windsor, 
and was selectman of Windsor at the time of his death. Marquis F. 
lived till nine years of age on the place of his birth, the farm now owned 
by A. B.' Blood. In 1834 his father purchased and moved onto the 
Zimri Kimball farm, and here he has lived ever since. The present farm 
house and most of the barns were built by him in 1858, and soon after 
the death of his father he purchased the interest of the heirs in the place, 
and became its owner. To the original si.xty acres he has added, by 
purchase, ninety acres adjoining. His education was limited to attend- 
ance upon the common school. Farming has been his life work, but it is 
speaking within bounds to say that no man in the region about has been 
oftener called upon to attend to matters of public interest. Between 
the years of 1858 and 1875 he was selectman, fourteen years, and most 
of the time first selectman. Eight years of that time he was overseer 
of the poor, representative of the town in the Legislature in 1864, 1865 
and 1880, administrator and executor on many different estates, and 
for the past forty years has been guardian of more or less minor chil- 
dren and orphans. He was district clerk and treasurer for more than 
twenty years, and lister two years. He is a Universalist in religious be- 



Biographical. 849 



lief He married, December 16, 1847, Caroline S., daughter of Jonathan 
and Sophia (Lull) Davis, born June 3, 1830. Their children were, 
Alice L., born April 5, 1849, married, March 15, 1870, John S. Ainsworth, 
born in Hartland, Vt , February 9, 1844, farmer residing in Reading, and 
their children were Lena A., born April 5, 1876, and Ethel M., born Sep- 
tember 1, 188 1 ; Aim I E.,born October 4, 185 i, died April 27, 1852; Gale, 
born June 27, 1853, died September 18, 1859; Lola S., born August 24, 
1859, married May 12, 1885, Sidney A. Boyden, farmer living in Wood- 
stock, and have oie child, Mabel, born May 24, 1886; Mile, born 
July 14, i860, died July 29, i860; Isabel, born March 27, 1863, mar- 
ried April 5, 1889, Frank D. Brannock, she lives at home, and has one 
child, Verne Clinton, born October 2, 1889; Hattie C, born April 14, 
1864, married, March 10, 1885, Dr. George VV. Worcester, a practicing 
physician and surgeon in Newburyport, Mass., they have had two chil- 
dren, Hazel A., born October 18, 1887, died October 28, 1889, and Ercell 
C, born August 24, 1890; Etta, born January 18, 1866, died April 2, 
1866; Galen H., born August 11, 1869, died December 10, 1869, and 
Eva F., born November 11, 1870, died February 24, 1871. There have 
been eleven births and eleven deaths in the house since Mr. Morrison 
resided there. 



POWERS FAMILY. The first settlers of this family in America were 
Thomas and Walter Power. They were natives of Waterford, Ire- 
land, and settled in this country about 1680. Their wives were named 
Bonnie, and were of East India extraction An additional s was added 
to the name by these settlers. But little is known of the two generations 
succeeding these first settlers. Benjamin Powers, of Old Hardwick, Mass., 
was a farmer. Of his large family of children, Stephen was born in 1735. 
On his arrival at manhood, with the permission of his father, he decided 
to study medicine. There were at that time limited facilities for obtain- 
ing a medical education, but Stephen, by diligent and faithful exertions, 
fitted himself for his chosen profession. He located in Middleboro, Mass., 
and there began the practice of his profession. After remaining there a 
few years, in 1772, he determined to investigate the North West. His 
course took him directly to Woodstock, Vt., and in that year he made 
his first purchase of land in that town. It consisted of ninety acres situ- 

107 



8so History of Windsor County. 

ated between Ouechee River and Mount Tom. He subsequently pur- 
chased other tracts of land, the whole amounting to some three hundred 
acres. He returned to Middieboro, and in 1774 moved his family, con- 
sisting of his wife and five children, up into the wilderness. He brought 
with him a thirteen year old negro boy, named Cato Boston, as a slave, 
for whom he had paid one hundred dollars, or five pounds. His 
wife was Lydia, daughter of John and Sarah Drew, of Halifax, Mass. 
Their children were, Susanna, born December 14, 1760, died of fever 
December 2, 1777; Mary, born March 2, 1766, married first, Jason Rich- 
ardson, second, Oliver Williams ; Stephen born August 6, 1767, mar- 
ried Sally Perry, and had a family of nine children, of whom Hiram, the 
sculptor, was the eighth child, and in 18 18 he moved West ; John Drew ; 
Lydia, born March 16, 1772, became the second wife of Robert Paddock 
and moved to Barre. She died April 23, 1815. 

Dr Powers, the pioneer physician in this part of the country, had a 
large and extensive practice. His name was widely known and his repu- 
tation stood high among the learned of his own profession. In height 
he was about six feet, good proportion, black eyes and hair, dark com- 
plexion, form active and vigorous, and capable of enduring great fatigue. 
In politics the doctor was a staunch Whig. He died in Woodstock No- 
vember 27, 1809. His wife died August 29, 1823. aged eighty-eight. 



POWERS, Dr. JOHN D , the youngest son of Dr. Stephen Powers, 
was born November 17, 1769, in Middieboro, Mass. He received 
only such an education as could be obtained in a newly settled country. 
He concluded to follow his father's profession, and began the study of 
medicine under his care, rode with him, and thus soon picked up ample 
information to qualify him for a [)racticing physician. He established 
himself in his profession as early as 1793, and about the beginning of the 
century settled on the place at the head of the park, where he lived dur- 
ing his life. He married, first, Sally, daughter of Sylvanns Raymond, 
by whom he had four sons, viz.: Casper, died aged two ; Volney, died 
a^ed ten ; John Drew, and Thomas E. He married, second, Mrs. Abi- 
gail Holton, nee Robinson, of Shrewsbury, Vt, by whom he had three 
children, viz.: Mary, who died, aged twenty-two ; Calvin Robinson ; and 
Susan, widow of Charles G. Eastman, who died January 18, 1891, at 



Biographical. 851 



Emmetsburgh, la. Dr. Powers was a man of medium size, but com- 
pact frame, complexion light, with lips firmly compressed. During the 
last few years of his life he mostly gave up the practice of his profession. 
He died in 1855. 

POWERS, JOHN D., the third son of Dr. John D. Powers, was born 
in Woodstock, January 6, 1806. His education, up to the age of 
thirteen, was obtained in the district schools of his native town, and was 
completed at the Randolph Academy in Randolph, at the American Lit- 
erary Scientific and Military Academy at Norwich, and the Chester Acad- 
emy at Chester. The object of his education was to fit him for the study of 
medicine, but becoming satisfied that it was not his calling in life, he decid- 
ed to engage in agricultural pursuits. His father purchased for him farm- 
ing implements, and live stock, and placed him on his farm in the spring of 
1822. He continued farming until he became of age, when he was obliged 
to relinquish it on account of ill health. He then learned the comb trade 
in Woodstock, and followed it for ten years. For the next twenty years 
he was an employee of the Daniels' Machine Company of Woodstock, 
and afterwards with A. W. Whitney & Co. for five years. He then again 
turned his attention to farming, which he followed until his retirement 
from active business in 1875. He built, in 1829, a brick mansion, which 
he occupied for thirty years, where the new cemetery of Woodstock is now 
located. Up to the age of twelve years he attended the Congregational 
Church and believed in its doctrines. He then heard a Universalist 
preacher, who changed his views, until he arrived at the age of seventeen 
years, when he obtained the "Age of Reason," by Thomas Paine, and 
was for seventeen years a subscriber to the Investigator. In 1850 he be- 
came a believer in the principles of spiritualism. At this time there were 
but three adherents of this faith in Woodstock. By spiritual direction, 
conveyed to him in the following words : " Brother, ere the leaves fall the 
second time, we ask you to call a convention of Spiritualists at Wood- 
stock," such a convention was called by him, and was the first of the kind 
held in Vermont. The convention was addressed by Austin E. Simmons, 
Mrs. Newton, now Mrs. Wood, and Miss Achsa W. Sprague. He was also 
a writing medium and clairvoyant for the last thirty years. Politically 
Mr. Powers was originally a Jacksonian Democrat, but since the organi- 



8S2 History of Windsor County. 

zation of the Republican party he has been identified with it. He has 
not been an aspirant for public honors. He married Jane B., daughter 
of John Carlton, a native of New Boston, N. H. Of their four children, 
the two eldest, John and Charlei, died in infano)'. Susan Eastman is the 
wife of John M. Currier, M. D., of Newport, V^t., and Laura Carlton is the 
wife of James Russell Murdock, a jeweler, of Woodstock. Mr. Powers 
is the last survivor of the large family of Dr. John D. Powers. 



POWERS, Dr THOMAS E., the youngest son of Dr. John D. Pow- 
ers, by his first marriage, was born in Woodstock, November 14, 
1808. He received his education in the district schools and at the Roy- 
alton Academy. Having decided to follow his father's profession he en- 
tered the Dartmouth Medical School, and was graduated in 1827. He 
then entered his father's office to further pursue his studies, and soon after 
as his father's partner, he began the practice of his profession. After a 
few years he went to Hartland to live, but after about one year he returned 
to Woodstock, where he continued to reside up to the close of his life. 

The piactice of medicine was not agreeable to him, and he gradually 
withdrew from it, till in the latter part of his life he withdrew from it 
altogether. Other fields of activity suited his temperament better. The 
stirring scenes of public life he preferred to the quiet of the sick room, 
and in preference to the management of difficult cases of disease, sought 
rather the management of public attairs, for the successful conduct of 
which he in due time proved himself qualified in a high degree. In the 
year 1850 he was elected representative from the town of Woodstock, to 
Montpelier, and was re- elected the two following years, and again in 
1855 and 1856. Upon becoming a member of the House, he was elected 
speaker, and justified the choice of his supporters by proving himself 
one of the best presiding officers the House ever had. During this time 
also, and indeed for many years previous, he gave all his energies to the 
cause of temperance in this State; and in connection therewith, in 1852, 
he took the editorial management of the Vermont Standard. In 1857 
he was appointed by the governor to superintend the rebuilding of the 
State House. In 1862 he was appointed by the United States govern- 
ment, assessor for the second district of Vermont, and remained in this 
office nine years. He was endowed with great abilities, that fully made 




Calvin R. Powers. 



Biographical. 853 

up for any lack of education, and possessed an intellectual force that was 
felt wherever he moved, and in whatever department of life he saw fit to 
exert himself Few men in the State were so influential in the popular 
assembly. Here, indeed, was the field in which he most delighted to 
display his varied energies, and he did not find many among his associ- 
ates and rivals who cared much to meet him there. Fertile in expedi- 
ents, swift to see the best point of attack, self-reliant, with physical 
strength to back up all the forces of his mind, it is no wonder he was so 
formidable in debate, and held such sway over the popular mind. He 
married Mary E. Warren, and had one child, Ada, who married Charles 
Anderson, who died in Woodstock, without issue. Dr. Powers died in 
Woodstock, December 27, 1876 



POWERS, CALVIN ROBINSON, the only son of Dr. John D. Pow- 
ers, by his second marriage, was born in Woodstock, November 14, 
1818. His education was limited to attendance upon the district school 
of his native town, and in an academy of a neighboring town. On reach- 
ing his majority he apprenticed himself to John H. Witt, of Woodstock, 
to learn the tailor's trade. He carried on this business during his life, be- 
ing at one time located on the southeast corner of the public square. He 
was a Republican in politics, but sought no official positions. He was a 
life- long resident of Woodstock. He was of medium height and weight, 
with blue eyes and fair complexion, and a cheerful disposition. He was 
a good neighbor, true to his friends, very reliable, and respected by all 
who knew him. He married Elizabeth Frances, daughter of Elisha F. 
and Mary (Nay) Woods. Her father was one of the original settlers of 
Bridgewater, of which town she was a native. Mr. Powers died in 
Woodstock, August 28, 1877, without issue. 



BAXTER, EDWARD K., M.D., of Sharon, was born in Barton, Or- 
leans county, Vt., February 3, 1840, the youngest in a family of 
seven children of Harry and Deborah (Steele) Baxter. Elihu, his grand- 
father, born in Norwich, Conn., 1749, died at Norwich, Vt., August 6, 
1835. He married Tryphena Taylor, born in Norwich, Conn., 1762, died 
in Norwich, Vt., March 14, 1825. They had fifteen children, viz.: Will- 
iam, lawyer, practiced his profession in Brownington, Vt., and died there; 



8S4 History of Windsor County. 

Ira, lived and died at Norwich ; Elihu, physician in Portland, Me., where 
he died; Chester, a prominent business man of Sharon, where he died; 
Tryphena, died in Monroe, Mich.; Lavina first, died in infancy; Erastus, 
died at Gorham, N. Y.; Lavina second and Climena, twins, the former 
died in infancy, the latter aged twenty; James, died at Stanstead, P. Q.; 
John, died at Lebanon, N. H.; Zilpha, wife of Dr. William Sweatt, of Un- 
ion village, where she died ; Harry, died at Barton, Vt., March lo, 1852 ; 
Hiram, died aged six years; and Statira, died in Sharon. All were born 
in Norwich, Vt. Harry, above, born September 13, 1799, was twice 
married. His first wife was Deborah, daughter of Deacon Samuel Steele, 
of Sharon, and sister of Judge William Steele. Seven children were the 
issue of this marriage, viz. : William H., died at Burlington, Vt., Janu- 
ary 4, 1886; Charles D., died in St. Louis, Mo., July 8, 1848; Don 
Carlos, a graduate of Dartmouth, and one of the editors of the New Or- 
leans Bee, in which city he died, August 8, 1858 ; Ellen M., wife of J. H. 
French, living in Beloit, Wis. ; Susan P., died aged three years; So- 
phia S., is Mrs. F. B. Powell, of Woodstock, Vt.; and Edward K. Harry 
married second, Adaline W. Thompson, by whom he had three children, 
viz.: Carrie E., Mrs. N. T. Ayers, living in New York City; Harry G., 
died October 25, 1877; and Hattie A., living in New York City. Ed- 
ward K. received an academic education at Kimball Union Academy, 
Meriden, N. H. ; studied medicine with Drs. Di.xi and A. B. Crosby, of 
Hanover, N. H. ; attended lectures at Dartmouth Medical College and 
at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city, and gradu- 
ated at Dartmouth Medical College in 1864. He has been assistant 
physician at the Hartford, Conn., Insane Retreat, and at Sanford Hall, 
I'lushing, L. I. Dr. Baxter has been superintendent of schools in Sha- 
ron, and also represented the town in the General Assembly of the State 
in 1886. He married Sarah S., daughter of Colonel Gardner and Susan 
(Steele) Burbank, who was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., September 4, 1842. 
They have no children. 

COLLAMER, Judge JACOB, was born in Troy, N. Y., January 8, 
1791, one of a family of three sons and five daughters. His father 
was of colonial English origin, his ancestors being among the earliest 
settlers of Massachusetts. His mother was colonial Dutch. His father 



Biographical. 855 



was a house carpenter. He moved from Troy to Burlington, Vt., when 
Jacob was about four years old, and there he spent the residue of iiis life. 
As Jacob advanced in boyhood, his instinctive impulses, encouraged by 
the faculty of the college (Vermont University), caused him to aspire to a 
place in those halls of learning, and he prepared for entrance, under the 
instruction of some members of the faculty, at so early an age as to be 
admitted in 1806, at the age of about fifteen and a half years. He was the 
youngest member of his class, save one, the late Hon. Norman Williams, 
who was about nine months the younger. The class consisting of seven- 
teen, graduated in 1810. On graduating, he commenced the study of law 
and pursued It in St. Albans, under Mr. Langworthy and Hon. Benja- 
min Swift, subsequently a senator from Vermont in Congress, and was 
admitted to the bar in 18 13. In 181 2 he was drafted into the detailed 
militia service, and served during the period of the draft as lieutenant of 
artillery in the frontier campaign. On being admitted to the bar, he 
visited Barre, in the hope of arranging a business connection with Den- 
nison Smith, then already established there as a young lawyer in suc- 
cessful practice. While there, an incident occurred which he used to re- 
late with a mirthful relish. Mr. Smith was to attend a justice trial in a 
neighboring town ; young CoUamer accompanied him, to avail himself 
of an opportunity to make his first argument in the trial of a cause. It 
was in the winter season. He wore a long surtout. In riding to the 
court they got upset, and Collamer's pants suffered such an unseemly rent 
that he was compelled to wear the surtout throughout the trial. In due 
time they left, and on getting to his quarters, he betook himself to his bed, 
while his friend Smith got the unfortunate breech repaired. With such a 
debut, he entered upon the career that bore him to the summit of profes- 
sional and public renown. Not making the proposed arrangement, he went 
to Randolph Center and opened an office, doing such professional work as 
he could get to do, and helping his income by collecting what is known as 
the United States' "war tax." In 1 8 14 he was azV/^ to General French and 
went forward with him and the forces under his command to join the army 
at Plattsburgh, arriving however in the evening just after the battle was 
over. Inducements presented themselves which led Judge Collamer to 
remove to Royalton, Vt , in 18 16, and there he remained till April, 1836, 
when he removed to Woodstock to reside during the remainder of his 



856 History of Windsor County. 

life. In the early years of his professional life, he held the office of reg- 
ister of probate. On the 13th day of July, 1817, he was married at St. 
Albans, to Miss Mary Stone. He four times represented Royalton in 
the Legislature in the years 1821, 1822, 1827, and 1828. He was State's 
Attorney for the county of Windsor for the years 1822, 1823 and 1824. 
At the Commencement anniversary of his Alma Mater in 1828, he de- 
livered the oration before the Phi Sigma Nil Society, which was printed 
by order of the society. He was a member of the Constitutional Con- 
vention of January, 1836, which amended the constitution by creating 
the Senate as a branch of the Legislature. That amendment has ever 
been largely attributed to the ability and zeal with which he urged it. 
In 1833 he was elected one of the assistant judges of the Supreme Court. 
The bench was filled by Williams, Chief Judge Royce, Phelps, Collamer, 
and Maitocks. Judge Collamer remained on the bencli till 1842, when 
he declined a re-election. On leaving the bench he opened an office 
and resumed the practice of the law in Woodstock, and did not entirely 
abandon it e.^cept while he was postmaster-general and circuit judge of 
Vermont, though after 1848 he did not hold himself out for general bus- 
iness, nor keep an open office. In November, 1843, he was elected a 
representative in Congress. After three elections the judge declined a 
fourth, closing his membership of the lower house of Congress with the 
3d day of March, 1849. He was then selected for postmaster- general in 
General Taylor's cabinet, and held the office till the death of the presi- 
dent in Jul>-, 1850. In 1849 he was the first of her graduates to be hon- 
ored by \\\s Alma Mater with the degree oi Doctor of Latvs. In 1855 
he received the like honor from Dartmouth. On the breaking up of the 
Taylor Cabinet Judge Collamer returned home with his family, and by 
the Legislature that fall he was elected Circuit Judge, which office he 
held until he was elected Senator in Congress in October, 1854, to which 
office he was again elected in October, 1 860. He was wearing his sen- 
atorial robes with ever increasing dignity and grace, till, on the evening 
of the 9th day of November, 1865, he 

" Wrapped the drapery of his couch about him, 
And lay down to pleasant dreams," 

He died at his home in Woodstock. But few citizens of Vermont have 
been called to so many positions of trust and honor as was Jacob Colla 



Biographical. 857 



mer, and few, indeed, have performed such varied duties with stricter 
fideHty, with more marked ability, or reflected greater honor upon the 
State than he did. Some of her public men may have shone with a 
greater brilliancy, but none with a steadier or more enduring light. As 
lawyer and judge in Vermont, as representative of the State in both 
houses of the national legislative body, he easily ranked among the fore- 
most men of his time. In pursuance of an act of the Legislature of Ver- 
mont in 1872, a statue of Judge Collamer, executed by Preston Powers, 
son of Hiram Powers, (a native of Windsor county, Vt.) was placed in 
the National Statuary Hall at Washington, D. C. The only other citizen 
of Vermont having received a like honor from the State being that of 
General Ethan Allen. Mary (Stone) Collamer, wife of Judge Collamer, 
died at her residence in Woodstock. Vt., May 10, 1870. Three children 
of Judge Collamer are now living, viz.: Mrs. Harriet A. Johnson, widow 
of Eliakim Johnson ; Mrs. Mary C. Hunt, widow of Horace Hunt; and 
Frances Collamer. The four children who are deceased were Eliza- 
beth, twin sister of Mrs. Hunt ; William, died unmarried ; Edward, and 
Ellen C, was the wife of Thomas G. Rice. His grandchildren living 
are Hon. William E. Johnson, of Woodstock, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Wood- 
ard, Louise L. McKenzie, children of Mrs. Johnson ; Mary F. Collamer, 
daughter of Edward; Henry G. and Mary, children of Ellen C. Rice. 



HARRINGTON, EDWIN, was born in Stockbridge, April 4, 1825, 
the second in a family of eight children of Enoch and Lucinda (Da- 
vis) Harrington. His father was born in Pomfret, Vt., and died in Pitts- 
field, Vt., a farmer by occupation. His mother was the daughter of 
Joshua and Polly (Smith) Davis. She died in Barnard. They are bur- 
ied in the Ranney burial-ground, Stockbridge. Their children were 
Maria, wife of Alexander Packard, died in Stockbridge ; Edwin, Ste- 
phen, lives in Massachusetts; Martha, wife of Lyman Parmenter, died in 
Pittsfield, Vt.; Sherman C, farmer, resides in Gaysville ; Almira, wife 
of Philander Packard, died in Stockbridge ; Orwell, resides in Gays- 
ville, and Emma S. Woodard, resides in Bethel. Edwin Harrington 
passed his minority in Stockbridge, receiving his primary education in 
the district school, and completing a business education in a business 
college at Worcester, Mass. At the age of twenty he left home and went 



8s8 History of Windsor County. 

to Fitchburg, Mass., where he commenced to learn the machinist trade, 
remaining there one year. He continued to work at his trade, first at 
CHnton, Mass , then at Worcester, Mass., up to 1867. He then removed 
to Philadelphia, where he built up one of the most extensive machine 
manufactories in the country, employing in its different departments 250 
men. A number of the machines manufactured were his own patents, 
such as portable hoists, overhead tramways, lathes, planes and drills. 
Mr. Harrington continued at the head of the business until 1889. In 
August of that year he received a stroke of paralysis, which compelled 
his withdrawal from active business, and from the eftect of which he has 
not recovered. The business at Philadelphia is now carried on by his 
sons, under the firm name of Edwin Harrington, Sons & Co. In 1890 
Mr. Harrington built a fine residence in Bethel, and makes his home 
there. He married, October 8, 1848, Mary E., daughter of Elihu and 
Lucy (Whitcomb) Holland. Mrs. Harrington was born in Stockbridge 
March 12, 1829. They have four children, viz. : Melvin H., born in 
Worcester, Mass., September 21, 1849, married. May 16, 1877, Mary E. 
Hobbs, of Worcester. They have three children, Allen H., Arthur M., 
and M. Helen. He is a partner in the firm of Edwin Harrington, Sons 
& Co. Edwin Leroy, born in Worcester, September 12, 1854, married 
Mary C. Jarden of Philadelphia, November 21, 18S3; Mary Ella, born 
in Worcester, October 12, 1857. died in Philadelphia August 28, 1870, and 
Nellie Louise, born in Philadelphia, February 10, 1872, living at home. 



KENNEY, ASA W., the youngest son of Zurishaddai and Rachel 
(Relding) Kenney, was born in Barnard, Vt., September 22, 1819. 
His father was a farmer, and in early life Asa W. followed that occupa- 
tion, having only the advantages of a common school till 1836 and two 
or three years thereafter, when he attended for short periods the acade- 
mies in Randolph, Royalton, and Montpelier. After this he studied law 
in Montpelier with George B. Manser and Ferrand F. Merrill, and was 
admitted to the Washington County Bar in 1840. Governor Paine ap- 
pointed him state librarian in 1839, which office he held about three 
years. He did not practice law, but was engaged in mercantile business 
several years. In August, 1859, he was chosen cashier of the Bank' of 
Royalton, Vt., which position he retained in this bank, and the National 




^na^l 



^n^fhyT.S.K&'na3^i' 





^.^^.^^r 



Biographical. 859 



Bank of Royalton, into which this banlc was converted in 1867, til! the 
National Banlc went into voluntary liquidation in 1882. Since the last 
date he has been engaged in making loans at the West. He was married 
in 1873 to Mrs Cornelia A. Gladding, of Waterbury, Conn. They have 
no children. 

HILL, GEORGE SPARHAWK, was born in Walpole, N. H., May 
1822. He received a common school and academy education. In 
October, 1835, his father removed to Cavendish, and our subject was first 
employed in the woolen mills in that town. He afterwards was engaged 
as a clerk in the general store of Davis & Wheeler, and subsequently was 
in business for himself In 1850 he went to California by the way of the 
Isthmus, but stayed there only a few months. Returning to Cavendish he 
became a partner in the firm of Carey, Hill & Wheeler, who carried on a 
general store in Proctorsville. Mr. Hill was elected January 15, 1856, 
cashier of the Bank of Black River, which office he filled till March 26, 
1878, when he was elected president of the National Black River Bank. 
To the latter position he has been elected continuously. He has held 
various town offices, and has been town treasurer for the last twenty 
years. 

GILLETTE, BENNIE BURTON, was born in Hartford July 21, 1865. 
After attending the local schools of his native town, in 1881 he en- 
tered St. Johnsbury Academy, St. Johnsbury, Vt, to prepare himself for 
college. He attended the academy till 1884 and the same year com- 
menced his collegiate course at Dartmouth College, graduating in 1S88. 
He early showed an interest in musical matters and during his youth re- 
ceived lessons on the piano and afterwards on the organ. When only 
fourteen years of age he was organist of the First Congregationalist 
Church at Norwich, Vt., afterwards at a church of the same denomina- 
tion at Hartford, Vt. For four years he was organist at St. Thomas 
Church of Hanover, N. H., and during this last year in college had charge 
of the organ in the college chapel. Among his instructors in music was 
Professor S B. Whitney of Boston and on finishing his college course he 
removed to Boston and still continues his studies under Professor Whit- 
ney. Mr. Gillette has been for the last two years organist and choir 



86o History of Windsor County. 

master of the Church of the Holy Trinity of Marlborough, Mass. In 
June, 1890, he passed the initiatory examination of the American Col- 
lege of Musicians, which meets annually in New York city, thereby ob- 
taining the degree of Associate of the College of Musicians. 

BRUCE, Captain H. N., was born in Pomfret June 29, 1836. His 
grandfather, Jesse Bruce, emigrated from Scotland, and settled in 
Sheldon, Franklin county, Vt.,and died in Pomfret. He had three chil- 
dren who reached adult age, viz.: Selah, went when young to Cumber- 
land, Me., and it is not known what became of him; Rosamund, married, 
first, a Mr. Doton, second, Ebcnezer Winslow, died in Pomfret, and 
Mrs. Samuel Weeden, of East Bethel, is her only surviving child ; and 
Harvey, the father of Captain Bruce. Harvey was born in Sheldon, Vt, 
May 17, 1794. He married January 3, 1819, Betsey Doton, born in 
Pomfret December 24, 1799. Their children were Adaline, born No- 
vember I, 1819, wife of James Winn, died in Windsor, Vt, in 1863; Va- 
leria, born February 26, 1830, died July 8, 1835; Elmina, born Aug- 
ust 17, 1 83 1, married, first, Edward M. Patridge, second, Hannibal Tot- 
man, and died February 3, 1891, in Woodstock, leaving three children 
by her first husband, Edward Bruce and Lucien Bruce of New England 
City, N. D., and Herbert A. of Weston, Vt. ; Harvey N., born April 22, 
1829, died March li, 1831 ; and Harvey N., subject of this sketch. Har- 
vey, the father, died in Pomfret July 4, 1854; his wife there August 3, 
1863. Captain Bruce received his education in the district schools of 
Pomfret, and at the Green Mountain Liberal Institute at South Woodstock 
where he fitted for college. He made surveying a special study and prac- 
ticed under Hosea Doton, tlie celebrated teacher of Pomfret. The death 
of his parents and the coming on of the war prevented the carrying out of 
his design of entering college. He was a member of the Woodstock Light 
Infantry at the breaking out of the war and he enlisted for three months 
in that company as corporal, April 20, 1861. He was promoted ser- 
geant and received his discharge in the August following. He was com- 
missioned by Governor Frank Holbrook third lieutenant of the same 
company July 17, 1862. August 27, 1862, he enlisted as private in 
Company G, Sixteenth Vermont Regiment, and was elected its captain 
September 4, 1862, and served in that capacity until the expiration of 



Biographical. 86i 



his term of enlistment. He received his discharge August lo, 1863. 
In the fall of the same year he was elected representative in the Legis- 
lature from Pomfret, and was re-elected in 1864. He was sitting in that 
body at the time of the St. Albans " raid," and when on receipt of the 
news a company of one hundred of the members was raised in two hours 
to go to its relief, Captain Bruce was elected first lieutenant of it. He 
was wounded by a shell in the left breast, at Berlin, Md., after the battle 
of Gettysburg. He receives a pension, on account of an injury to the 
spine, received while employed in the repair of railroad bridges. He 
married, first, September 10, 1863, Jane A., daughter of Daniel Tinkham 
of Pomfret. They had two children, viz.: Mary, wife of Winifred Per- 
kins, a farmer living in Barnard. They have three children : Robert 
Bruce, William Henry and J. Neuville. Isadore T., wife of Harry V. 
Wakefield, a merchant in North Danville, Vt. They have two chil- 
dren, Helen May and Bruce Varney. Captain Bruce married second, 
Abbie M., daughter of Paul and Adaline (Gale) Crowell. Mrs. Bruce 
was born in Barnard. Captain Bruce owns and carries on the 
Bruce homestead in Pomfret, also the Crowell homestead in Barnard. 
He has been justice of the peace, selectman and town superintendent 
of schools in Pomfret. He is an ex-commander of the G. A. R. Sheridan 
Post at Woodstock and George J. Stannard Post, Vermont City, South 
Dakota. With the exception of about four years in Vermont City, 
South Dakota, and New England City, North Dakota, he has been a 
resident of Vermont. He traveled much in the Northwest as a commit- 
tee to select a site for a colony of old soldiers, where they could get 
their government land and found a town. The selection was made in 
South Dakota, fifty miles east of the Missouri river, and the place was 
named Vermont City and is now a fine farming and railroad town. Af- 
terwards, at the solicitation of many other would-be settlers, he selected 
the site for New England City, on the Cannon Ball river, 1 10 miles west 
of the Missouri, in the southwest part of North Dakota. As manager, 
and in connection with others, he established a thriving colony in that 
fine valley. The death of Judge Gay and Colonel Mead, of the direc- 
tors, leaving the majority in the hands of speculative Boston directors, 
Captain Bruce withdrew and came back to Vermont to reside. 



862 History of Windsor County. 

LEMMEX, WILLIAM HENRY, was born in Demarara, British Gu- 
iana, South America, September 7, 1805. Henry Elliott Lemmex, 
his father, a native of Ireland, came to Boston, where he married Eliza- 
beth Lord, a sister of Captain Robert Lord, who was for many years a res- 
ident of Windsor, Vt., and died there. Soon after his marriage, Henry El- 
liott went to South America where he purchased the Hibcrnia estate, a very 
extensive property, and here all of his children were born. The follow- 
ing are the children who reached adult age: Jean, was the wife of James 
Marsh, of Boston, and died in Windsor; William Henry; Harriet, was 
the wife of A. G. Hatch, who was for twenty-four years postmaster of 
Windsor, Henry Lemmex Hatch, of Chicago, and Mrs. N. P. Lovering, 
of Boston, are her only surviving children, and her daughter, Mary Ellen, 
was the wife of James Gardner of Boston, and died in Boston; John, died 
at New Orleans, during an absence from home, and Mary, died in Bos- 
ton aged eleven years. Henry Elliott Lemmex died at Halifax, Nova 
Scotia, while on a journey to the States from South America. His wife 
survived him about thirty years. She died in Windsor in 1844. As her 
children reached school age, she brought them from South America to the 
States to place them in school, making for that purpose fourteen ocean voy- 
ages in sailing vessels. William Henry was five years old when he was 
brought to the States and placed in school at South Reading, Mass. 
When nine years of age, he attended Captain Dunham's school at Wind- 
sor, Vt. His next school was the Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, 
N. H., and finally the Norwich University, at Norwich, Vt. His first 
business engagement was as clerk in the store of Benjamin Bugbee, of 
Randolph, Vt., where, in the person of Mr. Bugbee's niece, he first met 
his future wife. At the age of twenty-one he opened a store in company 
with a Mr. Bixby, in Windsor, the firm becoming Lemmex & Bixby. 
After three years he sold his interest and removed to Hartland, where he 
carried on a store and woolen manufactory for fifteen years. About the 
year 1844, he purchased the woolen factory at Bridgewater and in 1848 
moved there. In 1866 he sold out to L. C. White, and retiring from active 
business, returned to Windsor. He died there May 17, 1876. Mr. 
Lemmex was one of the most prominent of the early manufacturers of 
Vermont, and was respected in business circles alike for his progressive 
ideas and sound judgment, as well as for his strict honor and integrity. 



Biographical. 863 



He was by nature calculated to be a leader among men, and this trait 
was well shown by his influence over the men in his employ, whom he 
managed with the least possible friction. Ever ready to help the poor 
and unfortunate with counsel and with substantial aid, he raised in their 
minds a juster estimate of true Christian manhood. Socially, he was a 
gentleman of the old school. Quiet, dignified and reserved in general 
society, he was at his best with his near friends and in his home, where 
the finest qualities of his heart and mind shone forth, rendering him a 
most entertaining companion, and the home, brightened by his presence 
and that of his genial and hospitable wife, a delightful place. He was a 
member of the Hartland Congregational Church, and afterward of the 
same church in Woodstock, until the Congregational Church in Bridge- 
water was organized, in the founding of which he was largely instru- 
mental, and was finally a member of the old South Church in Windsor. 
A Republican in politics, though not an aspirant for political office, 
he served one term in the Legislature as representative of the town of 
Bridgewater. He married, June 28, 1828, Elvira, daughter of William 
Warner, and grand- daughter of William, who was brother of Colonel Seth 
Warner, and an officer with the latter under General Ethan Allen. Mrs. 
Lemmex was born in Hartford, Vt , July 18, 1808, and died February 29, 
1876. They had four children, viz.: Harriet Elizabeth, born March 25, 
1829, married Jason B. Pierce. She resides in Alleghany, Pa., with her 
only surviving child, William Lemmex Pierce. Mr. Pierce was gradu- 
ated from Dartmouth College in 1880, and is now practicing as an attor- 
ney in patents in Pittsburgh, Pa. He has two children, Elizabeth Denny 
and William Henry Lemmex. Elvira Jane, died aged two years. Ellen 
Maria, born July 11, 1833. is the wife of the Rev. Henry M. Morey, a 
Presbyterian clergyman residing in Ypsilanti. Mich. Mr. Morey was 
born March 3, 1837, at West Bloomfield, N. Y., and was graduated at 
Union College, Schenectady, N. ¥., in i86i,and at the Theological 
Seminary at Princeton, N. J., in 1865. They have two children, Alice 
Elvira and Jean Lemmex. Mary Elliott, born May 5, 1844, married 
July 26, 1866, first, Silas A. Smith, of Malone, N. Y., who died March 3, 
1867. She married, second, Colonel Milton Kendall Paine, who was 
born in Boston August 15, 1834. Colonel Paine has been one of the 
leading manufacturing chemists and pharmacists of the State, but at 



864 History of Windsor County. 

present is retired from business. The colonel is well known as a promi- 
nent member of tlie Masonic fraternity. Colonel and Mrs. Paine reside 
at Windsor. They have no children. 



FULLAM, Hon. SEWALL, of Ludlow, was descended from Hon. 
Francis Fullam who, at the age of fourteen years, came from his na- 
tive phice, (Fulham's Place) near London, England, to Watertown, Mass., 
in the year 1683. He became prominently identified with the interests 
of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was for many years Judge of the 
Superior Colonial Court; and also Superintendent of the Natick Ind- 
ians, and for seventeen years occupied a seat in the Colonial Legislature. 
He had one son, named Jacob, whose son Francis was the father of 
Timothy, who was one of the early settlers of the town of Cavendish, 
Vt. Timothy had two sons, one of whom, Sevvall, was the father of the 
subject of this sketch. He was for eleven years a preacher in the Meth- 
odist Church, and after that period united with the Free Will Baptists. 
He married Mehitable Harris, who also traced her ancestry to the Hon. 
Francis Fullam, as the latter's daughter married Nathaniel Harris, who 
was Mrs. FuUam's great grandfather. By this marriage there were six 
children, of whom Sewall was the eldest, and was born in Cavendish, 
Vt, April 7, 1799. His early life was spent in his native town, and in 
Reading, Vt., where his father removed, having only the advantages of 
the local schools in which to obtain an education. For the means of 
obtaining a livelihood he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of car- 
penter. Having a fondness for books, he became a great reader, and 
his leisure hours were spent in study, and being endowed with a reten- 
tive memory, he thereby accumulated a greater store of practical knowl- 
edge than the majority of men obtain. Mr. Fullam having a personal 
acquaintance with Judge Reuben Washburn, he borrowed from him law 
books, and by diligent study at home, soon made himself so proficient 
that he was able to meet in legal debate any of the brethren of his 
chosen profession. He became a resident of Ludlow, April 16, 1828, 
and besides being engaged at his trade, devoted more or less of his time 
to legal business until 1836, when he became a member of the Windsor 
County Bar. From this time until his death, November 26, 1876, he 
continued to reside in Ludlow, and was one of the most prominent mem- 



Biographical. 865 



bers of the bar of his native county, having as his colleagues such men as 
Judge Jacob Collamer, Hon. Andrew Tracy, of Woodstock, and Hon. 
Asa Aiken, of Windsor. Mr. Fullam was a man of imposing appear- 
ance, being five feet, eleven inches in height, and of average weight of 
222 pounds. He represented Ludlow in the State Legislature from 1834 
to 1 841 inclusive, and a number of sessions was chairman of the Judici- 
ary Committee; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 
1843, State's Attorney in 1842-43, 1847-48. Mr. Fullam wj^s married 
November 17, 1825, to Miss Eunice Howe Goddard, of Reading, Vt, 
and their family consisted of five children, viz.: Elizabeth Goddard, wife 
of Ervin J. Whitcomb, of Ludlow; Candace Lucretia, widow of Rev. J. O. 
Skinner, a Universalist minister, residing at Waterville, Me.; Volney 
Sewall, Benoni Buck, and Eunice Victoria, wife of Marcus A. Spaulding, 
of Ludlow. 

SLACK, Colonel WILLIAM H. H., was born in Springfield, Vt, 
February 21, 1844, a"d is the eldest child in a family of six children 
of John A. and Mary A. (McAllister) Slack. After attending the dis- 
trict schools he finished his education at the Springfield Wesleyan Acad- 
emy. His father was engaged in farming, and his boyhood was spent 
on his father's farm. At the age of eighteen he enlisted as a private in 
Company E, Sixteenth Vermont Regiment, being mustered out of the 
United States service in the fall of 1863. Previous to his enlistment he 
had commenced to learn the trade of machinist with his father, who was 
then engaged with Parks & Woolson. On returning from the seat 
of war he continued his trade, and remained in the employ of the above 
company till 1870. In the latter year he commenced, at his present lo- 
cation, the manufacture of shoddy and flocks ; he has also been en- 
gaged in many of Springfield's successful enterprises. Mr. Slack lias al- 
ways taken great interest in G A. R. affairs, and was the first commander 
of the Jarvis Post No. 43, and has been honored by appointments from 
two commander-in-chiefs of that order ; was appointed aide-de-camp 
with the rank of colonel on Major William Warner's stafif, and assistant 
inspector-general on Colonel Wheelock Veazey's staff. In politics Mr. 
Slack has always been a worker in the Republican ranks, and has been 
called upon by his fellow- citizens to fill positions of trust; was the rep- 



866 History ok Windsor County. 

resentative from Springfield in the Legislature of 1888, and was chair- 
man of the committee on military affairs during that session. He is 
aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Carroll S. Page. He has three 
sons, Harry C, Walter W., and J. Milton. 



GREEN, Dr. ISAAC, was born in Leicester, Mass , March 1 1, 1759. 
He descends the sixth generation from Thomas,' born in England 
about 1606, emigrated in 1635 O"" ^^l^< lived in Ipswich till 1649 or 
1650, moved to Maiden, Mass., selectman there in 1658, married, first, 

Elizabeth , the mother of all his children, second, Mrs. Frances 

Cook. He died December 19, 1667. Of his ten children, Tiiomas,- 
the second child, born in England about 1630, married Rebecca Hills 
about 1653, resided in Maiden and died February 13, 1671. His widow 
died June 6, 1674. Of their five children, Captain Samuel,^ born Octo- 
ber 5, 1670, married about 1692 Elizabeth Upham, resided in Maiden 
till about 1 7 17, when he removed to Leicester, of which town he was 
one of the original founders. Greenville, a village in the south part of 
the town, is named in honor of him. He died January 2, 1735, his wife 
in 1 761. Of their eight children. Rev. Thomas,* only son of Captain 
Samuel, born in Maiden in 1699, married Martha Lynde January 13, 
1725. He first studied medicine and practiced with great success. He 
afterwards became a preacher in the Baptist denomination and was or- 
dained pastor in 1736 of a church in South Leicester. He died August 19, 
1773 ; his wife June 20, 1780. Of their seven children, Thomas,^ their 
fourth child, born in Leicester in 1733, married, first, Hannah Fox of 
Woodstock, Conn., second, Anna Hovey of Sutton. Of his ten children, 
Dr. Isaac," the subject of this sketch, was the third child. He was a 
soldier in the war of the Revolution and in the suppression of Shay's 
rebellion and received a pension. He moved to Windsor, Vt., in 1788, 
and nearly or quite one hundred years ago built what is known as the 
" Green Mansion," one of the best preserved houses in Windsor village. 
On the s:ime lot and nearer the main street, in 1804 he built the first 
brick building in Windsor, and occupied it as a store for many years. 
His trade throughout Vermont and on the New Hampshire side in medi- 
cines, largely imported, was quite extensive. He had also an extensive 
practice in his profession as a physician. The Doctor accumulated, for 



Biographical. 867 



his time, a handsome fortune, but lost heavily by the failure of the old 
Windsor Bank, of which he was a director from its commencement. In 
his religious belief he was a Unitarian. During the later years of his 
life he withdrew from the active practice of his profession and from the 
active conduct of business. Dr Green was truly a gentleman of the old 
school, a man of great self-control, industry, prudence and sagacity, 
shrewd, but honest, in all business matters, and verj' systematic. He 
married in Boston, January 1792, Ann, second daughter of Judge Sam- 
uel and Elizabeth (Salisbury) Barrett, who was born in Boston January 4, 
1774. He died at the homestead in Windsor April 16, 1842; his wife 
died there March 19, 1847. They are buried near the homestead in the 
old South Church burial ground. Their children, born in the old home- 
stead, were (i) Samuel Barrett, born December 1792, died February 9, 
1793; (2) Elizabeth Salisbury, born May 17, 1794, died February 18, 
181 2; (3) Charlotte Eloise, born May 17, 1796, married, August 4, 
1818, Robert Emmett Temple of Rutland, Vt., where he died, October 6, 
1834. She survived him more than fifty years, a woman remarkable for 
intelligence and strength of character, widely and familiarly known as, 
Madame Temple, dying May 13, 1887. Their children were George 
Green, died in Texas June 12, 1848 ; Charles, died in Wisconsin Febru- 
ary 13, 1858; Helen Augusta, died March 2, 1854; Ann E., died in 
infancy, and William Granville, Admiral U. S. N., now residing in 
Washington. (4) Dr. George Barrett (see sketch on page 868 of 
this work) ; (5) Harriet Sophia, born February iSoi, died July 31, 1802 ; 
(6) Charles Gustavus, born September i, 1803, married Susan Bigelow, 
daughter of Hon. Abijah Bigelow of Worcester, Mass., November 7, 

1 83 1. He studied medicine, practiced his profession in Boston from 
1826 to 1830, when he returned to Windsor, but 1844 removed again to 
Boston, where for many years he kept a drug store on Washington 
street ; he went to the war as surgeon and died while in the service, 
and is buried in Worcester, Mass. Their children were both born in 
Windsor, Vt , Charles, September 7, 1833, died the same day, and Eli- 
zabeth Bigelow, born August 18, 1837, is a well-known artist in Bos- 
ton. (7) Caroline Frances, born September 26, 18 11, married, July 31, 

1832, Hon. Moses M. Strong, a lawyer living in Mineral Point, Wis. 



868 History of Windsor County. 

GREEN, Dr. GEORGE BARRETT, was born in Windsor, Vt., 
April 14, 1798, the fourth in a family of seven children of Dr. Isaac 
and Ann (Barrett) Green. (For genealogy see article under the name 
of Dr. Isaac Green, page 866). George Barrett Green was a life-long 
resident of Windsor, Vt. He fitted for college with the Rev. Mr. Chapin 
of Woodstock and entered Middlebury College, but did not graduate, 
though he received the degree of A. M. in 1857. He began the study 
of medicine with his father, but never entered upon the practice of the 
profession, though he was always called " Doctor Green." He manu- 
factured and sold on a large scale the celebrated " Oxygenated Bitters," 
of which his father, together with himself, were the proprietors. He also 
carried on a general dry goods trade in company with Joseph D. Hatch, 
of the firm of Green & Hatch, for a number of years. He married first, 
November 9, 1829, Mary Hatch, daughter of Darius and Elizabeth B. 
(Hatch) Jones. She died August 3, 1840, in Manchester, Vt., while on 
a visit to her sister. He married second, Januarj' 3, 1854, Mrs. Hannah 
Adams Deane, only daughter of the Hon. Chester Baxter, of Sharon, 
Vt. ; she died August i860. His children, all by the first marriage and 
all born in Windsor, were : 

(1) Ann Elizabeth, born August 28, 1830, married, September 28, 
1879, George Wardner (see biographical sketch on page 871). 

(2) Isaac, born May 13, 1832, married, September 22, 1853, Frances 
Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Joseph Denison and Frances Spooner 
(Forbes) Hatch, a merchant and at one time mayor of Lacon, Illinois. 
He was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, enlisting in Company A, 
Eighth Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers ; he died suddenly, June 17, 
1863, in Red Wing, Minn., and is buried there. His wife died June 17, 
i860, in Windsor. Their children were, (a) George Baxter, born and 
died in Lacon, 111., April 1855; (b) Frances Hatch, born August 21, 
1856, in Lacon, 111., died there February 1857; (c) Mary Hatch, born 
in Windsor, August 31, 1857, married, September 1 1, 1879, Dr. William 
Reid Prime, eldest son of Dr. Thomas Merrill and Amity (Paige) Prime 
of Knowlton, Quebec, Canada. He was born in Fairfield, Vt., Octo- 
ber 17, 1857, graduated from McGill Medical College, Montreal, and 
the University Medical College, New York, in 1859. They now reside 
in Burlington, Vt., and their children are, Mary Frances, born in Man- 




yic.i/3.-^^?^i-iD 



Biographical. 869 



Chester, N. H., June 30, 1880; William Isaac, born in Richford, Vt, 
May 29, 1883 ; Thomas Benjamin, born and died in Richford, Vt., No- 
vember 24, 1888. (d) Frances Elizabeth, born in Red Wing, Minn., 
September 22, 1858, married, December 12, 1878, Frank Hallett Fisher, 
of Burlington, Vt., who was for three years cashier of the Howard Na- 
tional Bank, and is now special eastern agent of the Northwestern Guar- 
anty Loan Company of Minneapolis. Their children are, Wilson Hatch 
Fisher, born September 12, 1879; Louis Edwin Fisher, born Novem- 
ber 6, 1880; John Marcus Fisher, born November 12, 1882, died Aug- 
ust 16, 1883; Josephine Forbes Fisher, born July 24, 1884, died Janu- 
ary 3, 1888, and Florence Martha Fisher, born November 24, 1888. 

(3) Charlotte Eloise, born January 30, 1834, married July 9, 1863, 
Rev. Henry A. Hazen, and died in Auburndale, Mass., February 8, 
1881 ; buried in Christian Street burial-ground, Hartford, Vt^ Mr. Ha- 
zen was born in Hartford December 27, 1832, graduated from Kimball 
Union Academy, Dartmouth College and Andover Theological Semi 
nary ; was pastor of Congregational churches in Plymouth, Lyme and 
Pittsfield, N. H., and in Billerica, Mass, and since 1880 has resided 
in Auburndale, Mass., in the service of the A. B. C. F. M. until 1883; 
secretary of the National Council of the Congregational Churches of the 
United States, and editor of the Year Book from 1883 ; trustee of Kimball 
Union Academy and of the Howe School of Billerica ; secretary of An- 
dover Alumni Association, 1880-90, of the New Hampshire General 
Association, 1872-74, and of the Massachusetts General Association 
since 1888; editor of the General Catalogue of Andover Theological 
Seminary, 1880, and author of History of Billei-ica zvith Genealogies, 
1882. Their children were, (a) Mary, born in Plymouth, N. H., No- 
vember 23, 1864, died September 30, 1865 ; (b) Emily, born August 5, 
1866, graduated from Smith College in 1889, and now teacher in the 
Mary Burnham School, Northampton, Mass. ; (c) Charlotte, born in 
Lyme, N. H., November 6, 1868. 

(4) Ellen Shepherd, born March 13, 1836, married in Windsor, Vt., 
September 29, 1857, 'o Samuel Willard Foster. Mr. Foster was born 
in Frost village, Quebec, educated at the academy in Concord, Mass., 
and the University of Vermont, studied law witli the Hon. H. Bailey 
Terrill, of Stanstead, and the Hon. Judge Secotte, of St. Hyacinthe, 



870 History of Windsor County. 



Quebec, and was admitted to the bar of Lower Canada February 6, 
1854. They reside at Knowlton, Quebec. Their children, all born at 
Knowlton, are (a) George Greene, born January 28, i860, educated at 
McGill College, Montreal, is a member of the law firm of Archibald & 
Foster, Montreal, Canada; (b) Samuel Baxter, born December 5, 1861, 
graduated at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, married Minnie 
M., daughter of Nathanial Norton of Chicago, III, October 8, 1885, is 
a lawyer and the attorney for the Grand Trunk Railway in Chicago, 111., 
where he resides; their children are Samuel Norton, born August 8, 1888, 
and George Getty, born February 14, 1889; (c) Ellen Gertrude, born 
November 19, 1864, married, June 3, 1886, Gardner Stevens, eldest 
son of Hon. G. G. Stevens of Waterloo, Quebec, where they now reside, 
and their children are Gertrude Foster, born April 26, 1887; Harold 
Gardner, born March 14, 1889; Ellen Greene, born October 25, 1890. 

(5) Mary Harriet, botn February 20, 1838, married, October 8, 1861, 
Gilman Henry Tucker. She died in Boston, Mass., January 28, 1869; 
buried in the Tucker lot in Raj-mond, N. H. Mr. Tucker was gradu- 
ated, as were his wife and her sisters, Anna and I'-Uen, from Kimball 
Union Academy. He graduated at Dartmouth College and read law, 
but became agent or manager of the school-book department of Charles 
Scribner & Co., in Boston, 1866-78; in New York, 1878-83; secretary 
Publishers' Association, 1883-90, of American Book Company, 1890-, 
and has been since 1887 president of the Dartmouth Alumni Association 
of New York. 

Dr. George B. Green died May 31, 1866. He is well remembered in 
Windsor as a large-hearted, generous man, very hospitable, with ready 
sympathy for all in distress and trouble, and sure to express his s}-mpa- 
thy by acts of benevolence He was a true and firm friend, very de- 
cided in his opinions, and fearless in expressing them. He was especially 
kind and indulgent to his children, who were left at an early age without 
a mother's care. He gave to all of them a good education, and trained 
them to habits of virtue and usefulness. He was interested in a variety 
of things, medicine, horticulture, farming, the raising of fruit, landscape 
gardening, as well as in plans for the improvement of the village in 
which he lived. At one time he owned a large amount of real estate in 
Windsor, and he was always very pleased to do his part in aiding public 



Biographical. 871 



improvements. He was devoted to bis church, the Old South, and a 
regular and devout attendant upon its services. In his will he provided 
that the church should share equally with each of his children in his 
estate. 

WARDNER, GEORGE, was born in Windsor, Vt., August 14, 
18 1 5, the eldest in a family of twelve children of Allen and Mi- 
nerva (Bingham) Wardner. (For genealogy see article under the name 
of Wardner in this work). He received his early education at the acad- 
emy in Randolph, Vt., and at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H., 
1831—33. He soon after entered the University of Vermont, studied 
law with Giles F. Yates of Schenectady, N. Y., the late Jonathan H. 
Hubbard in Windsor, Vt., and Ketchum & Fessenden, New York city, 
and was graduated from the Harvard Law School in 1839. After prac- 
ticing law for a few }'ears in New York city, he returned to Windsor 
and engaged in the mercantile business from 1S46 to 1851. He repre- 
sented the town in the Legislature in 1852. In 1861 he traveled in 
Europe on business and pleasure combined, and again in 1863 and '64. 
After his return he resided in Boston several years, but during the 
later years of his life made his home in Windsor. He married, Septem- 
ber 28, 1879, Ann Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Dr. George B. and 
Mary Hatch (Jones) Green, who was born in Windsor, Vt., August 28, 
1830, and now resides at the old Green homestead, which her husband 
purchased in 1882. After a lingering illness of eighteen months, which 
he bore with great patience and fortitude, he died at his residence in 
Windsor, Agust 28, 1885. in the hope of a blessed immortality, and 
was buried in his wife's family lot in the old South Church cemetery. 
He had a brilliant intellect and cultivated mind, a remarkable memory, 
was fluent and entertaining in conversation, kind-hearted, generous 
and e.xceedingly sensitive, a good son, brother and husband, and a true 
friend. 

GILL, JAMES SEEL, was born in Leeds. Yorkshire, England, 
November 26, 1828, and was the eldest child in a family of six sons 
of Thomas and Elizabeth (Seel) Gill. His father was a man of wealth, his 
business being that of master dyer, but in consequence of the financial 



8/2 History ok Windsor County. 

panic in 1837, he lost his property. In 1844 he removed his family to 
America, and settled in Northampton, Mass. James S. attended a private 
school in England, and about three years after his father's failure, he com- 
menced to learn the dyer's trade, and continued the apprenticeship after 
the family removed to Northampton. At the age of seventeen he took 
charge of the dye house at the Thomas Bottomly Mill, Leicester, Mass., 
and was afterwards employed by James Roy & Co., of West Troy, N. Y. ; 
C. L. Harding & Co., of Oxford, Mass ; and Edward Harris, of Woon- 
socket, R. I On account of his health he gave up his trade, and en- 
gaged in the mercantile business in Leicester and Holliston, Mass He 
carried on business at these places and was engaged in other enterprises 
till 1863, when he was again engaged as dyer by C. L. Harding & Co., 
who were at that time running the Burlington Woolen Mills located at 
Winooski, Vt. In 1868, he became a member of the firm of George W. 
Harding & Co., Ludlow, Vt., then operating the Ludlow Woolen Mills, 
and in 1878 he purchased the entire plant, and continued to run the busi- 
iness alone till September i, 1885, when other parties became interested 
with him. Mr. Gill has always been a Republican in politics. In 1849 
he married Miss Rachel M. Wood. An adopted daughter, Florence 
Harding, died in 1886. They have no other children. 



TUTTLE, Colonel OSCAR STRATTON, was born in Weathers- 
field, Vt., August 23, 1832, and was the second son and third child 
in a family of six children of Augustus and Phila (Tolles) Tuttle. His 
father was born in Cavendish, Vt., May 25, 1796, and was the .second son 
of Jedcdiah and Lydia (Porter) Tuttle. Oscar passed his 'boyhood on 
his father's farm, attending the district school. At the age of sixteen he 
became a clerk in a general store at Woodstock, and afterwards at Per- 
kinsville, and subsequently went to Boston, where he remained till 1854 
or 1855, when he came to Springfield, Vt., and was employed by Selden 
Cook. He remained in Mr. Cook's employ till 1857, when he opened 
with his brother, Augustus, a general store in Cavendish village, under 
the firm name of A. & O. S. Tuttle. Soon after removing to Cavendish 
he became interested in the Vermont State Militia, and became a mem- 
ber of the Cavendish Light Infantry. On July 31, 1858, he was commis- 
sioned by Governor Ryland Fletcher, second lieutenant of this company, 



Biographical. 873 



which was then attached to the Twenty- fifth Regiment of the State 
MiUtia. He received a commission dated June 11, i860, from Governor 
Hiland Hall, as first lieutenant in this company, which was then attached 
to the Second Vermont Regiment. Governor Erastus Fairbanks, under 
date of December 25, i860, commissioned him captain, the company be- 
ing then known as Company E, Second Vermont Regiment. On the 
breaking out of the late war Colonel Tuttle raised a company of volunteers, 
which was attached to the First Vermont Regiment. He was present at 
the battle of Big Bethel, and on the termination of his term of enlistment 
he re-enlisted and was commissioned by Governor Fairbanks, Septem- 
ber 25, 1861, major of the Sixth Vermont Regiment, which was a part of 
the First Vermont Brigade. On September 19, 1862, he received a com- 
mission from Governor Frederick Holbrook as lieutenant-colonel of the 
same regiment, and under date of December 18, 1862, as colonel. He 
took part in most of the battles fought in the Virginia campaign, was in 
the seven days' fight before Richmond, at Crampton Pass, Antietam, 
Fredericksburg, etc. Owing to ill-health Colonel Tuttle was obliged to 
resign his command, and was discharged from the United States service 
March 18, 1863. On leaving the army he returned to Cavendish. 
During his term of service he had retained his interest in the firm of 
A. & O. S. Tuttle, but in the fall of 1863 they removed to Holyoke, 
Mass., and confined their business to dry goods. After a few years the 
firm was dissolved. Colonel Tuttle continuing alone untill his death. In 
politics a Republican, the Colonel never sought political honors. He 
was appointed by President Johnson, January 3, 1867, Assistant Assessor 
of Internal Revenue for the Tenth District of Massachusetts, which posi- 
tion he held during that and the Grant administration. He was one of 
the board of fire engineers for the city of Holyoke, and was for a num- 
ber of years chief engineer of the fire department. Colonel Tuttle was a 
thirty-second degree Mason, and was a member of the Springfield Com- 
mandery of Knights Templar, and was one of the founders of the New 
England Mutual Relief Association, and was for many years clerk of that 
organization. He was one of the trustees of the Holyoke Savings Bank, 
and also member of the Kilpatrick Post, G. A. R., of Holyoke. He was 
careful, thorough, methodical, and honorable in his business relations. 
As a citizen he was always ready to aid the right and discourage dishon- 
no 



874 History of Windsor County. 

esty in politics or public business. He married, June I, 1858, Ellen M., 
daughter of Selden and Marj' (Batchelder) Cook. The issue of this mar- 
riage was one child, Edward Oscar, born in Holyoke, Mass , January 16, 
1865. He attended the public schools of his native city, and graduated 
in 1886 from the Boston Technological Institute. He is at present en- 
gaged in the banking business at Minneapolis, Minn. Colonel Tuttle 
died at Holyoke, December 15, 1881. 



WATSON, Hon. EDWIN CHENEY, was born in Worcester, 
May 26, 1818. He was the oldest of eight children of Oliver and 
Esther (Brown) Watson. His ancestors first settled in Connecticut, but 
subsequently moved to Massachusetts, where his father was born at Old 
Brookfield, October 8, 1785. Oliver Watson came to Montpelier about 
1816, and subsequently settled in Worcester, of which town he was one 
of the pioneers. He soon after married Esther, daughter of Amasa and 
Sibyl (Stoddard) Brown — who was born in Medway, Mass., March 11, 
'794 — May 29, 18 17, which marriage was the first one in town. Their 
children, besides the subject of this sketch, all of whom were born in 
Worcester, were Sibyl E., born April 21, 1 820, who married Nelson H. 
Caswell, July 4. 1843, and resides at Chelsea; Caroline B., born Novem- 
ber 16, 1822, who married Alvin Colby, March 27, 1842, and Joseph A. 
Hadley June 26, 1876, and died at St. Johnsbury, Sejjtember 13, 1889; 
Amasa B , born February 27, 1826, who married Martha Brooks, of Mus- 
kegon, Mich , October 7, 1856, served in the Union Army and was mus- 
tered out as major, and died at Grand Rapids, Mich., of which city he 
was at one time mayor, September 18, 1888; Oliver L., born Ma\' i, 
1828. who married Nancy C. Darling, of Worcester, August 19, 1852, 
and Delia A. Peake, of Orange, October 18, 1880, and is a retired phy- 
sician residing at Montpelier; Lucinda L., who was born September 4, 
1830, and died March 29, 1852; Olive O., born November 27, 1832, 
who married James Rice, since Secretary of State in Colorado, Novem- 
ber 13. 1854, and died August 29, i860; and Algernon Sidney, who was 
born F"cbiuary 6. 1838, and died July 9, 1880. 

But meager educational advantages were afforded the youth of his 
native town in those days, and Edwin C. obtained only a limited com- 
mon school education, but a correct training supplementing a good 



Biographical. 875 



native ability made him a successful man of business and public affairs. 
At the age of eighteen years he went to Leominster, Mass., to work, 
but his uncle, Hon. Milton Brown, of Worcester, having been elected 
by the Legislature superintendent of the Vermont State Prison, in 
1837, he came to Windsor and served as a guard, and subsequently 
as warden or keeper, during the four years of Mr. Brown's incum- 
bency as superintendent. In Mr. Brown's family at Windsor he met 
Miss Sophia, daughter of Captain Seth and Anna (Chase) Johnson, of 
Cornish, N. H., whom he subsequently married, January i, 1844, They 
settled in Worcester and Mr. Watson engaged in farming at first, but 
later in the milling and tanning business. Eight children were born to 
them, as follows: Charles A., born October 3, 1844, married Emma J. 
Hathaway of Calais. He served in the Union army in Company C, 
Thirteenth Regiment, and Company E, Seventeenth Regiment Vermont 
Volunteers, and was mustered out of the service as second lieutenant, 
and is now engaged in the carriage and granite business at Woodbury ; 
Emily F. was born January 16, 1847, and died August 29, 1861 ; 
Henry A., born June 21, 1849, graduated from the Bryant & Stratton 
Business College, Boston, and from the medical department of the Uni- 
versity of Vermont in 1874, he practiced his profession at Rindge and 
Henniker, N. H., and White River Junction, Vt., married Clara A. Teele, 
of Winchendon, Mass., and died January 4, 1888; Lucinda S., born 
March 5, 1852, married Frank W. Cameron, of Hartford, and died 
April 12, 1888; George A. was born August 27, 1854, and died Au- 
gust II, 1856; Alfred E., born August 6, 1857, was educated at 
Kimball Union and St. Johnsbury Academies in the class of 1879, 
and at Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1883, and while 
in college was managing editor and business manager of The Dart- 
mouth, was secretary of civil and military affairs of Vermont for the 
biennial term 1884—86, and in the latter year, when the new Board of 
Railroad Commissioners was constituted, was appointed its clerk, which 
position he still holds, was assistant town clerk of Hartford in 1884 
and 1885, and Director of the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company 
for Windsor county, 1886-90, is a member of the school board at Hart- 
ford where he resides, is the accredited representative of the New 
England Associated Press for this section of the Slate, correspondent 



876 History of Windsor County. 

of the Boston Globe, and has recently been elected treasurer of the 
White River Savings Bank at White River Junction, and married Mary 
Maud Carr, of New York city, granddaughter of John Anderson the to- 
bacconist, July 3, 1883 ; Olive R., born August 20, i860, was educated 
at St. Johnsbury Academy and at the New England Conservatory of 
Music, Boston, and resides with her brother, Alfred E., at Hartford ; Ed- 
die Ellsworth, born January 10, 1863, died May 16, 1863. 

In 1859 and i860, Edwin C. Watson was elected Assistant Judge of 
Washington County court, and in 1861 and 1862 represented the town 
of Worcester in the General Assembly, being the first one born in town 
to represent it in the Legislature. He entered the employ of Van Or- 
num, Braley & Co., latterly known as French, Watson & Co., of Hartford, 
Vt, manufacturers of agricultural implements, in 1861, and at the time of 
his death was the senior member of the firm, owning a half interest. He 
married for his second wife, November 24, 1864, Mrs. Mary L. Hayward, 
daughter of Horace H. and Sally (Kemp) Collier, of Worcester, by whom 
he had three children, viz.: Edwin E., who was born October 10, 1867, 
and died February 27, 1868; George H., who was born December 12, 
1869, was educated at Burlington Business College, and resides with his 
mother at Montpelier; Lettie A., who was born May 13, 1873, and died 
August 18, 1873. 

In March, 1867, Judge Watson moved his family to Hartford, where 
he resided until his death of cancer of the stomach, after an illness of 
about a year, December 20, 1885. While living in Hartford he held all 
of the more important town offices which he would accept, and repre- 
sented the town in the General Assembly in 1874. At the time of his 
death he was prominently mentioned for State Senator from Windsor 
county in 18S6. He was also director of the Vermont Mutual Fire In- 
surance Company for Windsor county several years. Judge Watson, 
politically, was a Whig, and later a stalwart Republican, and his religious 
preference was Methodist. 

BILLINGS, Hon. FREDERICK, the son of Oel Billings and Sophia 
Wetherbe, the fourth child of a family of nine children — six sons 
and three daughters — all of whom lived to adult age The Billings 
family is an old one, dating back to the time of Henry III., and num- 
bering among its more distinguished members a Lord Chief Justice of 





^^.^'C-^^^C-t-'T.,^ c^-^^'^l^^'^'tAy L^-^^, 




Biographical. 877 



England Mr. Billings' great-grandfather, Samuel Billings, of New 
London, Conn , was killed in the defense of Fort Griswold, in 1781 ; and 
his grandfather, John Billings, was also a soldier in the War of the Rev- 
olution. The latter married Nancy, the daughter of Governor Jonas 
Galusha of Vermont, and they had ten children, of whom Oel Billings, 
the father of Frederick, was one. Frederick Billings was born in Royal- 
ton, Vt., September 27, 1823. When he was twelve years old he re- 
moved with his father to Woodstock, which was thereafter the family 
home. He fitted for college at Meriden, N. H., and at the age of seven- 
teen entered the University of Vermont, from which he graduated in 
August, 1844. Among his classmates in college were Bishop W. B. W. 
Howe of South Carolina, Judge C. L. Benedict of New York, the late 
Rev. M. M. Colburn and the late Hon. William Collamer of Woodstock. 
Young Billings was a brilliant scholar, and his wit and flow of spirits 
made him a favorite in college and social circles. After leaving college 
he studied law in the ofhce of Hon. O. P. Chandler of Woodstock, and 
was admitted to the Windsor County Bar in 1848. He was appointed 
secretary of civil and military affairs by Governor Horace Eaton in 1846, 
and held that office during Governor Eaton's two terms as governor. In 
1848 the California "gold fever" broke out and Mr. Billings' attention 
was especially directed to the new Eldorado by hi;: brother-in-law, Cap- 
tain B. Simmons, who was a ship captain and had made repeated voy- 
ages to the Pacific coast, and in February, 1849, ''^ company with Cap- 
tain and Mrs. Simmons, he went to San Francisco by the Isthmus route. 
Mrs. Simmons contracted Panama fever on the way and died four days 
after her arrival, and Captain Simmons died in San Francisco a year 
later. Mr. Billings opened the first law office in San Francisco and at 
once made his mark. It was at a time and in a place where success in 
his profession meant wealth and influence, and he rapidly acquired both. 
He became a partner in the leading law firm of San Francisco, that of 
Halleck, Peachy, Billings & Park, of which General Halleck, subse- 
quently for a time general in chief of the Union armies, and Trenor W. 
Park were members. The law firm was dissolved in 1861, on Mr. Billing's 
going to England in company with General Fremont upon business con- 
nected with the General's great Mariposa estate. Mr. Billings was an 
influential and earnest actor in the e.xciting events of the formative per- 



878 History of Windsor County. 

iod in the history of California, and active in the various movements for 
the establishment of law, order and the institutions of education, religion 
and civil government, through which the new State became a stable 
Christian commonwealth. He was especially active in defeating the 
conspirators who endeavored to detach California from the Union at the 
outbreak of the civil war, and in company with Starr King he made a 
tour of the State, in behalf of the National cause, everywhere electrifying 
the audiences which assembled to hear them by his patriotic appeals. 
Although he was an unusually impressive speaker and peculiarly fitted 
for a public career, Mr. Billings never cared to enter political life. He 
accepted the responsible position of attorney-general of California, but 
held no other political office, although often pressed to take nominations 
for such offices during his residence in San Francisco. After the re-elec- 
tion of President Lincoln, and while he was reconstructing his cabinet for 
his second term, the California delegation in Congress urged upon him 
the propriety of giving California a representative in the new cabinet, 
and unanimously recommended Mr. Billings for the place. Only two 
days before Mr. Lincoln was assassinated, he gave assurance to a mem- 
ber of the delegation that their request would be complied with. After 
Mr. Lincoln's death, the Legislature of California, then in session, unani- 
mously passed a resolution requesting President Johnson to appoint Mr. 
Billings to his cabinet as a representative of the Pacific coast. These 
facts attest the high estimation in which Mr. Billings was held by the 
people of California at the time when he left that State to settle down in 
his old home in Vermont. 

He remained a bachelor up to his thirty-ninth year. Li March, 1862, 
he was married in New York to Julia, daughter of Dr. Eleazar Parmly, 
of that city. Soon after this event he closed up his business in San 
Francisco, and after a period spent in foreign travel, he returned in 1864 
to Woodstock to make his home there. In 1869 he purchased the 
Marsh estate comprising the homestead of the late Charles Marsh, father 
of George P. Marsh, which occupied the m'ost beautiful and conspicuous 
site in that beautiful village. Mr. Billings twice almost wholly recon- 
structed the mansion, and in the words of the historian of the town of 
Woodstock "he went on in making additions and improvements, till at 
length in the extent of territory, in the variety and orderly arrangement 



Biographical. 879 



of the various parts of this wide domain and in the convenience and ele- 
gance of the buildings erected thereon, his home on the hill came to re- 
semble one of the baronial estates of the old world, and is not surpassed 
in these respects, and in beauty of situation, by any similar establishment 
in New England." He became president of the Woodstock National 
Bank about this time, and took an active interest in business, and politi- 
cal and public affairs, both in Vermont and in the city of New York, 
where he had a handsome residence and spent his winters. In 1872 he 
was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor of Vermont. 
It was the first convention held after the adoption of the biennial system 
and other changes in the constitution of our State. Mr. Billings was less 
known then than afterwards, and owing to various causes and complica- 
tions attending the peculiar condition of Vermont politics, he failed, by 
only a vote or two, of the nomination. He accepted the situation in a 
manly and eloquent speech in the convention, at the close of which, had 
it been then possible to reverse the action of the body, he would have 
been nominated by acclamation. At no subsequent time would he con- 
sent to be a candidate for civil office. He, however, did not lose his in- 
terest in State and National politics, and in 1880 he was chosen as a del- 
egate to the Republican National Convention, and presented the name of 
George F. Edmunds as the choice of the Republicans of Vermont for 
president in one of the finest and most striking speeches of that memor- 
able convention. He was a prominent member of the Union League 
Club of New York City, and was known in New York and elsewhere as 
one of the strong supporters of the Republican part)' with voice and vote 
and purse. He was also a member of the Lawyers, Century and Down 
Town Clubs, of New York, and a member of the New York Chamber of 
Commerce. After the failure of Mr. Jay Cook in 1873, and the appar- 
ent collapse of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company Mr. Billings be- 
came interested in that great enterprise. He made extensive purchases 
of its stock and securities, then greatly depressed; he brought fresh cap- 
ital to the coffers of the company, and became its president; the work of 
construction was resumed with vigor, the vast tracts of land granted by 
Congress were marketed, and the road was finally pushed through to 
completion Shortly before the occurrence of this event, Mr. Billings 
disposed of enough pf his interest in the company to the combination 



88o History of Windsor County. 

represented by Mr. Henry Villard, to give the latter control. But while 
the fame of the final actual accomplishment of the grand result thus fell 
to another, it remains true that Mr. Billings was the master spirit of the 
enterprise and the chief architect of its success. The transaction with 
Villard added several millions to Mr. Billing's ample fortune. The latest 
great commercial enterprise to which he gave his name and help was the 
Nicaragua Canal. He was one of the incorporators, and at the time of 
his death a director and chairman of the executive committee of the com- 
pany. He was also a director or trustee in the following corporations, 
American tlxchange National Bank, Farmer's Loan & Trust Company, 
Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, the Manhattan Life Insurance 
Company, the Manhattan Savings Institution, the Presbj'terian Hospital, 
the Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled (all of New York City), the Con- 
necticut River Railroad Company, the Vermont V'alley and Sullivan 
County Railroads, the Connecticut and Passumpsic and the Rutland 
Railroad Companies. He was president of the Woodstock Railway 
Company and of the Woodstock National Bank. 

Mr. Billings' attachment to his Vermont home was shown in many 
ways. He was a generous giver to all good objects in Woodstock. The 
Congregational Church there, of which he was a member, was an espe- 
cial object of his love and care. He built its chapel at a cost oi $15,000 
as a memorial to his father and mother. He rebuilt the parsonage; and 
among his latest cares was the reconstruction of the church building 
which he transformed at an outlay of $40,000 into one of the most taste- 
ful and appropriate church structures in all New England. Nothing, 
however, will cause Mr. Billings's name to be held in higher and more 
lasting remembrance than his gift to his alma mater, the University of 
Vermont. In 1867 he became a member of its board of trustees and 
held the office for six years. After the death of Hon. George P. Marsh, 
United States Minister to Italy, in 1882, Mr. Billings purchased his 
library, famous among scholars ami philologists, gave it to the Univer- 
sity, and signified at the same time his intention to erect a library 
building worthy of the Marsh collection and of the choice library of the 
University. He engaged the services of the greatest American archi- 
tect, the late H. H. Richardson, and the Billings Library stands the 
noble monument of his munificence, the pride of the city of Burling- 



Biographical. 88 i 



ton, and the admiration of every visitor. It represents, including the 
cost of the Marsh collection and Mr. Billings's gifts of money for the 
purchase of books and for catalogueing and an endowment fund of 
$50,000, an outlay of nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Mr. Bill- 
ings also, during the last year of his life, gave $50,000 to Amherst 
College, and $50,000 to Mr. Moody's School at Northfield, Mass. 
He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the Uni- 
versity of Vermont at its last commencement. Seven children were 
the fruit of Mr. Billings's marriage, all, save the oldest, born in Wood- 
stock. His oldest son, Parmly, died in 1888. The third son, Ehrick, 
died in 1889. Mrs. Billings, with the other children, Laura, Frederick, 
Mary, Elizabeth and Richard survive him, to mourn the loss of one of 
the most affectionate and beloved of husbands and fathers. Mr. Bill- 
ings' health had been impaired for many years. His life was prolonged 
by rigid dieting and skillful medical care; but his disease made very ser- 
ious inroads upon his strength and spirits. A partial stroke of paralysis, 
due to enfeebled action of the heart, last winter, gave a distinct premo- 
nition of the end. From this he rallied sufficiently to be taken to Wood- 
stock, and to ride out at times; but as the summer wore away his 
strength declined, and towards the last he became a great sufferer from 
angina pectoris. He was conscious of his condition during all his illness 
and contemplated the end, which he knew might come suddenly at any 
moment, with Christian resignation and hope. He died September 30, 
1890, and Vermont lost one of her foremost citizens and the world a no- 
ble man. 

Mr. Billings was one of the remarkable men of the present half cen- 
tury. For more than a generation, ever since in 1848 he went with the 
Argonauts to California, he has been prominent in one or another of 
many of the great national enterprises which have made this age mem- 
orable. He had the two distinct capacities which are rarely united in 
the same man, the capacity to organize and to execute. When the man 
appears who can combine these two functions, opportunities seek him, 
power comes to him, labors and responsibilities accumulate upon him. 
Mr. Billings died too early by twenty years for a man of his constitu- 
tional vigor, from overwork. A friend spoke the truth of him when he 
said that Mr. Billings could not live longer because he had lived three 
111 



882 History of Windsor County. 



lives already. Work came not only because of his abilities, but also be- 
cause of his principles, his tastes, his enthusiasms. He was as eager in 
matters relating to learning, education, art, politics, charity and religion, 
as he was in matters of business. In fact he made all these interests a 
part of his business. In California, in New York, in Vermont, his ex- 
tensive financial and railroad occupations did not so exhaust him but 
that he could find time and thought for churches, colleges, books, pic- 
tures even bric-a-brac and flowers. He was a man of universal sympa- 
thy. There is hardly anything good in human life into which he did not 
put some of his best thought and feeling and will. In many fields out- 
side of his specialties he e.xcelled. His literary taste was exquisite. His 
appreciation of works of genius in all departments was discriminating and 
his enjoyment of them keen. He was an orator of rare power. He 
could electrify a vast assembly in a political convention, and he could 
move and edify a prayer meeting. His ideas of education were so sound 
and comprehensive and scholarly, that he was at one time urged to take 
the presidency of the University of California. He might had he chosen 
have gone to the (.Inited States Senate from California, in such high es- 
teem were his statesmanlike qualities held by his fellow citizens of that 
State. In all these fields Mr. Billings was admirable — in many even 
great. But he was at his best in his social and religious character. In 
his home he was the most affectionate of men. He was a loving brother 
and devoted son. In his prosperity he was thoughtful for the welfare of 
all his relatives, especially of his parents, for whom he provided every 
comfort which his loving care could devise. He took great delight in 
the society of his neighbors and townsmen. Coming every year to his 
beautiful home in Woodstock, he became more and more attached to it 
and its surroundiuLjs. He was fond of being known as "Frederick Bill- 
ings of Woodstock." He took intense and ever-growing delight in those 
rural scenes and associations and companionships which every natural 
heart enjoys. Mr. Hillings was deeply and warmly religious. He had 
the simple strong faitii in divine realities which large, generous natures 
usually have. It was at one time his purpose to enter the Christian min 
istry; and though he seemed to be providentially diverted from that ca- 
reer, he never ceased to regret the change in his course as a privation, 
and throughout his life in all religious activities and ministrations, lie 



Biographical. 883 



was actually more than half a clergyman, and always a minister. Of his 
benefactions we need not speak more at length, at least to our Vermont 
readers. Every one knows of them that they are not more admirable 
for their magnitude and variety, than for the modest, beautiful and lov- 
ing spirit with which they were bestowed. Rarely in our day has 
Christian stewardship been so admirably exemplified. While all who 
have known how extreme have been Mr. Billings's sufferings during the 
last months will breathe a sigh of relief that he has entered into rest, 
there will be deep sorrow in many hearts that the world has lost such 
a man, has lost so much energy, so much magnanimity, so much affec- 
tion, has lost such a noble example of well rounded Christian manliness. 
Surely such a life cannot fail in some measure to reproduce itself in 
other lives made better by its example and inspiration. 



GILL FAMILY, The. — The pioneer of this family in Springfield 
was a carpenter and mill-wright, who came from Exeter, R. I., about 
the year 1770. Previous to his becoming a resident of this town, the 
original proprietors at a meeting held by them March i, 1763, voted to 
give any person starting a saw-mill on their grant twenty acres of land 
and furnish a set of irons for the mill, on condition that said millshould 
be kept in good repair for a term of fifteen years. This right had been 
secured by Simon Stevens and Page Harriman, and they by deed dated 
February 8, 1771, transferred it to Daniel Gill, the tract in question be- 
ing located at the lower falls on the Black River, now the site of Gould's 
mills. Mr, Gill proceeded to blast the rock on his purchase preparatory 
to building, expending considerable time and money, but Richard Mor- 
ris claimed the tract by title from the province of New York, and though 
overtures were made to Mr. Gill by Mr. Morris to settle the difficulty, 
he abandoned the project. He was elected a member of the Legislature 
of 1784 and 1792, and while attending the latter at Rutland was pre- 
sented with a petition signed by 195 inhabitants of Springfield and 
vicinity, bearing date of October 19, 1792, appointing him with Captain 
Abner Bisbee as agents to select homesteads for them in Upper Canada, 
in response to a proclamation issued by John G. Simcoe, governor of 
that province. Returning from that mission he was taken sick and died 
at Sing Sing, N. Y. His wife's maiden name was Mercy Whitford, of 



884 History of Windsor County. 



Exeter, R. I., and they had six children, viz. : John, married, but left 
no children, and died in Springfield ; Amos W'hitford, built the house 
now standing on the Gill homestead, located in the eastern part of the 
town and afterwards emigrated to New York State, where he died ; Bet- 
sey, married Mr. Dyke, of Weathersfield ; Mary, married Bradley Wil- 
son and removed West ; and Martha, married Mr. Ranney of Westmin- 
ster, Vt. Amos, son of Daniel, was born in 1765, and married Sally, 
daughter of Roger and Huldah (Stodder) Bates, December 30, 1790. 
They had eleven children: Arnold, born September 26, 1791, moved 
to Hartland; George R. ; Daniel A., born September g, 1796, married 
Theoda Tower, and died March 7, 1886, leaving no issue ; Mary, died 
single ; Charles ; Martha, died single ; Sarah, died young ; Amos, died 
unmarried ; Sarah (deceased), married Oscar P. Rice, of Grafton, Vt. ; 
Nancy (deceased), married John C. Richardson of Westminster, Vt. ; 
Albert G. is a resident of Des Moines, la. Amos died November 13, 
1847. George R., son of Amos, was born March 24, 1793, married 
Theodita Walker and had si.\ children, viz. : John R. ; Horace, resides 
in Monticello, la.; Martha, wife of Franklin Tolles, of Weathersfield; 
Maryetta, wife of Honestus Stevens, of Felchville, Vt. ; George, resides 
in Monticello, la., and Robert B. George R. died February 29, 1856. 
John R., son of George R., born in Springfield November 12, 1816, 
married Mary Chittenden, and has three children, viz.: George T., Mary, 
both residents of Springfield, and Kate, wife of Lewis Bowen, of Alstead, 
N. H. Robert B., son of George R., was born in Springfield, April 9, 
1830, married Mary Ward and has two children, Sarah and Jennie O., 
and has been a resident of Weathersfield since 1866. Charles, son of 
Amos, born in Springfield September 14, 1801, married Sophia Healy 
and had five children, viz.: Ellen, wife of D. R. Judkins, of Rockford, 
111.; Frank C, resides at Rockford, 111.; Daniel O.; Sophia, died young, 
and Henry C, of Rockford, 111. Charles died at Springfield, Vt. 
Daniel O., son of Charles, was born at Hartland, Vt., August 15, 1837, 
and was adopted by his uncle, Daniel A. Gill, when he was three years 
old, and has since resided in Springfield. He married for his first wife 
Helen C. Westgate. His second wife was Lucy J. Butterfield, and their 
children are Frank D. and Fred B. By consulting the political history 
of the town the reader will learn that Mr. Gill has been actively engaged 
in town affairs. 




//r^ (7l\.. ^ii^^^ 



Biographical. 885 



PINGRY, Hon. WILLIAM MORRILL, of Weathersfield, was born 
at Salisbury, N. H., May 28, 1806, being the second son of William 
and Mary (Morrill) Pingry. He studied law with Samuel I. Wells of 
his native town, also with the firm of Shaw & Chandler of Danville, Vt. 
He became a member of the Caledonia County Bar in June, 1832, and 
commenced the practice of his profession at Waitsfield, Vt., where he re- 
mained nine years. In 1841 he came to Perkinsville, Vt., and excepting 
from November 1854 to August 1857, when he was cashier of the 
White River Bank at Bethel, Vt., always resided there and followed his 
profession until his death in May 1885. Mr. Pingry was State Auditor 
of Vermont from 1853 to i860, was county commissioner, was a mem- 
ber of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1860-61 and 1868, and 
a member of the Senate of 1 869 and 1 870, was Assistant Judge in Wash- 
ington and Windsor counties, and also a member of the Constitutional 
Convention of 1850. His heart was warmly enlisted in the anti-slavery 
cause, with which he was identified at an early period, he being one of 
the " 319 " Vermonters who voted for James G. Birney as a Presidential 
candidate in 1840, when the total Liberty party vote in the United 
States was 7,059. He was a consistent church member and was for 
over forty years deacon of the Baptist Church and for almost thirty- five 
years superintendent of the Sabbath school. The records of the Ver- 
mont Baptists for the past forty- five years or more show that his coun- 
sels were sought by that denomination throughout the State. He served 
his brethren often as presiding officer of different organizations, also on 
various boards of trust, on important committees, and at ecclesiastical 
councils. He was the first president of the Vermont Baptist Sabbath 
School Convention organized in 1870. As a corporate member of the 
board of trustees of the Vermont Academy, he was chosen the first presi- 
dent and held the office till his death. He had collected much valuable 
material for the town history of Weathersfield. A volume entitled 
" A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Moses Pengry of Ips- 
wich, Mass., so far as Ascertained, Collected and Arranged by William 
M. Pingry," and published in 1 881, is the result of labor extending 
through seven years. He married, first. Miss Lucy G. Brown and their 
two children are Mary Helen, wife of Dr. Orvis F. Bigelow of Amherst, 
Mass., and Gratia Maria, wife of Cyrus C. Boyntou of Los Angeles, Cal. 



886 History ok Windsor County. 

He married, second, Mrs. Lucy C. Richardson nee Carpenter. She sur- 
vives him and resides in Minneapolis, Minn. Mr. Pingry in i860 re- 
ceived the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Dartmouth College. 



WARDNER, CLARK, was born in Reading, Vt., November 4, 1823. 
Philip, his great-grandfather, emigrated from Rothensol, Germany, 
in 1750, subsequently came to Reading, and lived with his son Frederick 
until his death in May, 1 8 19, aged ninety-two years and eleven months. 
He was a mason by trade. Frederick Wardner, his grandfather, son of 
Philip, from Alstead, N. H., moved to Reading in 1796 and located on 
Wardner Hill. He married Rebecca Waldo and had children as follows: 
Allen, Calvin, Luther, Shubael, Polly, Abigail, Joseph and James. Fred- 
erick died in Reading December 17, 1825, aged seveny-two years and 
eight months. Of his children, Joseph died when about twenty- one 
years of age. Polly married Charles Leavens, a farmer of Reading, and 
Charles Leavens, a farmer living at Albert Lea, Wis , is her only child 
living. Abigail married Ira Hatch, a farmer of Mendon, Vt. Allen was 
a prominent man of Windsor, Vt., and father of Mrs. Evarts, wife of 
Hon. William M. Evarts of New York. Luther married Chloe Leavens, 
was a farmer and resided in West Windsor, Vt. Shubael, merchant, re- 
sided in Windsor. James was a physician and practiced his profession in 
Windsor, and Plainfield, N. H. 

Calvin Wardner, born August 26, 1782, resided on the old farm home 
in Reading, built the large faim house and capacious barns now stand- 
ing, served in positions of trust and responsibility, as selectman, lister, etc. 
He possessed much decision of character, quick perceptive powers and 
was tenacious of his opinions. He was held in high esteem, and was 
often resorted to for advise and aid. In politics a Whig, and in religious 
belief a Universalist. He married, first, January 15, 18 18, Sarah Fay, 
born in October 1797; she died January 7, 1822. He married, second, 
November 7, 1822, Rebecca Clark, born March 22, 1789, died July 7, 
1830. He died at the old homestead February 20, 1858. The only 
children now living by the first marriage are Ann, born January 29, 
1819, wife of Hosea Benjamin; Sarah L., wife of George Hawkins of 
Chicago, 111., who has one child, Ray; and Calvin W., married Luella 
Merrill, and has one child, George, living in Denver, Colorado. Their 



Biographical. 887 

other child was Betsey, born November 22, 1820, who was the wife of 
Loren W. Lawrence, and Henry a lawyer living in Sherbrook Province of 
Quebec is her only child living. The children by the second marriage 
were Clark; Sarah, born January 20, 1825, the wife of Henry L. Story, 
a farmer living in Windsor; Catharine, born July 30, 1826, the widow 
of Daniel Benjamin, and resides with her sister, Mrs. Story ; Frederick, 
born December 18, 1827, lives upon and carries on the homestead farm 
in Reading, and who married Mary A Russell, and has one child Clark 
Alton, who married Ida Fletcher and has two children : Philip Waldo 
and Frederick Alton. 

Clark Wardner lived on the homestead farm until 1866, becoming its 
owner by purchase from his f ither, and carried it on until that time. He 
has carried on the trade of stone mason for many years in Reading and 
many of the surrounding towns. In 1866 he sold the farm and pur- 
chased a residence in the village of Felchville, where he has since resided. 
Republican in politics, he has served the town in the positions of lister, 
selectman and justice of the peace. He is a member of the Universalist 
Church of Reading. He married, first, December 23, 1851. Lydia P. 
Heald of Cavendish. Ella R., born May 22, 1854, died November i, 
1875, and Calvin, who died in infancy, were the children by this union. 
His first wife died October 15, 1861. He married, second, January 7, 
1864, Mrs. Sarah E. Breck, widow of Joseph B. Breck and daughter of Da- 
vid and Susannah (Thayer) Brown. She was born November 17, 1826, in 
Springfield, Vt. She had one child by the former marriage, Willie D., 
born November 10, 185 i, died March 13, 1864. 



HALE, FRANK S , was born in West Windsor May 12, 1852. He 
descends the fifth generation from Samuel Hale, of Leominster, Mass., 
The latter had eight sons and one daughter, viz : Silas, Samuel, David. 
Benjamin, John, Israel, Levi, Joel, and Betsey. Samuel, the father, was a 
stalwart man, in stature six feet and three inches, well proportioned, and 
correspondingly powerful as he was laige. Six of his sons were revolu- 
tionary soldiers Silas saw Major Andre hung, and David was with the 
army at Valley Forge. Silas, David, Benjamin and Israel came together 
in 1773 and settled on adjoining farms in the northwestern part of Wind- 
sor, now West Windsor, and all died on the farms upon which they set- 



History of Windsor County. 



tied. Like his father, Benjamin was a powerful man. It is said of him 
that he could easily lift into a cart a barrel of cider by the chimes. Da- 
vid Hale married Olive Bailey, and had six children, viz.: David, Sam- 
uel, Oliver, Levi, Eliza, and Eleanor. David, the eldest son, settled in 
Michigan. Oliver was a prominent man of Windsor, lived and died there. 
Levi settled at Holland Purchase, N. Y., and died there. David, the 
father, died in Windsor. Samuel, the second of his sons, grandfather of 
Frank S., married Hepsey Chapin, and had nine children, viz.: Olive, Cal- 
vin, Orlin, David, Vashti, Hulda, Sylvanus, Rhoda, and Oliver. All 
lived to adult age, and, except Rhoda, were married and reared families. 
Samuel Hale was a soldier in the War of 1812. He died in West Wind- 
sor. His wife also died there. Olive was the wife of Elisha Banister, of 
West Windsor. Vashti is the wife of Daniel Marcy, of Hartland. Hulda 
is the widow of Gustavus Lake and lives in Michigan. Calvin, David, 
Hulda and Oliver live in Michigan, Sylvanus in Missouri, and Rhoda with 
her sister, Mrs. Marcy. Orlin, born March 5, 181 5, married Martha A., 
daughter of Chauncey and Matilda (Pierson) Hubbard. She was born 
December 13, 1825. Orlin was selectman during the war period, and 
was also town lister. Their children were, Alice S., born November 27, 
1849, died aged eight years; Frank S., Marvin C, born February 18, 
1854. married Addie E. Burk, and has children as follows : Sarah, Cora, 
and Clara (deceased), the two latter twins; Marvin C, owns and carries 
on the home farm, the only one of the four original Hale farms that has 
been kept in the family ; Harris, born June 13, i860, single, lives in Cali- 
fornia; Willie L., born January 29, 1862, single, lives in California. Orlin 
Hale died at the old homestead June 4, 1876. His widow lives with her 
son, Frank S. The latter received his education in the common schools of 
West Windsor, and at Green Mountain Perkin's Institute at South Wood- 
stock. He lived at home until twenty years of age, when he went to 
Springfield, Mass , where, for six years, he was clerk for A. F. Miles and 
G. E. Mansfield. In 1876 he returned to West Windsor for the purpose 
of settling his father's estate, when he went back to Springfield for one 
year. He then purchased of the heirs the old homestead, and carried it 
on till 1880. He then went to Windsor and clerked in the store of M. C. 
& H. M. Hubbard. In 1882 he sold to his brother the home farm and 
purchased what is known as the Nehemiah Parker farm in West Wind- 



Biographical. 889 



sor, and has resided there since. He is a Republican in politics, and has 
borne an active part in the public and political interests of the town. He 
has been lister six years, chairman of the board of selectmen in 1887-8-9 
and 1890-91, overseer of the poor since 1883, and representative to the 
Legislature in 1 884-5, also in 1 888-9, the second on committee of public 
buildings the first term, and part of the time acting chairman of the gen- 
eral committee, and also on a special joint committee on temperance in 
1888-9. He has served ten years on the town text book committee. He 
is a Master Mason, member of Vermont Lodge No. 18, Windsor. Mr. 
Hale married, November 2, 1880, Mary J., daughter of Joel P. and Emily 
A. (Waite) Hale Mrs. Hale was born November 4, 1858, in West Wind- 
sor. Samuel Hale, of Leominster, is the ancestor of both Mr. and Mrs. 
Hale. Her line of descent is as follows : Samuel, Silas, Joel, who mar- 
ried Cloe Taylor, and had three children, viz.: Cloe, Joel P., and Simeon 
Taylor. Joel P. and Emily A., her father and mother, lived and died in 
West Windsor. Their children were, Marcus E., John P. Dwight, (de- 
ceased), Mary J., and Herbert A. The two first are residents of Wind- 
sor, the latter of California. Mr. and Mrs. Hale have three children, viz.: 
Flo)'d O., born April 13, 1882 ; Glenn Joel, born February 13, 1884; and 
Carrie M., born May 29, 1886. 



STEELE, Hon. BENJAMIN H. Judge Benjamin H. Steele descends 
the eight generation from George, who came, in company with a 
brother John, from Essex county, England, about 163 1-2, settled at 
New Town (now Cambridge, Mass.), removed to Hartford, Conn., and 
died in 1663. He had four children, of whom James was the youngest 
child. He married, first, Anna Bishop, second, Bethia, widow of Deacon 
Samuel Stocking. In 167S he was appointed commissary in the King 
Philip War. James, second child of six children, of the above, by the 
first marriage, born about 1658, married Sarah Barnard, lived at Hartford, 
Conn. Rev. Stephen, the third in a family of six children of James and 
Sarah, born at Hartford, 1696, married May 2, 1720, Ruth Porter, of 
Hadley, Mass. He graduated at Yale College in 17 18, and was the first 
settled minister in Tolland in 1720. James, seventh child of the nine 
children of Rev. Stephen and Ruth, born February 6, 1737, married, first, 
January 24, 1754, Abigail Huntington, second, Dorothy Converse, third, 
112 



890 History of Windsor County. 

Abigail Makepeace. He had thirteen children, seven by the first mar- 
riage, two by the second and four by the last. Zadoc, his third child by 
the first marriage, born December 17, 1758, married February 10, 1785, 
Hannah Shurtleff. He was taken prisoner by the Indians that burnt 
Royalton, Vt, October 17, 1780, and with other captives was placed in 
a prison on an island in the rapids above Montreal, from which he made 
his escape. He died at Stanstead, Canada, March 23, aged eighty-seven. 
Sanford, the ninth of the ten children of Zadoc and Hannah, born 
April 13, 1804, married December 14, 1835, Mary Hinman, of Derby, 
Vt., born August 14, 1812. He lived in Stanstead, Canada, and died 
June 26, 1852. Judge Benjamin H. Steele was born in Stanstead, P O., 
February 14, 1837, the eldest in a family of five children, two daughters 
and three sons, of Sanford and Mary Steele. Very early in life he 
evinced a strong taste for mental culture and worked faithfully to gratify 
this desire. He attended school in his native place and at the academy 
in Derby Center, Vt, and meantime taught the district school while a 
mere lad. He also spent some time in St. Pierre College, P. 0., and 
afterwards became a member of Norwich University, then under the 
presidency of Dr. Bouras. He remained here about one year and then 
entered the sophomore class of Dartmouth College in the spring of 1855. 
Both in scholarship and talents he stood in the front rank of his class, a 
class too of marked ability and promise. He graduated with the highest 
honors of the class from Dartmouth in 1857. During the last year of 
his college life, he had carried along with his academic duties also his 
professional studies, which accounts for his admission to the bar so soon 
after his graduation. He was admitted to the Suffolk bar in Massa- 
chusetts, also to the Orleans bar in Vermont in 1858, and commenced 
practicing at Derby Line. During the eight or nine years of his 
professional life at the bar, he gave himself unremittingly to the close 
and thorough study of the law, and laid that broad and solid founda- 
tion which was both the occasion of his appointment to the Supreme 
Bench of Vermont, and the secret of his subsequent distinguished 
career upon it. He received his appointment to the Supreme Bench 
in the autumn of 1865, and was the youngest man who ever filled 
that position. If there were any misgivings of the propriety of the 
appointment of so young a man to the Supreme Bench judgeship 



Biographical. 891 



so much can be said with truthfuhiess, that wherever in the State he sat 
for the trial of causes, he completely vindicated the executive action. 
He remained on the Bench about five years, when on account of pressing 
private business, he declined a re-election, to the unanimous regret of 
the Bar and the public. During the term of office he delivered several 
opinions of uncommon interest and importance. Notable was that of 
the Rutland Railroad case, an opinion conceded to be an honor to his 
legal and judicial attainments and ability. After his withdrawal from 
the Bench he lived in comparative retirement at Hartland, occupied with 
private business which claimed his immediate and personal attention. 
He was a member of the Vermont Board of Education, and rendered 
valuable and efficient service to the cause of common schools. Though 
not a blind partisan he took a living interest in politics. He was a dele- 
gate at large from Vermont to the Philadelphia Convention, which re- 
nominated General Grant, and took a leading part in formulating the 
platform of the party on that occasion, as a member of the committee on 
resolutions. Early in the winter of 1873 the Judge was prostrated with a 
severe attack of cold and inflammation of the throat, on account of which 
he went to New York city to procure the best medical skill and aid he 
could command. For a time it was thought he was improving, but in 
May following, a sudden change for the worse took place, and with a 
view of finding relief by change of climate, he went to Faribault, Minn,, 
but the change brought no relief, and he died there on Sunday, July 13, 
1874. Judge Steele married February 6, 1861, Martha, daughter of 
David H. and Wealthy (Thomas) Sumner, who was born May 19, 1840. 
Mary Hinman Steele and David Sumner Steele are the Judge's only 
children. 



STQRY, Dr. dyer. Captain Zechariah Story, the second son of 
Jeremiah Stojy, was born at Ipswich, Mass., in November, 1741. At 
an early age he went to sea as a cabin boy, and followed the sea till he be- 
came a captain of a West India merchantman. Finally, however, he mar- 
ried Susannah Low of Essex, Mass., and removed to Hopkinton, N. H., 
where he engaged in farming, and where the following children were 
born to him: Jemima, Isaac, Zechariah, Susannah, Charlotte, Mary, Asa, 
Samuel and Dyer. In the autumn of 1789 he removed with his family 



892 History of Windsor County. 



to Windsor, settling in the part of the town that was erected into the 
West Parish in 1793. Here he purchased 200 acres of land, twenty acres 
of which were improved and contained a log- house. This large farm he 
cleared, and after a time built a brick-house which was his home during 
the remainder of his life. He died May 12, 183 1. Of Captain Story's 
sons, Isaac studied medicine in Westmoreland, N. H., practiced his pro- 
fession for two years in Windsor, Vt., and died of consumption Novem- 
ber 12, 1 80 1. Zechariah died at the age of twenty-one years. Asa set- 
tled upon a portion of the home farm and died there at an advanced age. 
Samuel removed to the State of New York, where he died at the age of 
fifty-five years. Dr. Dyer Story, his youngest son, was born May 17, 
1789. He received such common school education as the first settlers 
were enabled to give their children. He determined upon the study of 
medicine, and as a means to that end engaged in school teaching through 
the winter months. In the autumn of 18 13 he completed his medical 
studies at Hanover, N. H., and in the following spring went to Bridge- 
water, Pa., where he practiced briefly in company with Dr. Dennison. 
Not liking the country, he soon went to Rushford, N. Y., where he re- 
mained for three years, having a large practice. In 1817 he was pros- 
trated by a severe illness which lasted three months, and upon recover- 
ing sufficiently to endure the journey, he determined upon a visit to his 
friends in Windsor. Here he was induced to settle permanently, living 
with his father upon the home farm for many years. In 1847 he built a 
house nearer Brownsville, which was his home during the remainder of 
his life. He died November 13, 1868, aged seventy- nine years, fifty of 
which had been in the practice of his profession. Dr. Story held various 
public offices, delivered addresses on public occasions and in 1846 and 
1847 was a member of the Legislature. 

He married, October 22, 18 18, Susan, daughter of Martin and Sarah 
(Puffer) Lawrence, who was born August 17, 1797, and died October 29, 
1878. Their children, all born in West Windsor, were Darwin R., 
Henry L., Susan L. and Charlotte M. Darwin R., born August 17, 
18 19, studied medicine with his father in 1854, settled at Proctorsvillc, 
Vt., where he has practiced his profession ever since; Henry L., born 
August 28, 1820, is a farmer in Windsor; an infant son born April 5, 
1823, died the same day; Susan L., born September 8, 1824, married. 




^ <#^ ^^at^c^^i^^^^i^ 



Biographical. 893 



September i, 1870, Royal L. Bayley; and Charlotte M., born April 5, 
1832. The two latter reside in the village of Brownsville. 



FULLERTON, FREDERICK EUGENE, the youngest son of Na- 
tlianiel and Susannah (Norton) Fullerton, was born in Chester 
Marcii 2 r, 1 8 17. He obtained his education at the district schools of 
his native town and also attended Chester x\cademy and a school at Bel- 
lows Falls. On arriving at the age of twenty- one years he engaged in 
mercantile business in Chester and during his hfe was connected with the 
manufacture of cotton goods at Springfield, Vt., and of woolen goods at 
Cavendish, Vt. In politics he was originally a Whig, but affiliated with 
the Republican party upon its organization. He married Miss P. A. 
Wentworth, who was a native of Hancock, N. H., but at the time of her 
marriage a resident of Bellows Falls, Vt, and they had four children, 
viz. : Emma Maria, wife of Frederick W. Childs, of Brattleboro, Vt.; 
Grace Wentworth, wife of George F. Hadley, of Chester; Frederick 
Harvey, born April 25, 1855, died of heart disease March 28, 1864; 
and Susan Norton, wife of Henry G. Wiley, of Kearney, Neb. Mr. Ful- 
lerton died of pneumonia February i, 1869, loved and respected by all 
that knew him. 



SUMNER, DAVID HUBBARD. The principal family of the name 
of Sumner in this country is traced back to I. Roger Sumner, of 
Bicester, Oxfordshire, England. He married Joanne Franklin and died 
in Bicester, December 3, 1608. II. William, his only son, born in Bi- 
cester, in 1605, married October 22, 1625, Mary West. He came to New 
England in 1636, and settled at Dorchester, Mass., and died there De- 
cember 9, 1688; his wife June 7, 1676. III. William, eldest of seven chil- 
dren of William and Mary, born in Bicester, married Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of Augustine Clements, of Dorchester; was a mariner, moved to Bos- 
ton, and died there February, 1675. IV. Clement, the ninth child in a 
family of ten children born in Boston September 6, 1671, married May 18, 
1698, Margaret Harris. V. Of their seven children, William was the eld- 
est, born at Boston March 18, 1699, married October 11, 1721, Hannah, 
daughter of Thomas Hunt, of Lebanon, Conn. He was a physician, and 
moved from Boston to Hebron, Conn , and in 1767 to Claremont, N. H., 



§94 History of Windsor County. 



where he died March 4, 1778; his wife April 2, 178 1. VI. Benjamin, the 
ninth of eleven children of the above, born in Hebron Februarys, 1737, 
married May 7, 1758, Prudence, daughter of David Hubbard, of Glaston- 
bury, Conn.; lived first at Hebron, mo\ ed to Claremont, N. H., where he 
died May 9, 1815 ; his wife died September 7, 1821. 

Colonel Benjamin Sumner was a land surveyor, and a man of consid- 
erable wealth and prominent in the early history of Claremont. He took 
an active part in the controversy respecting the New Hampshire Grants. 
Of his thirteen children, David Hubbard was the ninth. He was born 
in Claremont, N. H., December 7, 1776. Having given a number of his 
sons a liberal education, it was the purpose of his father that he also 
should take a collegiate course, but after fitting for entrance to college he 
expressed a decided preference for mercantile life, and was accordingly 
placed in the store kept by the Lymans at White River, Vt., as a clerk. 
After some service there he commenced business for himself In 1805 
he married Martha Brandon Foxcroft, daughter of Dr. Francis Foxcroft, 
of Brookfield, Mass. She died in March, 1824, and left no children. 
Soon after this marriage Mr. Sumner removed from Claremont to Hart- 
land, Vt., and engaged in trade at that place. This business he contin- 
ued for many years, and with considerable success. During the War ol 
1 81 2 a militia company formed at Hartland, and much to his surprise 
Mr. Sumner was elected as their captain. In 1813 and 1814 he repre- 
sented Hartland in the State Legislature. He also served many years 
as justice of the peace. About 18 14 he was appointed postmaster of 
Hartland, which office he retained for nearly twenty years. He was a 
Democrat during his entire life, but in the War of 18 12 imbibed such a 
dislike of any factional opposition to an administration engaged in carry- 
ing on a war and upholding the national honor, that he could not oppose 
the war to suppress the rebellion, although he never confessed to any sym- 
pathy with the Republican party in respect to the matters out of which 
the rebellion sprang. Soon after coming to Hartland Mr. Sumner inter- 
ested himself in the development of the town by building roads, some of 
them at his own expense, also in bridging the Connecticut River between 
Hartland and Plainfield, and in establishing mills. The first bridge built 
by the company of which he was one of the incorporators, having been 
swept away by a freshet, Mr. Sumner, who had become its sole survivor, 



Biographical. 895 



in 1841 completed another bridge which was destroyed in a freshet March 
1859, after which time he maintained a ferry at that point. Mr. Sumner 
was one of the original incorporators of a company organized for the pur- 
pose of rendering the Connecticut River navigable at Water Ouechee Falls, 
where canals and through locks were put in. Extensive mills were main- 
tained at the same point by Mr. Sumner for many years. The mills were 
lost by freshets, and a small portion of the old canal walls is nearly all that 
is now left to indicate what was once one of the busiest parts of the town. 
Mr. Sumner was largely interested in a company organized for the pur- 
pose of carrying on an extensive lumber and timber trade on the Con- 
necticut, the company owning for that purpose whole townships of land 
in New Hampshire and Vermont. In 1817 he purchased of the widow 
and heirs of the Royal Governor Benning Wentworth all the unsold lots 
of land in Vermont and New Hampshire known as the Governor's Rights. 
These lands were the 500 acre lots reserved by the governor to his own 
right in each charter of his New Hampshire grants. These lands being 
widely scattered, the purchase threw upon Mr. Sumner considerable 
labor, and the defence of them involved him in some litigation. 

As a business man Mr. Sumner had great grasp of mind, was hope- 
ful, progressive, and quick to avail liimself of all improved methods. He 
was strong in his personal attachment to his friends, and would never 
sulTer them to be misrepresented in his presence. In personal address 
he was a gentleman of the old school, somewhat formal, dignified and 
precise, but at the same time affable, hospitable, and possessed of a keen 
relish for wit and humor. Thongh earnest in his business, and active in 
every legitimate effort to win success, he was still scrupulously consci- 
entious, and not only so lived as to preserve to himself the consciousness 
of rectitude but also so as to inspire others with entire confidence in his 
integrity. He was married to his second wife. Wealthy Thomas of Wind- 
sor, April 25, 1839. There were two children of this marriage, Martha, 
born May 19, 1840, widow of the late Judge Benjamin H. Steele, who 
owns and occupies the old homestead, and David H., jr., born Novem- 
ber 3, 1842. The son, after a brief illness, died August 18, 1867, but a 
short time before the death of his father, which occurred August 29, 
1867. The death of his only son, who had already taken upon himself the 
responsibility of his father's affairs, and whose loss was deeply felt, not 



896 History of Windsor County. 

only by his relatives, but also by the public, undoubtedly hastened the 
death of the father. A few days after tiie funeral of the son the remains 
of the father were carried to the grave by the Masonic Fraternity of the 
vicinity, to whom he had been warmly attached in life, and among whom 
he had long stood as a senior member. The memory of Mr. Sumner is 
still green and fresh in the hearts of many with whom he labored, and 
whom his generous and hopeful energy encouraged in later life. His 
wife. Wealthy, died at her home in Hartland, February 7, 1887, a de- 
voted mother, a faithful friend, kind to the poor, unsparing in sympathy, 
whereby she attached to herself a large and delightful circle of friends. 
Her heart and hand were given to every good work. 



DOWNER, CHESTER, was a very prominent and successful busi- 
ness man. No one probably was better known than he among the 
many people throughout the entire White River Valley, and no one 
more enterprising, or more closely connected with the financial and prop- 
erty interests of the community. His business transactions were largely 
connected with real estate, and it can safely be said that he owned in his 
life time more real estate than any other person in the county. Mr. 
Downer was one of the charterers of the Royalton National Bank ; was 
one of the principal holders of the stock, and as president and director, 
was closely connected with the financial policy of the bank under the 
skilful and conservative managment of its several cashiers, William H. 
Baxter and Asa W. Kenney. Mr. Downer was also largely interested 
in the Gaysville Manufacturing Company at Gaysville, Vt. The busi- 
ness transactions of Mr. Downer were confined neither to the county or 
the State, for at an early day he was attracted to the State of Michigan 
by the chances offered for lucrative investment, and at a later day be- 
came largely interested in real estate in the city of Lansing. Mr. Dow- 
ner with his family removed to Boston, Mass., about 18S0, where he 
made his home till the time of his death. 

Joseph and Robert were the original settlers in America of the Dow- 
ner family. They were the sons of Robert Downer, of Wiltshire, Eng- 
land, by his wife, Hannah Vincent. These brothers settled at Newbury, 
Mass., about 1650, Robert removing soon after to Salisbury, Mass., 
where he married Sarah Eaton. They were both men of considerable 



Biographical. 897 



property, and were much respected by their fellow colonists, with whom 
they bravely shared the trials and hardships of the early colonial life. 

Joseph married Mary, daughter of Deacon John Knight, July 9, 1660. 
Their children were Mary, born March 18, 1662 ; Joseph, born March 25, 
1666; Andrew, July 25, 1672. 

Joseph, son of Joseph and Mary Downer, married Hannah Grafton, 
about 1692. He died November 23, 1756, at Norwich, Conn., where he 
had moved with his family about 1706. She died at Norwich, Conn., Oc- 
tober 12, 1741. Their children were Joseph, born September 29, 1693 ; 
John, born March 15, 1695; Andrew, May 14, 1697; Samuel, born 
April 12, 1699; Richard, February 11, 1702; Hannah, born Febru- 
ary 16, 1704; Benjamin, born February 24, 1706; Caleb, Edmond, John, 
Stephen, Mary, Elizabf.th. 

Andrew, son of Joseph and Hannah (Grafton) Downer, married Sarah 
Laselle, daughter of Joshua Laselle, of Windham, Conn, son of Thomas 
Laselle, and grandson of John Laselle, a descendant of an old Huguenot 
family. Their children were Sarah, born March 26, 1721; Hannah, born 
January 5, 1722; Eunice, born January 16, 1724; Andrew, born Janu- 
ary 30, 1726; Anne, born March 18, 1729; Benjamin, born May 12, 
1731 ; Martha, born Junes, 1733; Joshua, born August 6, 1735; Zach- 
eus, born June 7, 1737 ; Mary, born November 20, 1739. 

Andrew, of Norwich, Conn., son of Andrew and Sarah (Laselle) Dow- 
ner, married Mary Brown, of Windham, Conn., March 10, 1754. He and 
his family moved to Lebanon, N. H., about 1665, and not long there- 
after settled in Sharon, Vt. Their children were Zacheus, born Novem- 
ber 13, 175s; Jason, born December 21, 1756; Thomas, John, Frederic, 
Susan and Clara. Zacheus Downer resided for some time after remov- 
ing from Connecticut at Lebanon, N. H., but later removed to Utica, 
N. Y., with his family, where descendants of his are now living. Thomas 
Downer was a doctor and resided at Stowe, Vt., where some of his de- 
scendants are still living. 

Jason, son of Andrew and Mary (Brown) Downer, married Esther 
West, daughter of Solomon West and Abigail Strong. He died at Leb- 
anon, N. H., September 15, 1841. Their children are Solomon, born 
June 13, 1784, died October 18, i860; Anne, born August 18, 1782, 
married Ephraim Partridge; Erastus, born December 17, 1790, married 



898 History of Windsor County. 



Margaret Evans, died November 30, 1869. Erastus, by his wife Mar- 
garet, had three children : Esther, born May 7, 1814; Stephen West, 
born August 19, 1815; Ziba Alden, born December 4, 1825; all of 
whom, with their families, are living at Lansing, Mich. 

Solomon, son of Jason and Esther (West) Downer, married December, 
1808, Martha, daughter of Asa and Martha (Hibbard) Huntington. She 
was born January 15, 1790, and was a descendant of Simon and Marga- 
ret (Barret) Huntington, who came from England in 1633, and settled at 
Norwich, Conn. Their children were Wooster, born Decembers, 1809. 
died at Berlin, Vt., Riarch 18, 1863; Jason, born September 9, 1813, 
died at Milwaukee, Wis., September i, 1883; Chester, born June 29, 
1819; Susan, who now resides at Lebanon, N. H.; Franklin, born Sep- 
tember 26, 1826, now living at Hixton, Wis.; Albert, born November 7, 
1830, now living at River Falls, Wis. ; Alice, born November 7, 1830, 
now living at Sharon, Vt. Jason Downer was a graduate of Dartmouth 
College. He settled at Milwaukee, Wis., in 1842, where he began the 
practice of law. In 1845 l^^ became proprietor and editor of the Mil- 
waukee Sentinel. In 1864 he was elected to the bench of the Supreme 
Court for a term of si.\ years. He had a large and lucrative practice, 
and accumulated a large fortune, which, on his death, he bequeathed 
mostly to charities. 

Chester, son of Solomon and Martha (Huntington) Downer, was born 
at Sharon, Vt , June 29, 18 19, and died at Brookline, Mass , February 18, 
1890. He married, in 1863, Frances Elizabeth Shepard, daughter of 
Horace Shepard and Statira Baxter. Horace Shepard was a grandson 
of Squire Shepard, who came to Sharon in 1782, from Canterbury, 
Conn., and was a descendant of Ralph Shepard, who settled at Concord, 
Mass., about 1640. Statira Baxter was a daughter of Elihu Baxter and 
Triphena Taylor, who came to Norwich, Vt., from Norwich, Conn , 
about 1780, and was a descendant of Gregory Baxter, who came from 
England about 1635, and settled in Ro.xbury, Mass. The children of 
Chester and Frances Elizabeth Downer are Harriet Jenette, born Octo- 
ber 26, 1864, and Charles, born May 24, 1866. 



Biographical. 899 



BUTLER, Rev. FRANKLIN, eldest son of BiUe Bishop and Sarah 
(Castle) Butler, was born in Essex, Vt., October 3, 18 14. L. C. But- 
ler, M.D., and Stephen G. and A. M. Butler, Esqs., of Essex, and Rev. 
Henry E. Butler, of Keeseville, N. Y., were his brothers. Franklin Butler 
prepared for college at Jericho Center, entered the University of Ver- 
mont, and graduated in the class of 1836. After his graduation he be- 
came principal of Bradford Academy, where he remained three years. 
From Bradford he went to the Theological Seminary, Andover, from 
which he graduated in 1842. Upon his graduation he was invited to 
become pastor of the " Old South " Congregational Church, at Windsor, 
in 1842. He accepted the position and was pastor of that church until 
1858, when he resigned. Shortly after this he became the New 
England agent of the American Colonization Society, in which position 
he continued for a number of years, when upon the sale of the Vermont 
Chronicle to L. J. Mclndoe, and the termination of Rev. Nelson Bishop's 
connection with it in 1868, he became its editor, which position he held 
till the removal of the Chronicle X.o Montpelier in 1875. After the death 
of Mr. Mclndoe he became one of the incorporators of the Journal Com- 
pany, and assisted in its editorial management, and at the time of his 
deatli was editor-in-chief of the / erinont Journal. Mr. Butler was for 
many years chaplain of the State Prison at Windsor. He was a member 
of the Constitutional Convention in 1870. As an editor, Mr. Butler was 
impressed with the wide influence and great power of the press. He 
tried earnestly and successfully to contribute to the purity, the dignity, 
and the power of this potent agency. His grasp of the numerous ques- 
tions and topics of the day was clear and fine, his style of presenting them 
facile, terse and logical, his judgment carefully formed and conclusive. 
As a pastor, Mr. Butler was discreet, devoted and faithful, as a preacher 
discriminating and able; and as a man and citizen unostentatious, and 
public spirited. He was regarded as a wise counsellor, and known to be 
a steadfast friend. He died at Windsor, May 23, 1880. He married, first, 
January 27, 1845, Mary, only daughter of ex-Governor Charles Cool- 
idge, of Windsor,'; she died March 13, 1875. He married, second, Mrs. 
Abbie, widow of Lyman J. Mclndoe, June i, 1876. By his first wife 
one child, Carlos Coolidge Butler, was born, January 18, 1849, who 
married, first, January, 1875, Annie, daughter of Stephen G. and Sarah 



900 History of Windsor County. 

Butler of Essex, Vt. She died July 3. 1876. The only child by this 
union, Carlos Coolidge, was born March 9, 1876, died August, 1876. 
He married, second, November, 1877, Jennie, daughter of Edward H. 
and Percis C. (Stephens) Perkins, who was born in Windsor, Septem- 
ber 13, i860. Carlos Coolidge Butler died in Atlanta, Ga., of consump- 
tion, March 29, 1883. The children of Carlos Coolidge and Jennie But- 
ler are the only descendants of Governor Coolidge. They are Alice 
Coolidge, born October 27, 1878; Walter Franklin, born October 15, 
1879; and Annie Perkins, born August 8, 1881, died December, 1885. 



COOLIDGE, Governor CARLOS, was born in Windsor. Vt, June 25, 
1792. His genealogy is as follows: Richard, born in 1666, died 
October 23, 1732. His wife's name was Susanna. .She died October 20, 
1736, aged sixty-six years. Nathaniel, born in 1700, died 1766, married 
Grace, daughter of Nathaniel and Anne Bowman, and had five children, 
of whom Nathaniel, their eldest son, born December 7, 1728, married 
Dorothy Whitney, who died July 29, 181 8, aged eighty-five years. He 
died December 24, 1773. They had six children, viz.: Susanna, Mary, 
Daniel, Nathaniel, Grace, and Nathan, f;ither of Carlos, born December 6, 
1766, married Betsey Curtis March 20, 1791 ; the latter was born May 2, 
1760, died December 27, 1822. They had three children : Carlos, Mary, 
born October 15, 1793, died November 30, 1814, and Betsey, born No- 
vember 17, 1801, died October 26, 1874. Governor Carlos Coolidge was 
graduated from Middlebury College with honor, in a class that contained 
such men as the late Hon. Charles Davis, judge of the Supreme Court of 
Vermont, Judge Jacob Lansing of Albany, N. Y., Rev. Joel H. Linsley, 
D.D., of Greenwich, Conn., and others equally prominent. He read law at 
the outset with the Hon. Peter Starr of Middlebury, and completed his 
studies, preparatory to admission to the bar in Windsor county, with the 
late Hon. Jonathan H. Hubbard of Windsor. He commenced the practice 
of his profession in Windsor in 1 8 14 and continued it for a period of more 
than fifty years. He was the recipient of many tokens of popular favor 
from citizens of his own county and State. He was State's attorney for 
the county of Windsor from 1 83 i to i S36, and representative from Wind- 
sor to the General Assembly from 1834 to 1837, and from 1839 to 1843. 
He was elected speaker of the House of Representatives in 1836 and from 



Biographical. 901 



1839 to 1842, in which capacity he presided with unsurpassed dignity 
and urbanity. He was elected governor of Vermont in 1848, and re- 
elected in 1849. He was Senator from Windsor county in 1854 and re- 
elected in 1855. He was one of the electors at large from Vermont in 
1844, who indicated their preference for Henry Clay as President of the 
United States. In 1849 he received from his alma mater, Middlebury 
College, the well earned compliment of the degree of LL. D. Tiiis brief 
recital of some of the responsible posts to which Governor Coolidge at- 
tained without solicitation on his part, gives a faint idea of the character 
and attainments of the man. Governor Coolidge was, par excellence, a 
Christian gentleman. In his private and public life he bore himself with- 
out ostentation, with remarkable urbanity towards all, and discharged 
every public and private trust with thoroughness and ability. He died in 
Windsor, August 15, 1866. The Governor married September 22, 1817, 
Harriet, daughter of Walter and Sarah (Gilbert) Bingham, born in Clare- 
mont. N. H., April 6, 1796, died June 6, 1877. They had two children, 
Mary and Harriet. The latter died June 5, 1831, aged five years. Mary, 
born June 29, 1818, married January 27, 1845, the Rev. Franklin Butler. 



MClNDOE, LYMAN J., was born in Barnet, Vt, January 17, 1819. 
His grandfather, John, came from Claren, Scotland, and settled in 
Barnet, Vt., about 1784. He married, first, Janet Lourie, and had two 
children, Robert and James. He married second, Widow Agnes Furge- 
son. He died about 1806. His son James, born February, 1782, in Scot- 
land, married Abigail, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rich) Baker. 
Her father, John Baker, was a Revolutionary soldier, and died at Man- 
chester, N. H., in 1815. Elizabeth, his wife, died June, 18 1 2. Abigail died 
May 15, 1852. Their children were John Baker Way, born Jannary 2r, 
1812; Robert, born December 25, 1813; Eliza Jane, born January 21, 
1816; Lyman James; Lovinia Sophia, born July 8, 1821 ; David, born 
April 26, 1824; George C, March 4, 1828 ; and Laura Ann, born Decem- 
ber 17, 1831. Lyman James Mclndoe removed with his parents, at an 
early age, to Newbury, Vt. When about twelve years of age he had a se- 
vere illness which left him with a cough, that followed him through life, and 
in a condition of general health that led his parents and himself to regard 
the printer's trade as favorable to his prospects. With a bare common 



902 History of Windsor County. 

school education, he began to learn that trade with John R. Reding, of 
Haverhill, N. H., at the age of fifteen. After completing a regular appren- 
ticeship, he continued to work in the same office for some time as a jour- 
neyman, and with rigid economy and unwearied labor, he continued to 
lay up a small sum of money on which to make a bo<nnning in the world. 
Being called to settle a brother's estate in Nashville, Tenn., he remained 
in that city about a year. He set up business for himself at Newbury 
about the year 1846, and printed the C/iristiaft Messenger for a year or 
two. In 1848 he commenced the publication of the Aurora of the Val- 
ley, and issued it for two years as a semi-monthly, and then changed it 
to a weekly paper. Steadily gaining in funds by rare enterprise and tact, 
and in reputation by skill and success in the newspaper business, he pur- 
chased a p.iper in Bradford, Vt., and published the same as the Orange 
County Journal, in 1856 and some years thereafter. In 1857 he bought 
the entire establishment of the Vermont Journal, at Windsor, Vt., and in 
November of that year he assumed the proprietorship and editorial care 
of the same, and devoted to it the maturity and strength of his life. Un- 
der his supervision this paper was made to rank among the foremost in 
journalism. In 1863 he also became proprietor of the Vervi07it Chron- 
icle, a double folio sheet, " not excelled either in size or adaptation of its 
contents to its readers by any country religious newspaper in the land." 
For the purpose of enhancing the local department of his papers, in 1868 
he entered upon the plan of publishing different editions of his paper for 
different localities. In October, 1869, he issued the Granite State Jour- 
nal, designed especially for circulation on the New Hampshire side of the 
Valley of the Connecticut. Within the year prior to his death he laid 
the foundation for and issued two additional newspaper publications, 
viz.. The Valley Fa^-nier, designed especially for the wants of the Ver- 
mont and New Hampshire agriculturists, and the Aurora of the Valley, 
" for racy, entertaining and useful reading in the family." Indeed, he 
seemed to place no limit to his enterprise in enlarging his field of news- 
paper publication ; the last months, even, of his life were occupied with 
plans which he had hoped might surpass in interest and usefulness all his 
previous endeavors. The following written b)' one who knew him well 
sets forth the traits of character which gave to Mr. Mclndoe his success 
as an editor and publisher : "He was indefatigable in his industry, unas- 



Biographical. 



903 



suming in his modesty, frugal in personal matters, broad and liberal in 
giving his readers the most and the best, far reaching and enterprising in 
his plans, unbounded in his devotion to his profession, and untiring in his 
application to his duties." His constant study and endeavor were to give 
his publications high tone. He would never print any article or storj- 
corrupting to morals or taste. His publishing enterprises were a finan- 
cial success, beyond most publishers of his time. In his tvill he 
bequeathed the Vermont Journal, and Granite State Journal subscrip- 
tion list, good will, press, engine, and all fixtures for printing, to the Ver- 
mont and New Hampshire Bible Societies ; the Vermont Chronicle to 
the General Convention of Congregational Ministers and Ciiurches of 
Vermont. Mr. Mclndoe died at his home in Windsor, December 24, 1 873. 
He married, first, Lucia K. Porter, of Lyman, N. H. Robert H. Mclndoe, 
born March 22, 1849, a resident of San Francisco, Cal., is the only ciiild 
by this marriage. He married second, June 13, 1854, Abbie, daugliter 
of David and Florinda Locke, born in Lyman, September 15, 1834. The 
children by the second marriage were Lucia A., born March 12, 1856, 
died November 3, 1S64; Clara Alice, born August 24, 1859, married De- 
cember 31, 1878, Marsh O. Perkins, editor-in-chief of the Vermont Jour- 
nal ; Abbie, born February 2, 1878, died March 17, 1878; and Florinda, 
born July 9, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have four children: Locke 
Mclndoe, born November 20, 1879; Gail Giddings, born August 4, 1882; 
Margaret and Marion, twins, born September 9, 1889; Herbert Marsh, 
born January 19, 1891. 

STEARNS, DANIEL, was born in Reading, Vt , July 26, 1807, the 
third in a family of eiglit children of Daniel and Sarah (Pratt) 
Stearns. Two brothers, Charles and Thomas Stearns, came from Eng- 
land about 1630, and settled in VVatertown, Mass. The subject of this 
sketch descends the sixth generation from Charles. The line of descent 
is as follows : first, Charles, the emigrant; second. Rev. Charles; third, 
Thomas, of Leominster, Mass.; fourth, Daniel ; fifth, Daniel ; sixth. 
Daniel. Daniel and Paul Stearns, sons of Daniel, fifth, above, came from 
Leominster and settled in Reading in 1796: Daniel on the place now 
occupied and owned by Jarvis Pratt, who married his daughter; Paul, 
on the place now owned and occupied by his son Honestus. Daniel 



904 History of Windsor County. 

Stearns was twice married, but all his children who reached adult age 
were by his second wife, Sarah Pratt. They were Justin, now an old 
man livin>^ in F"itchburg, Mass. ; Hannah, wife of Jarvis Pratt, named 
above; Daniel, subject of this sketch ; James M., died in Weathersfield, 
Vt., in 1873; Betsey, wife of James Boutelle, died in Canada, Septem- 
ber 17, 1S37, aged twenty-four years; Rufus, living in Reading; Mary, 
died single in Reading; and Charles, died aged eighteen in Reading. 
Daniel Stearns, the father, died in Reading, March 22, 1831, aged fifty- 
nine years; his wife died January 10, 1828, aged fifty two years Daniel 
Stearns in 1837 commenced merchandising in Reading, where he con- 
tinued in trade five years. In 1844, in company with his brother-in- 
law, Major Levi C. Fay, he leased the Dartmouth Hotel at Hanover, 
N. H., which they ran about nine months. He then engaged in merchan- 
dising at Windsor, and continued in trade until 185 i. He was elected 
by the Legislature a director of the Vermont State Prison for a number 
of years, and was chairman of the board of directors of the Windsor 
Savings Bank for several years. For four years he ran a livery stable at 
Windsor. While a resident of Reading Mr. Stearns filled the positions 
of deputy sheriff and tax collector. After his removal to Windsor he 
received the appointment of deputy United States marshal, a position he 
held for many years. He also represented the town of Windsor two 
terms in the Legislature. Mr. Stearns has been retired from active busi- 
ness for a number of years. He is a man of extensive acquaintance, 
is well respected by all who know him, and enjoys in a large measure 
the esteem of the community in which he lives. He married, Novem- 
ber 2, 1830, Flavilla, daughter of Ezra and Olive (Lincoln) Fay. Mrs. 
Stearns was born in Reading, November 5, 1810. A sketch of the Fay 
family will be found on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Stearns 
have no children. 



AMSDEN, CHARLES, was born in West Windsor, Vt., May 6, 1832, 
being the youngest son of America and Nancy Amsden. Our sub- 
ject's grandfather, Abel Amsden, came from Marlboro, Mass., and cleared a 
fifty-acre farm in the town of Reading, Vt., locating on the same July 3, 
1787. He had served four years in the Revolutionary army, and had 
taken part in some of the most important battles. He built a log house 
in Reading, also afterwards a brick tavern, and was for a long time its 



Biogkaphical. 90s 



popular proprietor. He was a strong Universalist in his religious belief, 
and on settling in the town was accompanied by his father, Abram Ams- 
den, who died in Reading. In 182 1 he built a grist-mill and died in 1828, 
aged seventy-one years. Abel was married three times, and had six- 
teen children, ten of whom survived hiui. His youngest child, Mrs. Char- 
lotte L. Hawkins, is the only living representative (1890) and resides in 
Reading. America, the son of Abel, was born in Reading, June 22, 1 796. 
He spent his early life in his native town, but subsequently removed to 
West Windsor, and was engaged in farming. He married, first, Clarissa 
Davis, and their children all died in infancy. He married, second, Mrs. 
Nancy Ward, nee Child, and their two children, are Rollin, a resident of 
Windsor, Vt., and Charles. America Amsden was possessed of a genial 
disposition, and discharged faithfully and creditably all the duties of an 
American citizen. He was accidently drowned October 4, 1869, during 
the great freshet. Mrs. Nancy Amsden, who by her longevity has be- 
come a historical character in Windsor county, was the youngest daugh- 
ter of nine children of Daniel and Lydia Child, who were pioneer settlers 
of Westminster, Mass., where she was born July 20, 1790. When twenty- 
five years of age she married Jonas Ward, by whom she had three 
children, only one of whom, John Ward, a prominent lawyer at Detroit, 
Mich., is living. Her parents, in 1826, removed to Cavendish, Vt., and 
two years after she married America Amsden, the fruit of their union be- 
ing the two sons mentioned above. Her centennial birthday was appro- 
priately observed, she receiving on that day about one thousand guests, 
being seated in a bower of evergreens and flowers under an arch inscribed 
in evergreens, " 1790, Nancy Amsden, 1890." The subject of our sketch 
had no advantages of an education excepting what could be obtained at 
the district schools. He passed his early life on his father's farm and en- 
gaged in mercantile business in March, 1849, when he came to what is 
now Amsden, and engaged in the milling business. The following year 
he commenced operating the lime kiln, which business he has carried on 
ever since. As early as 1850 he carried on a general store, but built his 
present store in 1869. For years he has done a large jobbing business in 
flour and grain. In business circles in different parts of the State Mr. 
Amsden is also interested ; he is director of the National Black River 
Bank, also of the Home Scale Company, of Rutland; was for two years — 

114 



go6 History of Windsor CounTV. 



1886-87 — ^ director in the Rutland Railroad. In politics, a Republican, 
he has represented Weathersfield in the Legislature of 1870 and 1890; 
has been town treasurer since 1876, and postmaster since Amsden be- 
came a post-office, excepting when his political offices required him to 
resign a United States appointment. Mr. Amsden married, first. Miss 
Abby E. Crague, by whom he had one child, viz.: Mary Malvina, wife 
of Charles E. Woodruft", a flour and grain merchant of Woodstock, Vt. 
He married, second. Miss Mary L. Stackin, of Weathersfield. 



BALDWIN, ALBERT F., the second son of Nahum and Philanda 
(Harvey) Baldwin, was born in Chester, February 22, 1818. His 
father was a native of Marlboro, N. H., and besides our subject had the 
following family : Edwin, who died in Oshkosh, Wis.; Fannie (deceased), 
married Oris Dwinell; Charles O., died at Hartford, Conn.; Silas, resides 
at Grafton, Vt.; and Maria Rosaline, died at the age of eight years. He 
followed farming for a livelihood and was unable to give our subject only 
the benefit of an education at the district schools When Albert was 
twenty years of age his father gave him his time and he worked as a farm 
laborer, receiving twelve dollars per month. His first employer settled 
with him by giving his note for $100, which Mr. Baldwin still holds for 
payment. But not being disheartened by his loss he made up his mind 
to save $100 a year, and at the age of twenty-five years he purchased a 
farm of Thomas Williams in the southern part of the town, his first pa)'- 
ment being $500. He has always been engaged in farming, and after 
living in the southern part of the town for a number of years he removed 
to the Stedman farm, situated near Sawyersville. He built the present 
house on that farm and resided there fifteen years, when he removed to 
where he now lives. He is an active member of the Congregational 
Church. In politics a Republican, he has been called on by his towns- 
men to fill the offices of selectman and lister. He married October 27, 
1842, Laurenza Sawyer, daughter of Thomas and Betsey (Sawyer) Will- 
iams. She was born in Chester, April 9, 1821. They had three chil- 
dren, viz.: Abbie, wife of George S. Robbins of Chester; Lizzie, died at 
the age of twenty-six years ; and George born in Chester, March 21, 1 86 1 , 
married Juliette Dwinell and has three children: Robert Dwinell, Eliza- 
beth and Harold H. He resides in Chester. Mrs. Albert F. Baldwin 
died April 1, 1886. 



Biographical. 907 



FAY, Major LEVI CHAMBERLAIN, was born in Reading, Vt. 
April 25, 1807, the fifth in a family of nine children of Major Ezra 
and Olive (Lincoln) Fay. His father was the first of the family who 
came to Vermont. He came from Westboro, Mass., where he was born, 
and took up two hundred acres of land in the town of Reading. He 
married, first, Sarah Newton of Westboro. The children by this union 
were Mary Ball, wife of Dr. Wakefield; Elizabeth Hastings, wife of Ja- 
cob Gilbert; and Sarah Newton, wife of Calvin Wardner. He married, 
second, Mrs. Olive Chamberlain, nee Lincoln, a descendant of Governor 
Lincoln of Massachusetts. By this union there were children as follows: 
Olive, born March 8, 1801, married Luther Parker, now a widow living 
in Lebanon, N. H., ninety years of age; Lucy Lincoln, born July 10, 
1802, married Frederick Woodward of Plainfield, N. H., where she died; 
Louisa, born April 7, 1804, died aged twenty-one years; Ezra, born De- 
cember 22, 1805, died in Felchville, Vt., in 1872; Levi Chamberlain, 
subject of this sketch; Emily, born January 2, 1809, married Elijah Bur- 
nap of Plainfield, N. H.; Flavilla and Aurilla, twins, born November 5, 
1 8 10, — the latter died young, Flavilla married in 1830 Daniel Stearns, 
a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; — and a daughter 
who died in infancy. Ezra Fay died at the residence of his son, Levi C, 
in Reading, January, 1841. Olive Lincoln Fay died at Felchville in 
1854. Levi Chamberlain Fay received his education in the common 
schools of Reading. When ten years of age he had a fever sore in the 
foot, which compelled him for several years to use crutches, and from the 
effects of which he never fully recovered. On this account he decided 
to learn the tailor's trade and went to Woodstock for that purpose, but 
soon abandoned it and took up in its stead the shoemaker's trade, and 
worked at that trade for three years in Reading with David Hammond, 
and at the end of that time bought out Mr. Hammond, the business then 
embracing boots, shoes, harness and agricultural implements. He car- 
ried on this business nine years. In 1838 he bought the Slayton Hotel 
at South Woodstock, repaired and moved into it, which was burned 
three months thereafter. He then leased the Ransom House in South 
Woodstock which he kept two' years. Selling his property in South 
Woodstock in 1840 he returned to Reading, built a residence and carried 
on merchandising for four years, then sold out and in company with his 



9o8 History of Windsor County. 



brother-in-law, Daniel Stearns, leased the Dartmouth Hotel at Hanover, 
N. H., which they kept about nine months, then sold out, went to Felch- 
ville, where he again engaged in merchandising, a business which he con- 
tinued for twenty years. In 1863 he sold out to his sons and purchased 
the stock in three stores at Windsor, Vt., the Union store, Charles Hawley 
and Samuel R. Stocker. His sons, selling out at Felchville, were taken 
into partnership in his stores at Windsor. He subsequently sold out to 
his sons and Marvin C. Hubbard and retired from the mercantile business. 
From 1843 to 1885 Mr. Fay has made yearly trips to the West for the 
purpose of loaning moneys on real estate mortgages. He has dealt 
largely in real estate, built the Fay block and quite a number of dwelling 
houses in Windsor. The Major has been too much occupied with his 
own business affairs to be a seeker for, or to desire, public positions. 
However, he served as town treasurer of Reading many years and also 
was a director in the Springfield National Bank. He has been a mem- 
ber of the Congregational Church at Windsor since 1868. For the past 
two years he has been on the invalid list, being confined to the house 
much of the time. He married, first, December 15, 1829, Susan, 
daughter of Edmund and Lovisa (Sherman) Stone, who was born in 
Cavendish, Vt., July 31, 1810 There were seven children by this 
union, two of whom died in infancy. Those who reached adult age 
were Amanda M., born May 6, 1833, married December 16, 1862, Hon. 
Chester Pike, a prominent citizen of Cornish, N. H. They have but one 
child living, Chester Fay, born May 11, 1868; Colamer T., born Decem- 
ber 10, 1834, married September 14, 1859, Carrie I. Watkins, born No- 
vember 18, 1838. Their children are F'rank Edmund, born September 2, 
i860; Lillian Watkins, born December 22, 1862 ; Mary Caroline, born 
February 26, 1870; Levi Elisha, born March 5, 1875; and Julia Pike, 
born January 10, 1878. Colamer T. is a successful merchant at Holyoke, 
Mass.; Emeroy, born in 1836, died aged three years and three months; 
Edmund Stone, born October 19, 1840, married, December, 1861, Fran- 
celia M. Kendall, born June 4, 1842, died October 7, 1875. They have 
one child, Herbert William, born April 24, 1866. Edmund S. is a mer- 
chant and interested in a number of the leading industries of Ports- 
mouth, N. H., and is the present (1890) mayor of that city; Julia A., 
born October 19, 1842, married July 3, 1867, Joseph A. Chapin, teller in 




Alfred Hall. 



Biographical. 909 

the National Bank of North America, Boston, and resides in Mcdford, 
Mass. Their children are Susan Fay, born May 26, 1868, and George 
Farnsvvorth, born May 29, 1871. Mrs. Susan Fay, the Major's wife, died 
in Windsor, March 27, 1870, She was a granddaughter of Samuel 
Sherman, of Weathersfield, Vt., who came from Connecticut, taking 
along with him the name of "Weathersfield," the town in Connecticut 
where the Shermans had lived, and gave it to Vermont, where he set- 
tled. The family were of German origin and quite numerous. Senator 
George F. Hoar and his brother. Judge E. R. Hoar, of Massachusetts, 
General W. T. Sherman and Senator John Sherman, of Ohio, and Judge 
Edgar J. Sherman, of Lawrence, Mass., are connected with same family. 
Mrs. Fay possessed in a large measure those rare womanly qualities 
which characterize the true wife and devoted mother, and she com- 
manded the love and esteem not only of her own immediate family and 
relatives, but of the entire community where she resided. Major Fay 
married, second, Mrs. Jane A. Cummings, daughter of Alpha and L3'dia 
(Ransom) Rowley. She was born in Winsted, Conn., July 24, 1827. 
Kate R., born March 11, 1856, wife of I. R. Clark, a lawyer in Boston, 
and Jennie E., born December 17, 1859, wife of A. P. Pierce of Red 
Wing, Minn., are her children by a former marriage. 



HALL, ALFRED. This gentleman descends in the sixth generation 
from John Hall, born in England, in 1627, died in Medford, Mass., 
October 18, 1701, married April 2, 1647, Elizabeth, daughter of Percival 
and Ellen Green. She died February 4, 17 13. Of their ten children, 
Percival, born in Cambridge, Mass., February 11, 1672, died in Sutton, 
Mass., December 25, 1752, married October 18, 1697, Jane, daughter 
of Thomas and Grace (Fay) Willis, who was born October, 1677, and 
died October 28, 1757. Percival Hall "was a very.prominent and effi- 
cient man in both church and town affairs." Of the twelve children of 
Percival and Jane Hall, Willis was their youngest child. He was born 
March 8, 1720, in Medford, Mass , died in Sutton, April 10, 1800, mar- 
ried, first. May 15, 1746. Martha Gibbs, of Hopkinton, Mass., who died 
February i, 1756. He married second, December 9, 1756, Anna, daugh- 
ter of William and Anna Coye, who died April 7, 1800. Of Willis Hall 
it was written, " He was universally respected, and never had an enemy." 



9IO History ok Windsor Countv. 

He had five children bj' his first marriage, and of his six children by his 
second wife, Jonathan, father of Alfred, was the eldest. He was born 
October 21, 1757, and died September 24, 1845. About 1780 he mar- 
ried Mercy Cady, who died December 19, i860. Jonathan came to 
Windsor, Vt., in 1788, and located on a farm near the village, which is 
still owned by his son Alfred. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War. He was a pleasant and social man, in personal appearance a rather 
spare form, a pleasant countenance, brown hair, with features modestly 
prominent. 

Alfred Hall is the only one of his seven children living. He was born 
in Windsor, Vt., February 20, 1804. He has passed his whole life in 
Windsor, and, with but one exception, is the oldest native resident in the 
town. His principal occupation has been farming. He owns and occu- 
pies the old Hall homestead. He was president of the Windsor Savings 
Bank for many years, has filled the positions of overseer of the poor and 
selectman twenty years each. He has been a trustee of the bridge com- 
pany at Windsor, and its treasurer for many years. In politics he is a 
Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. 
Successful as a business man, a safe adviser, a genial, social disposition, 
Mr. Hall has always commanded the respect and esteem of the entire 
communit}' in which he has passed a long life. He married August 26, 
1833, Catharine Morgan, born June 16, 1815, died October 15, 1869. 
Their children are Rachel Morgan, born August 18, 1834, married Sa- 
rah Dorr, and has children as follows: Frank E., Jesse L., deceased, 
Harry W., Mary and Allen M. He is overseer in the machinist depart- 
ment of Vermont State Prison ; Sophia Blood, born April i, 1837, mar- 
ried Daniel A. Barnard, of Windsor; Licortus Brewer, born Septem- 
ber 30, 1839, married August 14, 1888, Anna M. Camden. The\- have 
one child, Alfred Camden. Licortus B., is a graduate of Dartmouth Col- 
lege, was afterwards one of its professors, and is now a specialist in the 
treatment of the eye and ear in Philadelphia; Eugene C, born Septem- 
ber 20, 1 844, married, first, Ella Knowlton. They had one child, Fred M. 
He married, second, Etta Alton, of Worcester, Mass. He is a machinist 
by trade, and lives in Worcester ; Charles Alfred, born January 25, 1850, 
married December 31, 1871, Flora Belle Harris. They have one child, 
Cora Belle. He is also a machinist and resides in Worcester; Adge- 



Biographical. 911 



Ion K., born November 26, 1855, married October 7, 1877, Lilla Belle, 
daughter of M. L. Horton, of Windsor. He lives at the homestead, car- 
rying on the home farm, and is overseer of the poor for the town of 
Windsor. 



HAYES, FRANCIS B., was born at Boston, Mass., March 10, 1861, 
and is the only son of the late Hon. Francis B. and Margaret (Mar- 
riatt) Hayes. His father was a prominent attorney of Boston and largely 
interested in railroads throughout the country. Our s'jbject was fitted 
for college at the Adams Academy at Quincy, Mass., also by private tu- 
tors. Owing to his father's death in 1883, which required his supervision 
of his father's affairs, he was obliged to relinquish his original idea of at- 
tending college. In 1887 he located in Weathersfield and since that time 
has become a permanent resident of Vermont. He is engaged in literary 
pursuits and is a correspondent for various Boston papers. 



PORTER, JOHN, the first of the name to settle in New England, was 
born in 1590 at Wroxhall Abbey near KeniUvorth, in the county of 
Warwick, England, was married and had a family of children. Ani- 
mated by a desire to try his fortunes in New England he sailed with his 
family from London and arrived at Dorchester, Mass, on the 30th of 
May, 1627. They remained at Dorchester till 1635, and '" that year re- 
moved to Windsor, Conn. William Porter, a descendant in the fourth 
generation from John Porter, was born in Lebanon, Conn., on the 4th of 
September, 1749. From Lebanon he removed to Hartford, Vt., in 1780 
there settled, and in due time was married to Mary Hodges. They had 
nine children, among the number, John Porter, subject of this sketch, 
born in Hartford the 8th of April, 1798. In those early days the means 
for securing an education at the common schools were scant, but such 
opportunities as came within his reach he fully improved, supplying all 
deficiencies in this direction by the e.xercise of a resolute will. At the 
age of eighteen he taught school one term in the neighborhood where he 
lived, and then took charge of a school in Rodman, N. Y. As a good 
illustration of his native energy and perseverance it may be mentioned 
that while thus engaged he twice made the entire journey to Rodman 



912 History of Windsor County. 

and back on foot, a distance of 300 miles. Soon closing his career as a 
teacher, he settled down to farming and this continued the chief occupa- 
tion of his life. He followed the occupation with unwearied industry 
and zeal, and was amply rewarded in the general success that attended 
his labors. It was a frequent remark with him that the man who man- 
aged his own affairs well might be safely intrusted with the management 
of other people's affairs. This principle the community in which he lived 
appreciated and they applied it to his own case. Varied and numerous 
were the duties he was called upon to perform in the public behalf, du- 
ties he did not shrink from, however thankless the work might be at 
times. John Porter's motto in all cases was this: "If a thing was worth 
doing at all it was worth doing well" In living up to this principle, he 
showed true greatness of mind. The same care and attention he gave to 
all branches of his work were also exhibited in the transaction of such 
ofhcial and political duties as were intrusted to him. Beginning as an 
original stockholder in the Bank of Woodstock, organized in 1832, when 
the old bank gave place to the Woodstock Bank in 1847, he was elected 
one of the directors. This position he held to the end of his life and dur- 
ing all the time, he very rarely missed a meeting of the directors. In his 
political preferences he was a Whig, and was for many years a member 
of the Whig State Committee. He was elected to represent the town of 
Hartford in 1840 and for the two succeeding years. For the next two 
years he was elected one of the Senators from Windsor county, and in 
1845 was again sent to Montpelier as representative, and again in 1848 
and 1849. In 1850 he was elected Judge of Probate for the district of 
Hartford, holding this office till the time of his death, which took place 
the 1 2th of November, 1886. His duties as Judge of Probate he dis- 
charged with the same unvarying industry and ability that characterized 
his work in all other fields of labor to which he was called. When the 
Republican party was organized he became a zealous member of that 
party, and in 1856 was appointed one of the presidential electors for Ver- 
mont. In 1858 he was appointed a commissioner together with Norman 
Williams and George P. Marsh to prepare a plan for building the present 
State House and to superintend its construction. A few words in con- 
clusion may be permitted, though words can add little to the record of 
such a life as John Porter lived. That record is set down in the acts and 



Biographical. 913 



doings of a long life of faithful work. It is known and read of all men. 
It exhibits him as a man of remarkable industry, of strict integrity, of 
sound and discriminating judgment; carefully fulfilling his obligations to 
others and exacting from others the same measure in return; under prov- 
ocations manifesting great forbearance; in his speech and general deport- 
ment bearing a directness and simplicity of manner that comported with 
his substantial character and solid worth. John Porter was married on 
the 30th day of May, 1831, to Jane Frances, daughter of Fordyce Foster, 
of Hartford. Six children were the fruit of this union, of whom two died 
in infancy. The oldest son, John F., after he was graduated from Dart- 
mouth College in 1855, moved to Troy, N. Y., where he adopted the 
legal profession, of which he was an able and honored member. He 
died at tiie old homestead at Quechee in the summer of 1885. Three 
children still survive, namely: Jennie F., widow of the late Charles T. 
Smith of Colchester, Conn.; Louisa A., wife of John H. Denison of New 
Bedford, Mass; and Charles W., engaged in the practice of law at Mont- 
pelier, formerly Secretary of State of Vermont. 



TRACY, Hon. ANDREW. Thomas Tracy, the grandfather of An- 
drew, came from Windham, Conn., to Hartford, Vt., in 1776. He 
had a sonjjames who was born in Windham, January 28, 1760, and on 
October 22, 179S, married Mercy Richmond, of Barnard. She was born 
in Taunton, Mass., June 15, 1772. Of their family of five children, An- 
drew, the second child, was born in Hartford, December 15, 1797. He 
attended the academies in Royaiton and Randolph, and decided to study 
a profession rather than follow his father's occupation of a farmer. Hav- 
ing completed the preparatory studies, he entered Dartmouth College, 
where he remained two years. At this time his intimate friend, Leonard 
Marsh, who was a classmate, withdrew from the college on account of 
trouble with his eyes. Mr. Tracy, preferring not to be separated from 
his friend, left college at the same time. The two went to New York 
State, where for two years he taught school in Troy. In September, 
1822, at the request of his father he returned to Hartford, and became a 
student in the law office of George E. Wales, and in 1826 was admitted 
to the bar. He first practiced his profession in Quechee village, but he 
soon became interested in politics and was elected a member of the Leg- 



914 History of Windsor County. 



islature from Hartford in 1833, and for the four succeeding years. On 
the organization of the Whig party he united with the same and engaged 
earnestly in the discussions which were constantly arising over the politi- 
cal questions of the day, and from his swift and ready way of speaking, 
from the force and compactness of his expression and the keenness of 
his sarcasm, he was well qualified for such debates. At the close of the 
year 1837 he removed to Woodstock and entered into partnership with 
Norman Williams, January i, 1838, which partnership continued till 
June 15, 1839. During the month of December, 1840, he formed a part- 
nership with Julius Converse, under the firm name of Tracy & Converse, 
and on August 20, 1849, James Barrett was admitted as partner under 
the firm name of Tracy, Converse & Barrett. This partnership continued 
in active professional work till November 25, 1853, when Mr. Tracy re- 
tired from the firm. He was elected in 1842 to represent the town of 
Woodstock in the Legislature, and was made Speaker of the House, 
which position he held for the two succeeding years. In 1852 he was 
elected representative to Congress, but as neither the climate nor the po- 
litical atmosphere of Washington suited him, at the close of his term of 
service he declined a re-election. He was never married. He died in 
Woodstock, October 28, 1868. 



WARREN, JOHN, eldest of the sixteen children of Eliphalet and 
Marion (Rice) Warren, was born in Northboro, Mass., Novem- 
ber 19, 1763. At the age of twelve years he saw the minute- men, his 
father being one of them, rallying to meet the British at Lexington, and 
distinctly heard the guns at his home. His father served to the close of 
the Revolution, a period of eight years, and during this time the care of 
the home farm devolved upon John. At the close of the war he 
enlisted in the service to suppress Shay's Rebellion. The spring 
after he was twenty-three years of age he came to Weathersfisld, 
May, 1787, with a pair of cattle, a chain, a bag of grain, a small 
iron kettle on their yoke, and an axe over his shoulder. His first 
purchase was sixty acres, at two dollars an acre, the sum being two 
years' wages, where the house now owned by Henry Fellows was built, 
before October 17, 1791, when he was married to Miss Abigail Proctor 
of Cavendish, whose father was an early settler of that town from 




John Warren. 



Biographical. 



915 



Chelmsford, Mass. He began clearing the thick growth of timber and 
burning it to ashes, which he converted into potash and pearlash, which 
with the wheat raised on the land, he took to Boston market, in winter, 
at first with his oxen ; he had been accustomed to the market when a 
boy. The soil was very productive and he soon added more land to the 
first, and became noted for raising beef and pork, butter and cheese for 
market — one pair of fat oxen he would sell with the load and drive one 
pair back, drawing salt and the necessary equipments for farm work ; 
later he went with horses. He employed a good deal of help; no weeds 
were suffered to grow. His crops were heavy, especially corn; he would 
have it hoed three times. Two bears at one time were killed on an ash 
tree in his cornfield. His farm very nearly supplied his table; he never 
bought a pound of flour. When the Hessian fly or weavel destroyed the 
spring wheat he had enough in store to last a year or more until he could 
raise a crop of winter wheat ahead of the destroyer. The wheel and loom 
had a place in his home. His wife was lame many years from a 
broken hip, and received the tenderest care. The chaise, for her ease, 
early took the place of the common wagon. She lived eighty- one years, 
sixty- two as his companion, a real helpmeet; together they met losses 
and trials with fortitude and resignation. For himself a physician was 
never called until his final failure from apoplexy, when past ninety- two 
years of age. Debts were incurred in buying land, etc , but he never 
failed to make a payment when due. He could waste nothing, but was 
liberal to the needy, and as prosperity came he was able to furnish aid 
to many. Though interested and active for the public welfare, he re- 
fused office except as lister for many years. He was one of the building 
committee for the brick meeting-house, a town interest at the center, now 
standing as an old landmark, pointing its tall spire to the better country, 
and one of tliose who paid liberally toward building and salary as a just 
debt, a personal privilege, and a public benefit. Their record is on high, 
their example a valuable legacy. Calvin, eldest child of John, born Sep- 
tember 2, 1792, married Melinda Whipple, of Weathersfield, and settled 
in Berlin and Montpelier, where he was deacon of the Congregational 
Church, and both died in old age, one daughter, Mrs. Alida Woodbury, 
surviving. Sally, eldest daughter of John, married Elisha Swift of Weath- 
ersfield, and settled in Haverhill, N. H. Luther, third child of John, born 



gi6 History of Windsor County. 



May 5, 1796, went to Haverhill, N. H., in 1817, purchasing land in the 
eastern part of the town, and married Martha Niles, daughter of Amasa 
and Martha (Fairbanks) Niles, of Haverhill. He became engaged in the 
lumber trade, running several mills at different points, employing many 
hands and teams conveying the lumber by raft or otherwise from North- 
ern New Hampshire to Hartford, Conn., where he owned a landing and 
yard, also one at Saybrook. His purposes were broken off at the age of 
forty-two, February 22, 1838; his disease was lung and typhus fever. 
He and his wife were members of the Congregational Church at Haver- 
hill, where his three children were baptized in infancy. She died in 
1830, aged thirty-five. He after that joined the North Church in Hart- 
ford, Conn. The three children found a home at their grandfather's in 
Weathersfield. The daughter Martha was there married June 17, 1839, 
to Rev. T. D. Southworth, and is now a widow living in Springfield, Vt. 
Nathaniel, fourth child of John, was born March 3, 1799, and always 
lived in town, in the same house his father first built, who had moved to 
one on a farm adjoining in 1817. His first wife was Fannie Haskell, of 
Weathersfield. They had three children : Franklin Haskell Warren, of 
Rock Island, III., and Ellen, who married Henry Knight, of Hancock, 
N. H., only survived him. His fourth wife had children by a former 
marriage, and survived him many years. He was a deacon in the church, 
and died April 7, 1878. George, fifth child of John, born April 26, 1804, 
married Arathusa Niles, of Haverhill, N. H., where he settled on a farm. 
They both died in March, i860. Four daughters are living having chil- 
dren and grandchildren. Amanda, youngest child of John, (except one 
named John, who died in infancy,) born February 7, 1809, married Ed- 
son Chamberlin, a life-long resident of Weathersfield. They had one 
daughter, who with her husband and two children died before them. 
They bought her father's farm after his death, where they had lived to 
take care of the parents in their last days. He was many years one of 
the selectmen, especially active during the war of the Rebellion. His 
age was seventy- three. She survived him, and died at seventy-six years. 
Luther Proctor, second child of Luther, was born in Haverhill, N. H., 
February 12, 1824. At six years of age he came to Weathersfield to 
live with his grandparents, attending the district school and working on 
the farm. He has lived in town fifty years in all, si.xteen in other places, 



Biographical. 917 



and thirty on the farm he now owns. He keeps twenty cows, patronizes 
the Springfield creamery, has a herd of young growing cattle, and quite a 
flock of fine wool sheep. He was married in 1846 to Miss Louise Bar- 
rett, daughter of Charles Barrett, esq. They had five children: Mar- 
tha L., wife of Charles F. Whipple, of Weathersfield ; Mary, died when 
fourteen years of age; Charles B., died at eighteen years of age ; Jen- 
nie A., is a professional nurse in Boston, Mass.; and Hattie F., wife of 
Frank Ely, of Weathersfield. Mr. Warren married, second, Mary E. Mat- 
tison, of Springfield. Charles Pinckney, third son of Luther, was born 
in Haverhill, N. H., March 3, 1829, married Mary Elliott, of Haverhill, 
where he owned a farm, and seven children were born. His wife died 
in 1866. One son had died in infancy. He came to Weathersfield to 
live at last in 1876, on the farm where his grandfather died, it never hav- 
ing left the family. His second wife, Mrs. Sarah M. Smith, of Haver- 
hill, died April 25, 1886. Two grown daughters, Mary and Lettie, are 
with him; the eldest, Roxie L., married Dr. G. E. Davis, of San Fran- 
cisco, Cal.; M. Alice, is the wife of Dr. F. A. Smith, of Springfield; Hat- 
tie F., married William B. Page, of Haverhill, N. H.; one son is in Brat- 
tleboro Asylum. 

WARDNER, ALLEN, son of Frederick and Rebecca (Waldo) 
Wardner, was born at Alstead, N. H., the 13th of December, 
1786. He died at Windsor, Vt, the 29th of August, 1877. When he 
was about twelve years of age his father moved with his fmiily from 
Alstead to Reading, Vt., to the farm located on what has since been 
known as " Wardner Hill." Young Allen did not remain on the farm 
many months, but soon left home for Windsor, then an important trad- 
ing-center, to enter business in the employ of Dr. Green. He served 
Dr. Green for a number of years, until long'ng for a more ambitious 
career, he determined to apply for a cadetship at West Point. He ac- 
cordingly started for Washington. This trip at that time was no ordi- 
nary undertaking, especially for a lad who was unused to traveling. 
His was a long and toilsome journey, and disappointing in its result, as, 
owing to party politics, the friends who had promised to aid him in 
securing the appsintment were unable to do so. Years after, in a de- 
lightful letter to one of his daughters, Mr. Wardner narrated his advent- 



91 8 History of Windsor County. 

ures in that arduous expedition. Although he failed in his errand to 
Washington, he later obtained admission to the academy through the 
influence of one of the professors. He remained at West Point but a 
year. His old friend, Dr. Green, h;id found him a most valuable assist- 
ant, and was so anxious for him to return to Windsor, and offered him 
such a good position, that, after much hesitation, he resigned from the 
academy, and came to make Windsor his permanent home. Dr. Green 
soon took him into partnership, and the firm of Green & Wardner 
become well-known as a prosperous concern. After Dr. Green had 
became an old man and had retired from business Mr. Wardner took 
his brother Shubael into the establishment, which then took the name of 
A. & S. Wardner. 

Mr. Wardner was one of the promoters of the old State Bank of 
Windsor, and of its successor the Ascutney National Bank, an institution 
which long was an honor to the town. He was a leader in the building 
of the great mill-dam at the south end of the village, and in organizing 
the Ascutney Mill-dam Company. In fact, in all the enterprises of the 
town which partook of a public nature, he was one of the foremost 
workers. He continued in active business until shortly after the death 
of his wife, which occurred in 1841. The loss of his wife was a terrible 
blow to him, and he never afterwards seemed to have the heart to en- 
gage actively in the various pursuits in which he was interested. He 
left the management of his affairs entirely to his son, the late Henry 
Wardner, in whom he had unbounded confidence. On retiring to his 
home he spent the remainder of his life in leisure, devoting much of his 
time to reading and study. But this last is not true of his old age only, 
for he was always a great reader from the time he left school. Mr. 
Wardner was a man of gentlemanly speech and manners. He was very 
exact in his pronunciation and use of words ; he wrote fluently, and the 
old-fashioned eloquence of his letters to his boys when they were away 
at boarding-school was truly charming. In his dealings with men he 
was just and honorable. True, he was very apt to insist in having his 
own way, and was inclined to be imperious towards those who disagreed 
with him, but it usually was proven that his way was correct. He com- 
manded the respect of all with whom he was brought in contact as be- 
ing a man of sound judgment and the strictest integrity. People in 



Biographical. 919 



Windsor used to say of him and his brothers " as honest as the Ward- 
ners." What he lacked in early education he made up by constant 
study. He became especially proficient in mathematics as applied to 
surveying and architecture Mr. Wardner was but little in public office. 
He shrank from politics, and only consented to nominations at the earn- 
est entreaties of his friends. He was in the State Legislature for a num- 
ber of years, and was on the committee for adopting plans for the State 
House at Montpelier, and for superintending its erection. In 1837 he 
was treasurer of Vermont. Allen Wardner and Minerva Bingham were 
married at Windsor the 13th of November, 18 14. Mrs. Wardner, the 
daughter of Harris and Phebe (Rogers) Bingham, was born at Lemp- 
ster, N. H., the 27th of January, 1793. She died at Windsor, January 24, 
1841. She was a bright, pretty woman, whose sunny disposition and 
hospitable manner made her home a very attractive place. The chil- 
dren of Allen and Minerva Wardner were George, married Anne E. 
Greene; Henry, married Caroline Paine Steele; Helen, died young; 
Helen Minerva, married William Maxwell Evarts ; Charles, died 
young; Charlotte Pettes, married Alexander George Johnson ; Edward 
Allen, unmarried ; Ann Elizabeth, married Thomas Ballard Harring- 
ton ; William, died young ; Maria Louisa, died unmarried at the age of 
twenty-five; Caroline Crane, died young; Martha, married Ebenezer 
Eastburn Lamson. 

Philip Wardner, the ancestor of all the Wardners, was born in Ro- 
thensol, a little town of Wurtemberg, in the northern part of the Black 
Forest. This town is in the jurisdiction of Neuenburg, and is situated 
near the boundary line between Wurtemberg and Baden. Philip 
learned the stone-cutter's trade at Neuenberg, receiving from the Guild 
of Masons at that place a certificate that he was a master-mason. He 
came to this country in 1752 with his wife, Katharine Eidel, and landed 
at Boston. He was first engaged in working on King's Chapel, which 
was completed in 1754. How long lie remained in Boston is uncertain, 
but it is probable that he removed to Natick, Mass., in the course of a 
year or two, for the names of his family are found on the Natick records 
early in the fifties. In a deed executed by Philip and his wife in 1765 
he is styled as a yeoman. His children were Jacob, Frederick, Philip, 
Margaret, Joseph and Lydia. He moved to Alstead, N. H., about 1770 



920 History of Windsor County. 

Philip died at Reading, Vt, at the home of his son Frederick, the I2th 
of May, 1 8 19, aged ninety-two years and eleven months. Katharine, 
his wife, died at Alstead, but the date of her death is unknown. Fred- 
erick Wardner, son of PhiUp and Katharine (Eidel) Wardner, was born 
at Natick, Mass., ist of April, 1754. He died at Reading, Vt, 17th of 
December, 1825. He went with his father from Natick to Alstead, and 
became a farmer. He married at Alstead, 20th of February, 1777, Re- 
becca, daughter of Shubael and Abigail (Allen) Waldo. About 1776 he 
purchased a large farm in Reading, Vt., whither he shortly moved with 
his wife and children. Of his six sons five li\-ed to manhood, and each 
had a worthy career. The names of his children are as follows: Joseph, 
Abigail, Polly, Calvin, Luther, Allen, Shubael and James. Joseph, the 
oldest son, died at Alstead, aged about twenty. The other sons, with 
the exception of James, settled in Windsor or Reading. James became 
a practicing physician at Plainfield, N. H. 

The name of Wardner is decidedly modern. The real name of the 
ancestors of the VVardners was Weidner. The change in the spelling 
was the result of an agreement entered into by all the members of the 
family at Alstead about 1795. Philip Weidner came from a part of 
Germany where the people speak a peculiar dialect, and it is not re- 
markable that the Americans found it impossible to spell the name cor- 
rectly. On the Natick records he is generally called Philip Woydner, 
while at Alstead the spelling is Wordner, Wardiner, or Wardner, as 
suited the fancy of the writer. In adopting Wardner as the correct 
form the family endeavored to spell the name as nearly as possible in 
the way that Philip pronounced it. 



U' 



[HEELER, DANIEL DAVIS, Military History of.— Daniel 
Davis Wheeler, captain and assistant quartermaster, U. S. A., was 
born in Cavendish, Vt., July 12, 1841, retires, 1905. 

Register. — P^lntered the service as second lieutenant. Company C, 
Fourth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, September 21, 1861; promoted 
to first lieutenant Company D, same regiment, April 21, 1862; captain 
and assistant adjutant-general of volunteers, June 30, 1864; brevet-ma- 
jor of volunteers for gallant and meritorious service in the campaign of 
1864; major and assistant adjutant-general of volunteers, December 27, 



BlOGRAtttlCAL. 021 

1864; lieutenant-colonel and assistant adjutant-general, Twenty-fifth 
Army Corps, May 26, 1865 ; brevet-colonel of volunteers, December i, 
1865, for faithful and meritorious services; appointed second lieuten- 
ant. First Artillery, U. S. Army, to date from May 11, 1866; discharged 
volunteer service October 19, 1866; promoted to first lieutenant, First 
Artillery, February 12, 1867; brevet captain, U. S. Army, March 2, 
1867, for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Salem Heights 
and Cold Harbor, Va.; captain and assistant quartermaster, U. S. Army, 
July 2, 1879. 

History of Service. — His volunteer regiment, the Fourth Vermont 
Volunteers, was one of the regiments of the Vermont Brigade, General 
W. T. H. Brooks commanding, which served in General William F. 
(Baldy) Smith's division of the Sixth Army Corps, Army of the Poto- 
mac. He was in the Virginia Peninsular campaign, taking part in the 
siege of Yorktown. He volunteered his services for the battle of Lee's 
Mills, and was recommended and promoted to first lieutenant for that 
battle. He took part in the battle of Williamsburg, the action of 
Meadow Bridge, the battle of Golding's Farm, and other actions incident 
to the investment of Richmond. He was engaged in the battles of Sav- 
■ age Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill and other actions of the 
Seven Days' campaign. At an inspection of the brigade at Harrison's 
Landing he was in command of Company C, Fourth Vermont Volun- 
teers, and was commended by General Brooks at that inspection. The 
next day he was appointed acting aid-de-camp upon his staff" and im- 
mediately started on a night reconnaissance in the direction of Malvern 
Hill, General Brooks being in command of the Vermont and New Jersey 
Brigades. On August 31, 1862, he was appointed aid-de-camp to Gen- 
eral Brooks, vice Lieutenant Noyes, Third Vermont, deceased. He was 
in the second battle of Bull Run and in the Maryland campaign, being 
engaged in the action at Sugar Loaf Mountain and in the battles of 
Crampton's Gap and Antietam. In October, 1862, he accompanied 
General Brooks as aid-de-camp to his new command — the First Division 
of the Sixth Corps — and took part in the march to Falmouth and both 
Burnside's and Hooker's Rappahannock campaigns, being engaged in 
the battle of Fredericksburg, the Mud March, the battle of Chancel- 
lorsville, and was with the advance of the Sixth Corps at the second 
no 



^2i History of Windsor Countv. 

crossing of the Rappahannock River; as also in the action on the rail- 
road leading from Fredericksburg to Richmond, the storming of St. 
Marye's Heights and the battle of Salem Heights, where he had a horse 
shot under him. He accompanied General Brooks as aid-de camp to 
his new command — Department of Monongahela — and later in the same 
capacity to his new command of the F"irst Division, Eighteenth Army 
Corps, Army of the James. He was engaged in the first and second 
attacks and the capture of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, the 
action of Swift Creek, and the battles of Drury's Bluff and Cold Harbor. 
In the battle of Cold Harbor he was wounded and had a horse shot un- 
der him. He was with the command that captured the defenses of 
Petersburg under General Smith. He accompanied General Brooks as 
aid-de-camp to his new command — Tenth Army Corps. While in 
command of this corps General Brooks resigned and he was assigned to 
duty at the headquarters of the Eighteenth Corps, General E. O. C. 
Ord commanding. At Cold Harbor General Emory Upton made ap- 
plication for his promotion to captain and assistant adjutant-general. 
The promotion was received, but on General Ord's application to the 
War Department he was directed to report to him for duty. At Peters- 
burg General L. A. Grant, commanding the Vermont Brigade, desired 
to recommend him for promotion to captain and assistant adjutant-gen- 
eral of volunteers and ask for his assignment to the Vermont Brigade, 
but having been recommended at Cold Harbor for that rank by General 
Upton he had to decline. He was engaged in the battle of Chapin's 
Farm, where General Ord was wounded, and General Godfrey Weitzcl 
was placed in command of the corps, and he was soon after announced 
as adjutant-general of the Eighteenth Corps, where he remained until 
the organization of the Twenty-fifth Corps, when he was transferred to 
it as its adjutant-general. He was engaged in the repulse of the assault 
on F"ort Harrison, September 30th, and assault of the enemy's lines on 
the Williamsburg and Nine Mile roads October 30, 1864, the first Fort 
Fisher expedition, and other actions on the north side of the James 
River incidental to the investment and capture of Richmond. He was 
assistant adjutant-general of General Weitzel's command, consisting of 
all the troops north of the Appomattox River during the final opera- 
tions against the insurgent army under General R. E. Lee, March— 



Biographical. 923 



April 9, 1865, and as such published the first order issued by a Union 
general in Richmond after its capture. 

In the spring of 1865 he accompanied the Twenty- fifth Army Corps 
to Texas and soon after was announced as assistant adjutant-general, 
District of the Rio Grande, the duties of which he performed in addi- 
tion to those of assistant adjutant-general, Twenty- fifth Corps, until it 
was disbanded in the spring of 1866, when he became assistant adjutant- 
general to General George W. Getty and was appointed second lieuten- 
ant First Artillery to date from May 11, 1866, but was not discharged 
from the volunteer service until the 19th of October of that year. He 
graduated from the Artillery School, Fort Monroe, Va., in 1873; was 
military instructor at Indiana Asbury University, Greencastle, Ind , for 
two years, when he was appointed captain and assistant quartermaster; 
stationed at St. Paul, Minn., from October i, 1879, to May. 1880; de- 
pot quartermaster at Yankton, D. T., from May, 1S80, to December i, 
1881 ; depot quartermaster at St. Paul, Minn,, from December, 1881, 
till December 5, 1 883 ; post quartermaster at Fort Monroe, Va., from De- 
cember II, 1883, until June, 1885; assistant to chief quartermaster, 
Division of the Pacific, from June, 1885, to December 10, 1889; assist- 
ant to chief quartermaster, Department of Arizona, from January 6, 1890, 
to August 2, 1890; at general depot of the quartermaster's department 
New York City from August 9, 1890, to. . . . 

To the present time, March i, 1891, the Rebellion records are pub- 
lished to include operations in Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, Tennes- 
see, Mississippi, Alabama and North Georgia. In those already pub- 
lished he is mentioned as follows : 

I 
Series i. Report of Brigadier-General W. T. H. Brooks, U. S. A., 

Vol. XIX. Commanding Second Brigade of the battles of Cramp- 

Page 408. ton's Pass and Antietani. 

Headquarters Second Brigade, Smith's Division, 

Hagarstown, September — , 1862. 

The conduct of the troops on this occasion is worthy of commenda- 
tion. Exposed to a plunging fire of artillery while passing over a space 
of a mile and more, and afterward to that of the enemy's sharpshooters, 



924 History of Windsor County. 

not the least hesitancy was observed. It gives me pleasure to call es- 
pecial notice to the good conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Stough- 
ton, commanding Fourth Vermont, and Major Walbridge, commanding 
Second Vermont ; also Lieutenants Parsons and Wheeler of my personal 
staff, who were active in the discharge of their respective duties. 

2 
Series i. Report of Brigadier-General W. T. H. Brooks, U. S. A., 

Vol. XXI. Commanding F'irst Division. 

Page 527. Headquarters First Division Sixth Army Corps, 

December 23, 1862. 

The officers of my personal staff are entitled to niy thanks for their 
activity, gallantry and general good conduct throughout those critical 
days. They are Captain Theodore Read, assistant adjutant-general, 
Lieutenants A. K. Parsons and D. D. Wheeler, Fourth Vermont Volun- 
teers, and Lieutenant Tyler, Twenty-seventh New York. 

3 
Series i. Report of Brigadier- General W. T. H. Brooks, U. S. A., 

Vol. XXV. Commanding First Division. 

Page 569. Near White Oak Church, Va., 

May — , 1863. 

To the members of my personal staft' my thanks are due and I re- 
spectfully commend their services to the notice of the government. 
Their faithfulness, zeal and intelligence have been exhibited on many 
fields. They are Captain Theodore Read, assistant adjutant-general, 
severely wounded ; Lieutenants A. K. Parsons and D. D. Wheeler, 
Fourth Vermont Volunteers, aids-de-camp. 

4 
Series l Report of Major-General W. T. H. Brooks, U. S. A., Com- 

Vol. XXIII. manding Department of the Monongahela. 
Page 675. Headquarters Department of the Monongahela, 

Pittsburgh, Pa., August 2, 1863. 

My thanks are due to Captain W. R. Howe, assistant adjutant-gen- 
eral volunteer service, and Lieutenant D. D. Wheeler, aid-de-camp, 



■,!^ 




Biographical. 925 



Fourth Vermont Volunteers, the only officers of my staff with me, for 
the energy and zeal displayed in the discharge of their respective du- 
ties. 

Pursuant to the act of Congress of March 2, 1867, which authorized 
brevet rank to be conferred on officers of the army for gallant and 
meritorious conduct in the volunteer service in the War of the Rebel- 
lion, prior to appointment in the regular army, he was nominated by 
the President, and confirmed by the Senate March 1, 1869, for the bre- 
vets of major and lieutenant-colonel, U. S. Army, to rank from March 2, 
1867. The passage, however, by Congress on March i, 1869, of an 
act limiting the date of conferring brevet rank to time of actual war, 
prevented the issuance of these commissions. 



SMITH, CHARLES CARROLL, A. M., M. D., was born in Sharon, 
Conn., June 11, 1830, the sixth in a family of eight children of Ran- 
som and Lydia (Burtch) Smith. After attending the common school in 
his native district, he taught several winters in the public schools of his 
State, working on the farm for his father during the other seasons, till he 
became of age, when he attended the State Normal School at New Brit- 
ain, at intervals, for about a year, but during that period teaching and 
farming a portion of the time. About the last of August, 1855, he en- 
tered the Green Mountain Liberal Institute, at South Woodstock, Vt., 
for a more thorough education, and remained there till May, 1858. It 
was his purpose to commence the study of medicine the following au- 
tumn, but desiring to go on with his associates, he entered Middlebury 
College the following spring, and was graduated from that institution in 
August, 1862. On the 30th of the same month he enlisted from Mid- 
dlebury, as a private in Company E, Fourteenth Regiment Vermont 
Volunteers, and was mustered out July 30, 1863, by reason of expira- 
tion of his term of enlistment, but being prostrated by typhoid fever, 
was carried on a bed to the home of his wife in Hancock. After a long 
sickness, he regained a good degree of health, but receives a pension on 
account of disabilities resulting from the fever and from other sickness 
and injuries incurred while in the service. He studied medicine with 
Professor Walter Carpenter, M. D., of Burlington, and received his di- 
ploma from the medical department of the University of Vermont in 



926 History of Windsor County. 

June, 1865. He then entered, as one of its staff of physicians, the Citi- 
zens' Hospital at Flatbush, L. I., wliere he remained nearly a year. 
May 24, 1866, he settled in the village of Gaysville, in Stockbridge, 
where he has since continued in the practice of his profession. He is a 
member of the Vermont Medical Society, and is president of the White 
River Medical Association. He belongs to the G. A.R., being a mem- 
ber of Daniel Lillie Post, located at Bethel, was its first commander, 
and had several re-elections to that office. He has held various town 
offices in the town where he resides, and was its repsesentative in the 
years 1872 and 1884. In 1890 he was one of the senators from Wind- 
sor county, serving on several important committees, one being the 
committee on education. October 17, 1862, he married Mary L. Perry, 
daughter of Bela R. Perry, of Hancock. Their children are Ransom 
Perry (deceased), Mabel Gertrude and Leda Florian. 



HEALD, DANIEL ADDISON, was born in Chester, Vt, May 4, 
1818, and is of English descent. The emigrant ancestor of his 
family was John Heald, who came from Berwick-on-Tweed, England, 
to Concord, Mass., in 1635, ^nd was admitted a freeman of that county 
June 2, 1641. His wife's name was Dorothy, and they had thirteen chil- 
dren, eight of whom were sons. John died May 24, 1662. Of this family 
John, the eldest, was probabl}- born in England, married June 10, 1661, 
Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Dean, of Concord. He be- 
came a resident of Chelmsford, Mass., and had four children, viz.: John, 
Gershom, Elizabeth and Sarah. The John last mentioned was born in 
1666, and in 1690 married Mary, daughter of Roger and Mary (Si- 
monds) Chandler. She was born March 3, 1672. Theyhad nine children. 
John (lied November 25, 1721. Amos, the seventh child of the above 
family, married Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Billings, of Concord, 
Mass., and their son Daniel, born in 1737, was the pioneer settler in 
Chester, Vt. He was at the battles of Concord Bridge and Bunker Hill 
and afterwards stationed at Ticonderoga. He came to Chester during 
the Revolutionary War. His son Amos married Lydia, daughter of 
Captain Ebenezer Edwards, formerly of Acton, Mass., who was also at 
the battle of Concord Bridge, and was a soldier in the Continental Army 
during the greater part of the war. 





AilaiLtic Puijliiluii^ S,Lu^w.vl4C?irir. 




J^^ ^. /^/€^^fS><^ 



Biographical. 927 



Daniel A., the youngest son of Amos and Lydia (Edwards) Heald, 
spent the first sixteen years of his life on the paternal farm, sharing in 
every labor of the field. He was naturally studious, and neglected no 
opportunity for mental improvement. Under the circumstances that 
surrounded him it was not an easy task for him to obtain a classical edu- 
cation. After spending two years at preparatory school at Meriden, 
N. H., he entered Yale College, where he took the full academic course, 
graduating in 1841. During his senior year he commenced the study 
of law with Judge Daggett, of New Haven, Conn., which he subse- 
quently continued in the office of Judge Washburn till May, 1843, when 
he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of his profes- 
sion. At this time he also became agent for the /Etna and other Hart- 
ford fire insurance companies. His business both in law and insurance 
became very extensive, and he became widely known throughout his 
native and other States. In 1856 he accepted an invitation from the 
Home Insurance Company of New York to become its general agent 
and in that year removed from Vermont to New York city. After 
twelve years of service in this capacity he was chosen second vice-presi- 
dent of the company, which position he filled till January, 1883, when he 
was promoted to the office of first vice-president. He filled the latter po- 
sition till April 13, 1888, when he was elected president of the company 
to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of President Charles J. Martin. 
During Mr. Heald's residence in Vermont he represented the town of 
Ludlow in 1850 in the House of Representatives, and was one of Wind- 
sor county's senators in 1854. He married in 1843 Miss Sarah E. Wash- 
burn, a daughter of Judge Reuben Washburn of Ludlow. Of their 
five children three are living. 

Mr. Heald has always retained an active interest in his native State, 
and is a large contributor to the erection of a new and beautiful house of 
worship for the Congregational church at Ludlow, of which he was an ac- 
tive member during his residence in that town. Fire insurance has been 
for almost half a century the life work of Mr. Heald, and by his energy, 
industry and perseverance he has raised himself to become the leading 
fire underwriter of the United States. Soon after his removal to New 
York city he saw the necessity of a more united action on the part of 
the different fire insurance companies in order to give better protection 



92g History of Windsor CoONtv. 

to the insured, and more profit to the insurers. Having this prin- 
ciple in mind, in 1866 he became conspicuous in the organization 
of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, which has done much 
toward placing fire insurance on an equal and paying basis. He has 
served with ability since the organization of that body either as chair- 
man of the executive committee or as its president. His annual reports 
form a storehouse of fire insurance literature, and his addresses deliv- 
ered before different conventions, among which we mention " Fire Un- 
derwriting as a Profession," delivered at Chicago, September, 1880, and 
his speech on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the National 
Board at New York in 1881, have never been equalled. It is now 
thirty-five years since Mr. Heald first became connected with the Home 
Insurance Company, and with due deference to others, it has been 
mainly through his energy, tact and business qualifications that the 
company holds to-day the foremost position among the fire insurance 
companies of this country. In 1856, the year Mr. Heald was first em- 
ployed by the company, its capital stock was $500,000, and it had 
assets aggregating $872,823. To day the capital stock is $3,000,000, 
the assets over $9,000,000, has an annual income of $4,750,000, and its 
policies cover property valued at over $700,000,000. The Home is one 
of the four largest fire insurance companies of the world, and has passed 
through all the great conflagrations of the countr}% paying all its indebt- 
edness in full. Success like the above is due to men's brains and ener- 
gies under the control and guidance of one having the ability to pro- 
duce practical results. That Mr. Heald has been the one to whom the 
success of the Home Insurance Company is mainly due, is acknowledged, 
not only by his associates, but by the whole of the fire insurance fraternity. 
It is only another case of one of the sons of the " Old Green Mountain 
State," who, having inherited a good constitution, clear head, energy and 
perseverance among her hills, has been able to make his name prominent, 
and obtain a position second to none among his business associates. 



WASHBURN, Hon. REUBEN. The English ancestor of the 
Washburn family in this country was John Washburn, who was 
secretary of the Massachusetts Company in 1628 in England, came 
from Eversham, England, as early as 1632, and was a resident of Dux- 



Biographical. 929 



bury, Mass. The line of descent from the original settler to Judge 
Washburn, who was of the sixth generation, was as follows: John had 
a son John, who had a son Joseph. The latter also had a son Joseph, 
whose son Seth, was born in Bridgewater, Mass., May 19, 1723, and 
was the father of Asa, who was born in Leicester, Mass., July 25, 1757, 
and was the father of Judge Washburn. Hon. Reuben Washburn was 
born in Leicester, Mass., December 30, 1781, and at the age of four 
years his father removed to Putney, Vt., where until he reached the 
age of twenty years he aided in subduing the roughness of a farm in a 
new country. He afterwards fitted himself for and supported himself 
through college, graduating at Dartmouth College in 1808, being one of 
the first scholars of his class. For several years after finishing his educa- 
tion he was engaged as a teacher in severafof the principal institutions in 
New England, and was at one time connected with Exeter Academy 
with Professor Ebenezer Adams, afterwards of Dartmouth College. 
Judge Washburn commenced the study of law under the able instruction 
of Judge Jackson of Boston, and became a member of the Suffolk County 
Bar. The practice of his profession was commenced at Lynn, Mass., 
but ill 18 1 7 he removed with his family to Chester, Vt.; remaining there 
but a short time, he came to Cavendish, Vt., and was a resident of the 
latter place until 1825, when he removed to Ludlow, and three years 
afterwards built the old homestead that still stands in the village. From 
the time of his locating in Ludlow till his death, April 23, i860, Judge 
Washburn continued to practice his profession, taking an important 
part in all matters pertaining to the political and religious interests of 
the town. He was an accomplished lawyer in the broadest sense. He 
was long regarded as the best read lawyer in the State, and as holding 
the first place in the law relating to real estate. Thoroughly grounded 
in the principles of the English Common Law, his conclusions were 
easily arrived at and were held in high esteem by the courts of the 
State. His mind was of a strong, analytical cast, and his briefs clear 
and concise, while in the branch of special pleading, then the practice 
of the courts, he had no superior in the State. He was tall and com- 
manding in his person, gentle and affable in his manners, of sterling in- 
tegritv, and in all respects a fine example of the educated Christian 
gentleman of the golden age of New England history. Judge Wash- 

117 



930 History of Windsor County. 

burn was united in marriage October lo, 1813, to Miss Hannah Blaney 
Tiiatcher, a daughter of Rev. Thomas C. Thatcher, of Lynn, Mass. Tiie 
issue of this marriage was Peter Thatcher ; Sarah Ehzabeth, wife of 
Daniel A. Heald, president of the Home Insurance Company of New 
York ; Reuben Hubbard, member of the Windsor County Bar, who 
died at Hartford, Conn. ; Hannah M., now residing at the old home- 
stead; and John Seth, who died in New York city, where he had for 
twenty-three years practiced law. 



DURKEE, WILLIAM H., was born in Stockbridge, September 2. 
1822. John, his grandfather, came from Connecticut in 1785, and 
settled in Stockbridge on the farm now owned and occupied by J. M. 
Ranney. He took up about five hundred acres in Tweed River Vallc)', 
in part now owned by his grandson, William H. He married, first, 
Sarah Holt, December 11, 1783. All his children, seven in number, 
were by this marriage. They were John, Orrin, Harvey, Sally, Mary, 
Elizabeth and Fisk. Orrin, born in Stockbridge, November 5, 1786, 
married, first, Rebecca Hunt. Nelson Durkee was their only son. He 
died in the hospital at New Orleans during the war. He married, sec- 
ond, Philena Rich, a native of Bethel, Vt., by whom he had eight chil- 
dren, viz.: Lyman, died in Winthrop, la.; Luther, died in Rochester, 
Vt.; Seneca, lives with his brother; William H.; Harris, merchant in 
Geneva, Wis.; Josiah P., killed in a saw-mill at Gaysville ; Charles O., 
farmer, living in Stockbridge; Mary E., wife of Anson Tucker, farmer 
in Tunbridge, Vt. Orrin the father, was the first child born in Stock- 
bridge after the settlement, served as captain in the War of 18 12, and 
afterwards was colonel in the home militia. He died in Stockbridge, 
October 14, 1862, and his wife also died there in March, 1848. Will- 
iam H. married April 16, 1851, Harriet, daughter of John and Lois 
(White) Leonard. Mrs. Durkee was born in Stockbridge, September 26, 
1829 They have no children. 



CHASE, Dr. ROLLA MINER, was born September 4, 1854, in 
Royalton, Vt. His great-grandfather, Moses Chase, born in Sutton, 
N. H., removed from Sutton and settled in Williamstown, Vt., and from 
thence to Rochester, Vt., where he died. He liad two children, Simeon 




C^^Tfc 




<^c^t^. 



7U\ 




Biographical. 931 



and Abner. The latter, grandfather of the Doctor, born in Sutton, mar- 
ried, first, Susan Slade, daughter of John Slade, of Brookfield, Vt. He 
married, second, Hannali Slade, sister of his first wife. The children by 
the first marriage were, Lovina, wife of Oliver Smith, died in Rochester; 
Joel, died in infancy; and Joel, second, also died in infancy. The children 
by the second marriage were Mary, wife of Hiram Thurston, died in 
Palatine, 111.; Moses, father of the Doctor; Fanny, is the wife of Lester 
Gay and lives in Oregon ; Lyman, died aged sixteen. Abner Chase 
died in Rochester, his first wife in Ohio and his second in Rochester. 
Moses Chase, father of the Doctor, born in Rochester, April 30, 1821, 
married November 15, 1846, Rosina, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah 
(Scales) Hill, born in Sharon, Vt., April 4, 1823. He passed his minor- 
ity in Rochester. After marriage he resided two years in Lowell, Mass., 
two years in Pomfret, Vt, seven years in Royalton, Vt, and in 1857 set- 
tled in Bethel, Vt, where he has since resided — a carpenter and joiner 
by trade, but for the last thirty years has followed farming. He has four 
children, viz.: Dr. Moses Roscoe, born in Pomfret May 10, 1849, mar- 
ried Eva Graves and has one child, Hervey. He is a dentist living in 
Ludlow, Vt. Flora Rosina, born July 17, 1850, is the wife of Wallace 
Keyes living in Riverdale, Neb. She has two children, Jessie R. and Na- 
than Moses. Fanny, born October 25. 185 1, is the wife of Henry C. 
Dunham, farmer, living in the Indian Territory. She has one child, 
Leon C. Dr. Rolla Miner Chase received his primary education in the 
public schools of Bethel. When eighteen years of age he commenced the 
study of dentistry with Dr. F. M. Celley at Bethel, and continued study 
with him two years. In November, 1874, he entered the Boston Den- 
tal College, from which he was graduated in 1876, receiving the degree 
of D. D S. The same year he opened an office in Bethel for the prac- 
tice of his profession. While practicing his profession he took up the 
study of medicine and entered the Baltimore Medical College in 1890, 
and was graduated from that institution April 15, 1891, receiving the 
degree of Doctor of Medicine. The object of the Doctor's study of med- 
icine was not with the intent of practicing the profession, but the more 
fully to equip himself in the practice of his chosen profession of dentistry. 
The inventive faculty, early developed, has been utilized by the Doctor 
in his profession. He is the patentee of a number of useful inventions in 



932 History of Windsor County. 

dentistry, prominent among which are Chase's Wedge Forcep, Chase's 
Combination Plate, and a Rubber Heater, patents of recognized utihty 
and used generally by the profession throughout the country. Chase's 
Portable f"ire Escape is another of the Doctor's inventions. Dr. Chase 
was one of the organizers of the State Dental Society in 1876, was its 
president one year, and on its executive committee several years. After 
the State Dental Law was enacted in 1S82 he was appointed, by the 
governor of the State, one of five, constituting the Examining Board, a 
position he has held since, being secretary and treasurer of the Board 
since its organization. The Doctor is State editor of the Arcliivcs 0/ 
Dentistry, a dental journal published in St. Louis, Mo., is a member ot the 
New England Dental Society also a member of the Vermont Medical 
Society. He was a member of the International Medical Congress held 
"at Washington, D. C, in 1888. He married June 18, 1879, Susan Eliz- 
abeth, daughter of Cornelius and Mary (Berry) Newell. Mrs. Chase 
was born June 14, 1855. They have two children: George Berry, born 
June 19. 1881; Susie Newell, born April 15, 1882. 



Old Families. 933 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

OLD FAMILIES. 

TO enumerate all of the old and prominent families in Windsor 
county would in itself make a large and pretentious volume, while 
it would be practically impossible to give a genealogical sketch of all. 
We have been compelled, owing to lack of space, to limit these sketches 
to only those who have felt and manifested an interest in preserving the 
records of their ancestors A large portion of these sketches will be 
found in connection with the chapters containing the history of the 
respective towns, while in this chapter we print those received too late 
for insertion elsewhere. 

Andover. 

Feitt, Abner, sou of Moses and ila'y (Pelte) Feltt, was born in Dedham, Mass., No- 
vember 9, 1756, and came from Wdton, N. H., to Audover in 1790. He married Mary 
Heald, and they had the following family: Polly, married James Barnes; Edward, died 
in New York ; Abner; Sally, married Ira Heald ; Peter and Chloe, died young; William, 
died in New York ; Rachel, married John Boynton ; Betsey, died at the age of twenty 
years; Olive, married Henry Kelley ; Amasa, died in New York ; and Reuben, died in 
Indiana. Abner died February 20, 1832. 

Feltt, Abner, son of Abner, was born in Wilton, N. H., October 3, 1785, and married 
Hannah French. Their children were: Hannah, wife of Ashby Morgan, lives at Peru, 
N. Y.; Abner ; Sophia, died single ; Mary (deceased), married William Dunspaugh; Will- 
iam, died young, and William Franklin, born September 28, 1829, died April, 1887. His 
second wife was Bridget French, and their children were Andrew Augustus, who died 
single at the age of twenty-nine years; Caroline, died at the age of seventeen years, and 
Ellen Frances, died at the age of eighteen years. Abner died April 4, 1871. 

Feltt, Abner, son of Abner, was born at Andover, January I, 1818, and marriel Caro- 
line A., daughter of Joseph Baton. Tliey had four children, viz.: William A., Fred E., 
single, resides in Andover, Ella C, died young, and Carrie M. 

Feltt, William A., son of Abner, was born in Plattsburgh, N. Y., October 31, 1844, and 
married Emma J. Gutterson. Their children were Mabel S., and Willie A., who died young. 

Baltimore. 

Leland Family.— The descendants of this family that settled in Baltimore vcere of 
English origin, and their progenitor m this country was Henry Leland, who was born in 
England in 1625, and emigrated to Ameiica in 1652, locating in Dorchester, Mass., but 
afterwards removed to the town of Sherburne, Mass., where he died in 1680. His son 
Ebenezer had a son James, who married Hannah Larned and removed to Grafton, Mass., 
in 1723. and died there in 1768. Their son, Phineas, was twice married, and had eleven 
children, and settled on the paternal estate. His son, Caleb, born in Grafton, Mass., in 
1765, removed, about 1800, to Chester, Vt., and soon after to the adjoining town of Bal- 



934 History of Windsor County. 

timore, where he died in 1843. He married Lakin Willard, and had ten children, viz.: 
Nancy (deceased), married William Wells; Oti.s, died in Weather.sfleld ; Jo.'ihua; Maria 
(deceased), married Henry Smith; Caleb, died at the age of twenty years; Lakin (de- 
ceased), married Levi M. Parkhurst; Joseph W., died in Baltimore; Hannah R. (de- 
ceased), married Thomas Gilnian ; Charles, died in Minneapolis, Minn.; James A., resides 
in Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Leland, Joshua, son of Caleb, was born in Grafton, Mass., May 22, 179-i, married 
Betsey Boynton, and had three children : Oscar H., resides in Texas ; Marcella D., wife 
of Tliomas L. Jenkins, of Chester, Vt.; and Charles A. Joshua died May 27, 1866. 

Leland, Charles A., son of Joshua, was born in Baltimore, November 15, 1832, married 
Susan, daughter of John Farnham, and has one child, George F., born in Baltimore, Jan- 
uary 25, 1858, who married Nellie A. Pierce and has two children, Arthur F. and Mary A. 
Charles A. has been a resident of Springfield since 1866. 

Martin, Ephraim, who was an officer in the Revolutionary War, came to Baltimore 
from Lunenburg, Mass., about 1795. His first wife's name we cannot give, but the 
issue of the marriage, none of wlioni are living, was as follows: Sally, married Jonathan 
Boynton; Dorcas, married Luther Graves ; Polly, married Amos Piper; Ephraim S,; 
Lucy, married Paul Haywood; Mary, ujarried James Works; J^hn, emigrated West. 
Ephraira's second wife was Jerusha Lyon.s, by whom he had no cTiifdren." He died in 
1 835. 

Martin, Epin-aim S., son of Ephraim, died June 21, 1842, aged sixty-five years. His 
wife was Nancy Haywood, and they had ten children : Dexter, John H., Jonas, and 
David H., ali died in Brooklyn, N. Y.; Ira, died at Jacksonville, Fla.; Lewis, died at the 
age of seventeen years ; Philena (deceased), married James Cook ; Hannah, widow of 
Bailey Fletcher; Jane, wife of William McGunn, resides in Brooklyn, N. Y.; and Cath- 
arine, wife of Asa Fuller, of Springfield, Vt. 

Martin, Dexter, son of Ephraim S., was born May 13, 1809, and died April. 13, 1880. 
He married Charlotte Lee, and had ten cliildren, viz.: Gratia, a resident of Springfield ; 
John Henry, lives at Manson, Mass.; Horace, died at the Marine Hospital, New Orleans, 
in 1862, aged twenty-three years; Lucy Jane, died at the age of three years; Collins, 
died fifteen months of age ; Lucy Ann, lives at Springfield ; Frederick and Frank D. 
(twins), born May 20, 1846, the former died at the age of twenty-three years, the latter 
resides in Springfield ; Emma Jane, wife of H. M. Armstrong, of Springfield, Mass. ; and 
Ella, wife of C. C. Parker, of Springfield. 

Preston, Zebina, came from Mansfield, Ct., to Weathersfield, where he died in 1824. 
Soon after thi,s his widow, her maiden name being Mary Tarbell Woods, a native of 
Pepperrill, Mass., came to Baltimore witli three of her four children. The oldest, Tyrus, 
remained in Weathersfield : he died single in Springfield. The others were Tliomas, 
Mary (deceased), married Patrick Bryant, Zebina, died single in Baltimore. 

Preston, Thomas, son of Zebina, was born in Weathersfield, May 23, 1819, and mar- 
ried Adaline Piper. Their children are Helen J., resides in Lebanon, N. H.; Emma A., 
wife of Dr. Nathaniel Q. Brooks, of Charlestown, N. H.; Francis Z ; Abbie M., resides 
in Providence, R. I.; and Alice M., a resident of New York city. 

Preston, Francis Z., son of Thomas, was born in Baltimore, July 9, 1851, married 
Emma A. Bryant, and has three children, Earnest A., Guy Wallace, and Edith May. 

Barnard. 

Davis, Joseph Ellis, was born in East Barnard, Vt., November 29, 1805, the eldest of 
a family' of fourteen children of Ichabod and Susannah (Elli.s) Davis. Joseph Ellis was 
married June 3, 1838, to Amanda Lavina, daughter of Luther and Fanny (Fox) Barthol- 
omew, born January 23, 1819. Their children were. Ursula Susan, born April 28, 1839, 
died June'3, 1860 ; Edward Joseph, born February 20, 1841, died September 4, 1868, shot 



Old Families. 935 

by the Indians in Spring Valley, Colorado ; Charles Henry, born March 5, 1843, is man- 
ager of the home farm; Francis P., born November 14, 1846, married Libbie Dunlevy ; 
Harriet Clark, born November IG, 1849, married May 10, 1871, John E. Howland; El- 
mer Hewett, born March 7, 1853, married Flora Boyd, of Royalton; and Fannie Bar- 
tholomew, born September 29, 1857, died April 15, 1858. Joseph Ellis has been justice 
of the peace in Barnard twelve years. In 18G1 he received a severe injury to the spine 
from the falling of a tree, and for nearly two years was confined to his bed and liis life 
almost despaired of. He recovered so as to be able to move about, but was made a crip- 
ple for life. He has been a total abstainer from the use of tobacco or intoxicating liq- 
uors. He is now one of tlie oldest men in the town of Barnard, and enjoys in the larg- 
est measure the respect and esteem of all who know him. 

Ellis, Joel, wag born in Barnard, June 1, 181G. Moses, his grandfather, born in Wal- 
pole,. Mass., 1766, married Catherine Boyden, also a native of Walpole, and had five 
diiidren, viz.: Clark, father of Joel ; Lucy, Catherine, Enoch, and Joel. Clark, his father, 
born in Barnard, November 16, 1795, married Anna Campbell, born January 20, 1792. 
He was born on the place in Barnard where his father first settled, and which is now 
owned and occupied Ijy his son, Joel. He followed farming all his life. He died Feb- 
ruary 11, 1862, his wife February II, 1875. Joel, the eldest of his two children, married. 
Elmina B., daughter of Isaac and Prudence Graves, who was born in Barnard, July 18, 
1819. They have had three children, viz.: Ozro C., born February 28, 1847, married 
Louisa, daughter of Amos and Susanna (Davis) Leavitt. They have two children, Addie 
L. and Inez E. He carries on the homestead farm and served as selectman of the town 
three years. Edna, born August 19, 1849, was the wife of Austin V. Adams, and died 
January 20, 1887. She had two children, Blanche E. and Guy Austin. Harlan J., born 
■ July 16, 1857, married Dollie Ashley, and has two children, Ashley J. and Bertrand H. 
He is a farmer, living in Eden, HI. Joel Ellis is the owner of the homestead farm upon 
which he has always lived. He has served as justice of the peace fourteen years, 
selectman one term, town treasurer one year, lister three years, town grand juror six 
years, and county commissioner two years. He has been a member of the Order of 
G-ood Templars twenty-three years, and for thirty years of the East Barnard Univer- 
salist Church. He is a Republican in politics. 

Leavitt, Levi Dudley, was born in Royalton, Vt., November 29, 1838. Amos, his 
grandfather, a native of New Hampshire, married Hannah Sleeper and had six children, 
viz.: Enos, Amos, Oramel, Moses, Hannah, and Merrill, Amos married Susan, daughter 
of Ichabod and Susan (Walden) Davis. She was born in Barnard, and died there 
in 1877. Levi Dudley, the third in their family of six children, married. May 7, 1865, 
Abbie, daughter of Calvin and Chloe (Boyden) Moore. Mrs. Leavitt was born m Barn- 
ard, February 28, 1839. They had four children: Cora E., born April 20, 1866; New- 
man M., born July 3, 1868 ; Kate A., born October 11, 1876; and Luna M., born Novem- 
ber 19, 1879. Mr. Leavitt enlisted in Co. G, Sixteenth Regiment Vermont Infantry, 
August 23,, 1862, and received his discharge August 10, 1863. He was in the battle 
of Gettysburg. He settled on the farm in East Barnard where he now lives in 1868. 
He has been justice of the peace eighteen years, and has also filled the offices of con- 
stable, notary public and lister. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the 
G-. A. R, Orville Bixby Post, South Royalton, and is its present commander. 

Paige, Willis R., was born in Barnard, April 4, 1853, the only child of Deacon Cyrus 
and Eliza (Rix) Paige. His grandfather, Asa. born January 25, 1756, in Hardwick, Mass., 
was one of the first settlers of Barnard. He married Lydia Stanard, February 19, 1789, 
who was born October 18. 1767. Their children were Rosilla, Martin, Anna, Asa, Lydia, 
Cyrus, Leonard, Louisa, Hiram, and Luthera. Deacon Cyrus Paige, born January 19, 
1799, married first, February 19, 1826, Laura Burke, born October 13, 1803, and had six 
children, viz.: One died in infancy, Sarah, Laura, Amanda, AsaH., and Harlan P. Mrs. 
Paige died November 19, 1850. Deacon Cyrus married second, February 14, 1851, Eliza 
R., daughter of Gavner and Betsey (Lyman) Rix, born May 18, 1815. Their only child 



936 History of Windsor County. 

was Willis K., subject of this sketch. Cyrus was deacon of the Congregational churches 
of Barnard and Bethel, and died in Barnard, Novemlier 2S, lSi'4. His widow resides 
with her son. Willis R. The latter married ilarian, daughter of Hiram J. and Amelia C. 
(Wheelook; Luce, born in Barnard, July 14, 18-59. Their children are Laura B., born May 
17, 1880; Louisa C, born November 16, 1881 ; and Blanche M., born April IG, 1887, all 
living at home. He owns and carries on the home farm in Barnard, He has served as 
lister and constable of the town. 

Webb, William W., was born in Bridgewater, Vt., September 2, 1841. His father. 
Wells Webli, son ofJehiel and Sybil Webb, was born in Rockingham, Windham county, 
Vt., June 1817. He married Luceria Dailey, born in Bridgewater, Vt., December 2, 
1822. Their children were, Jehiel, farmer, living in Sherburne, Vt.; William W.; and 
Otis L., farmer, living in Sherburne. William W. was eighteen months old when his 
father moved from Bridgewater to Sherburne, where he lived till he was of age. He 
married November 24, 18G4, Anna L., daughter of Chester S. and Emily M. Hubbard. 
Elmer L., who died in infancy, was their only child. He married second Sarah Jane, daugh- 
ter of Samuel and Sarah (Stearn.?) Lamb, born in Bridgewater, April 20, 1845. Their 
children are Myrtle lone, born January 16, 1873; Lucena Eloise, born November 11, 
1879, died September .30, 1884. Mr. Webb moved from Bridgewater and settled in 
East Barnard on the farm where he now resides in 1871, He has been selectman three 
years and lister for the same period. In politics he is a Democrat. 

Bethel. 

Abbott, Daniel, was born in Cavendish, Vt, October 3, 1796, and died in Bethel, De- 
cember 7, 1874. He married Sarah Lampson, who was born February 28, 1799, and 
died September 18, 1868. They had twelve children, viz : Henry, liorn September 18, 
1818, resides in Hamlin, N. Y.; George, born August 3, 1S20, went to California at an 
early day, where he died; Alvira, born February 19, 1823, died at the age of fifteen 
months; Almira F., born December 21, 1824, resides at Bethel: Harriet E., born Octo- 
ber 27, 1826, died in Springfield, Mass.: Charles, born July 2, 1829, resides in California; 
Granville, not heard from since 1863; Adaline and Caroline, twins, born July 7, 1834, 
the former reside.-? in Bethel, the latter died aged twenty-five years; Melissa, born in 
Marshfield, Vt., September 8, 1837, is a school teacher and resides in Boston; Curti.';, 
born in Randolph, Vt., November 4, 1840, was a member of Company H, Second V. S. 
Sharpshooters, Fourth Vermont Volunteers, and is a lawyer in Boston ; and Daniel, 
born in Bethel, June 14, 1844, lives in Plainfield, Vt, 

Berry, Eleazer, was born at Chatham, N. Y., February 12, 1792, and was married at 
Poultney, Vt., January 10, 1814, to Hannah Rugg. She was born at Bennington, Vt.. 
March 6, 1788. Soon after their marriage they removed to Bethel, Mr. Berrv vvas a 
dyer and cloth-dresser by trade, afterwards became a carpenter and latter engaged in 
teaching the district schools of Bethel and adjoining town.s. They had si.\ children, viz.: 
Lorena, died sixteen years of age; William H., died thirteen years of age; Charles C, 
born July 21, 1819, died at Bethel in October, 1873; Benjamin F,, died seventeen years 
of age ; George W, ; and Mary Ann, married Carlos Newell and died at Bethel, leaving 
only one child, now the wife of Dr. R. M. Chase of Bethel. Eleazer died May 23, 1873, 
and his wife September 17, 1867. 

Berry, George W., was born in Bethel, March 5, 1824, and was educated at the local 
schools He left his native town at the age of fourteen and at difterent times lived in 
Rochester, Braintree and Northfield. Vt. In 18-13 he went to Boston, where he learned 
the trade of cabinetmaker, and in I860 engaged in the manufacture of furniture, which 
he continued till 1874, when he retired from business. In 1871 he built his present sum- 
mer residence in Bethel whicli he has occupied during si.x months of the year since bis 
retirement from business. He married Miss Henrietta E. Harris of Charlestown, Mass., 
but has no family. 



Old Families. 937 



Bullard, Oliver, born in New Hampshire, married Abigail Gay, of Stockbridge, Vt. 
Their family consisted of nine children. One died in infancy. The others were Luther; 
Mumford, a Methodist minister, died in northern Vermont; Andes, a Methodist minis- 
ter, died in Randolph, Vt.; Abigail (deceased), married Abijah Twitchell ; Betsey (de- 
ceased), married John Baker; Fanny (deceased), married Mark Chamberlain; Azuba 
(deceased), married Ephraim Twitchell. Luther, of the above, born in Franeestown, 
N. H., January 5, 1801, married Nancy Greenleaf, who was born in Lancaster, Mass., 
in 1805. They had eight children: Pamelia, resides in Bethel; Penfield, resides in 
Bethel; Oliver, died in Bethel ; Christina (deceased), married Andes Twitchell ; Martha, 
wife of Moses Dustin, of Bethel; Calvin, died in Bethel; Frank, resides in Stockbridge; 
and Nancy, wife of Chri-stopber R. Noble, of Bethel. 

Chase, Aqnilla, the immigrant ancestor of the Chase family, was captain of the first 
vessel that sailed into Newbury, at the mouth of the Merrimac River. He was born at 
Cornwall, England, in 1G18. Moses, the youngest son of the above, was born at New- 
bury, December 24, 1GG.3, and married November 10, 1C84, Annie Folansbee. Daniel 
the eldest son of this couple, was born at Newbnryport, Mass., April 2, 1685, and re- 
moved to Sutton, Ma.ss. He married January 2, 1707, Sarah Marsh, and of his family 
Samuel, the eldest son, born in Sutton, in 1707, married Mary Dudley. He was among 
the early settlers of Cornish, N. H., where he died August 12, 1800. He had seven 
children, Dudley being the second son, born in 1730, married August 23, 1753, Alice 
Corbett, of Mendon, Mass. He came to Cornish in the spring of 1761, and was one 
of the first settlers of that town, where he died September 13, 1813. He had fifteen 
children. Simeon, son of Dudley, was born in Sutton, June L4, 1751, and married Molly 
March. He died in Bethel, September 6, 1847. They had two children, Simeon and 
Nancy. Simeon was born in Bethel in 1796, and married in Octobei', 1821, Olivia Brown. 
She was born in New York State, March 12, 1799. They had three children: Dudley, 
Nancy, and Geoige Brown. Simeon died May, 1827, his wife March 11, 1865. George 
Brown, son of Simeon, born in Bethel, September 9, 1826, married, first, June 21, 1848, 
Sophia, daughter of Dr. Henry and Louisa Haile. She was born in Middlebury, Vt., 
September 26, 1827. They had three children, viz.: Charles Dudley, born April 26, 1849, 
died August 26, 1871, at Bethel; Frank Solon, born October 14, 1851, died January 28, 
1853 ; and Simeon Haile. Mrs. Chase died August 13, 1856. George B. married, sec- 
ond, Harriet Putnam, who was born in Bethel, April 23, 1829. The issue of this mar- 
riage was one child, George Carson, born November 30, 1859, a resident of Detroit, Mich. 
George B. died August 15, 1881. Simeon Haile, son of George B., was born in Bethel, 
July 20, 1855, and married October 23, 1883, Flora, adopted daughter of Simeon A. Web- 
ster, of Bethel. They have no children. 

Clough, Daniel il., born in Bath, N. H., October 11, 1826, is the eldest son of Daniel 
Moulton and Mary Ann (Hunt) Clough. He became a resident of Bethel in 1847, being 
at the time in the employ of the Vermont Central Railroad. He is a blacksmith by trade, 
and after leaving the railroad he carried on blacksmithing in the northern part of Bethel 
for four years and subsequently moved to the eastern part of the town, where he has been 
engaged in farming. He enlisted August 3, 1862, in Company A, Sixteenth Vermont 
Regiment, and was discharged as lieutenant August 13, 1863. He re-enlisted, March, 
1864, in Company F, Seventeenth Regiment Vermont Volunteer.', and was color sergeant 
of his company. He was wounded in the shoulder May 12, 1863, at the battle of the 
Wilderness, and in the right leg September 30, 1864, in the battle before Petersburg, 
where he was taken prisoner, and was afterwards exchanged. He was mustered out of 
the service Jime, 1865. He married, first, Laura L., daughter of Osmond Brooks of 
Bethel. They had four children, viz.: Fred M., an insurance agent residing in Mechan- 
icsville, N. Y.; Ella L., died aged nineteen years; Laura Elver, wife of E. G. Carpenter 
of Bethel ; and Horace Eugene, died aged five years. He married, second, Mrs. Sabina 
0. Colbnrn, daughter of Harvey Ripley. Mr. Clough is one of the present, 1890, select- 
men of the town. 
118 



938 History of Windsor County. 

Day, Kilburn, was born in Royalton, Vt., June 20, 1814, and is the eldest son of Dan- 
forthand Mary (Groodnough) Day. His fatlier was a native of Royalton, and had a famdy 
of seven children, viz.: Maria, wife of George Aland, of Utica, N. Y.; Kdburn ; Samuel, 
resides in Lowell, Mass.; Ralph, died in Royalton; Mary Jane, widow of George Gee, 
resides in Sharon, Vt.; Danforth, resides iu Royalton; and Henry, a member of the 
Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers, was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. Kil- 
burn enlisted from Be'thel, and was mustered in February, 1862, as first lieutenant of 
Company E, Eighth Vermont Volunteers, and was discharged on account of disa- 
bility m December, 1862. After receiving his discharge he located at Wolcott, Vt., 
where he kept a hotel till 1868, when he removed to Montpelier, where he engaged in 
the carpentering trade till 1886, when he came to East Bethel, where he now resides. 
He is at present engaged at his trade, and is keeping a public house. Mr. Day married, 
January 22, 1845, Mary F., daughter of Samuel and Achsa P. (Pearson) Morrell. She 
was born in Warren, Vt., March 2, 1826. They have no children, but have adopted two, 
viz.: William 0. and Lula E. 

Dearing, Joseph, born at Belchertown, Mass., in June, 1786, married at Stockbridge, Vt., 
December 30, 1810, Rebecca Taggert. She was born in Stockbridge, July 2, 1790. Of 
their children, four died in infancy. The others were Theodore Allen, born July 12, 
1812, died in Bethel; Ira T., born April 12, 1816, died in Bethel ; Milo, born December 
24, 1818, died at Tunbridge, Vt.; Joseph E.; Jane S., born July 22, 1822, wife of George 
M. Alexander, of Royalton, Vt.; Nancy, born July 3, 1824 (deceased), married Franklin 
Newton; Mark S., born September 3, 1826, died at Bethel; Lucinda P., born Septem- 
tember, 10, 1828, wife of Julius Dyke, of Bethel; Marietta, born August 16, 1835, 
married Hiram Owen, and died in Bethel. Joseph died May 5, 1851 ; his wife Julv 5. 
1853. Joseph E. (son of Joseph), born in Bethel, December 27, 1820, married March 
2, 1842, Caroline, daughter of John and Lucy (Haskell) Townsend. John Townsend 
mentioned above was born in Massachusett.s, September 19, 1772, and married first, Sep- 
tember 29, 1795, Batlisheba Wells. They had seven children, viz.: Harriet (decea.sed), 
married William Newton ; Mary (deceased), married Ezra Putnam ; Franklin, died in 
Bethel; Joel B., died at Whitehall, N. Y.; George, died at Bethel: Eliphalet, died at 
Randolpli ; and Hannah R., (deceased) married Daniel Cushing. His first wife died Feb- 
ruary 5, 1812, and he married, second, J\nie 8, 1813, Lucy Haskell, who was born in 
Cornish, N. H., April 28, 1784. Their children were, John H., died at Aurora, 111; Lois, 
widow of Edwin Lillie, lives in Bethel ; Alice C, resides in Bethel ; and Caroline C, 
wife of Joseph B. Dearing. John came to Bethel about 1792, and settled and cleared 
the farm now occupied by J. E. Dearing. lie died March 28, 1863 ; his wife December 
2, 1875. Joseph E. Dearing has four children : Albert E., born May 10, 1843, resides in 
Bethel; Joseph A., born January 22, 1851, resides in Bethel; George T., born Novem- 
ber 8, 1852, married Abby M. Dearing, and has two children, Dana E. and Caroline L., 
and resides at East Randolph; Frank M., born October 31, 1857, married Ellen Emer- 
son, and resides at Reed's Ferry. 

Dustin, Moses, corn in Salem, N. H,, December 9, 1802, came to Tunbridge in 1823, 
and finally became a resident of Chelsea, Vt., removing to Bethel in 1870, where he 
died in 1880. He married Adaline Shepard, of Tunbridge. Of their nine childien, one 
died in infancy. The eight were, Timothy, died young; Moses; Lydia, widow of George 
P. Cushman, re.sides in Derry, N. H.; Charles, member of the Second Vermont Regiment, 
died in the army ; Thomas Shepard, of the Eighth New Hampshire Regiment, died in 
tlie army; Albert, died in Derry, N. H.; Mary, wife of George Woodward, of Wood- 
stock ; and George, resides in Derry. Moses, of the above, born in Tunbridge, Vt., Jan- 
uary 27, 1827, became a resident of Bethel in 1850. He married, first. Marietta Barrett, 
by whom he had eleven children, viz.: Lucia L., resides in Bethel ; Eleroy and Emeroy, 
twins, the former died in Bethel, and left two children, the latter was the wife of Aaron 
Bowen, of Bethel ; Melissa Ann, widow of Royal Twitchell, resides in Stockbridge ; 
Samuel Wdber, died, aged four years ; Albert, resides in Derry, N. H.; Charles H., re- 



Old Families. 939 



sides in Randolpli ; Augustine, died aged four years ; Sarali Addie, died aged fourteen 
years ; Natiianiel, lives in Bethel ; and Lydia Ann, died in infancy. His present wife is 
Martha Bullard. 

Graham, Alexander, came from Lebanon, N, H., to Hartland, Vt., in 1836 and removed 
to Bethel in 1841. He married October 9, 1806, Lucy Kimball. She was a daughter of 
Jo.seph and Eimice (Gallop) Kimball and was born September 5, 1788. Eunice was the 
daughter of William and Lucy (Denison) Gallop. Alexander and Lucy (Kimball) Gra- 
ham had a family of thirteen children, of whom two died in infancy. The others were 
all born in Lebanon, N. H., and are as follows: Henry, born January 29, 1808, died sin- 
gle at Bethel, January 2G, 1851; Joseph Kimball, born December 17, 1809, resides in 
Hartland, Vt.; Sarah Elizabeth, died three years of age; James Alexander, born Febru- 
ary 20, 1814, resides in Biddeford, Me.; Oliver Gallop, bora March 5, 1818, and died sev- 
enteen years of age; Lucy Maria (deceased), married Jefferson Phillips; John Gallop, 
died twenty-three years of age ; Guy Eldridge, born January 13, 1825, resides in Bethel ; 
Andrew Jackson, born February 10, 1827, resides in Bethel; Ziba, died eighteen years 
of age ; and Mary Jane, died twenty-one years of age. Alexander died August 17, 1861, 
his wife January 9, 1866. 

Graham, Guy Eldridge, was born January 13. 1825, and married May 1, 1867, Martha 
A. Sparhawk. They have two children, Lucy M. and Annie L. Mr. Graham at the age 
of seventeen entered the mercantile business, in which he was engaged till 1877, when 
his store was destroyed by fire. He is now engaged in buying wool and other mer- 
chandise. 

Hatch, Judah, was born in Tolland, Conn , October 11, 1764. He removed to Alstead, 
N. H., in 1772 with his father, Joseph, who died March 6, 1802, aged eighty-four years. 
Judah married November 25, 1785, Gate Beckwith and came to Bethel on March 31, 
1816, settling on a farm three miles north of the village. His children were Lynda, who 
died in infancy; Hial, died eighteen months of age; Lynda (deceased), married, first, 
Isaac Temple of Alstead, second. Captain John Tiffany of Randolph ; Alvin, was in the 
mercantile business and died at Newport, N. H.; Hial, a farmer died at Bethel; Judah; 
Gate (deceased), married Benjamin Herndell ; George S.; Harry, died at Woodstock ; and 
Phila, died at Woodstock. Judah died October 28, 1848. 

Hatch, Judah, son of Judah, was born in Alstead, N. H., January 17, 1796, and married 
January 12, 1817, Eliza Swift Russell. She was born November 13, 1798, and died at 
Woodstock, October 10, 1854. Judah lived in Bethel till 1833, when he removed to 
Woodstock, where he died November 16, 1879. His children were Mary Ann, born Jan- 
uary 12, 1819, widow of Harry H. Palmer; Albert, born December 31, 1821, resides in 
Woodstock; Luoette E., widow of the Hon. James M. Mcintosh; Caroline, born Octo- 
ber 5, 1835, wife of Austin E. Simmons of Woodstock; Oliver T., born October 10, 1840, 
resides in Woodstock; and Tracy, died eight months of age. The latter two were twins. 

Hatch, George S., was born at Alstead, N. H., February 3, 1802, and married Novem- 
ber 24, 1830, Irene, daughter of Chester and Irene (Shepherd) Webster. She was born 
in Alst'ead, N. H., May 30, 1805, and died June 21, 1890. George S. Hved on his father's 
homestead till 1861, when he removed to the village. He has no children. 

Mcintosh, John, a native of Scotland, was born near Edmburgh. He was pressed into 
the English army at the age of nineteen years, being the only son of a widow. Soon 
after beino- mustered into the service, he was sent to Canada, and served during the 
French and Indian war. At the close of the war he settled at Bedford, N. H., where 
he died. His children were William, John, James, Samuel, Isaac, Isabella, Mary. 

Mcintosh, Samuel, (son of John,) was born in Bedford, N. H., April 17, 1774, and on 
November 16, 1813, married Phebe, daughter of Samuel Wyatt. She was born in Am- 
herst, N. H., February 9, 1788. Samuel died June 30, 1849 ; his wife January 12, 1880. 
Their children were John, Sally, Samuel, Orange S., Lucetta, Lucinda, Phebe J. 

Mcintosh, William, (son of John,) was born in Bedford, November 6, 1776, and mar- 



940 History of Windsor County. 

ried February 8, 1810, Jane Patterson, who was born in New Boston, N. H., August 13, 
1785. He settled in the northwestern corner of Bethel in 1810, on the farm now occu- 
pied Ijy his only son and family. His children were Martha, Gisev, Susan, Mary, and 
James Miller. William died May 6, 1863, his wife, March 22. 1870." 

Mcintosh, Samuel, (son of Samuel,) born in Bethel, March 15, 1820, married, Novem- 
ber 2, 1848, Tamesin, daughter of Amasa and Altlia (Hazen) Dutton. She was born at 
Royalton, December 20, 1S23. They had three cljildren. One died in infancy ; Edward, 
born in Bethel, December 15, 1851, married Abby Dutton, has one child, Edward Earl, 
resides at Randolph ; Carlton W., born in Bethel, May 21, 1857, a graduate of Rush Med- 
ical College, of Cliicago, class of 1890, commenced the practice of his profession at Hub- 
bard, la. Mr. Mcintosh is a farmer, and has always resided on the farm in the north- 
western part of the town, settled by his father in 1812. 

Mcintosh, James Miller, (son of William,) was born in Bethel, December 20, 1825. 
He received a common school and academic education, and was engaged in farming. 
He married, March 2, 1853, Lucette, daughter of Judah and Eliza (Russell) Hatch. 
She was born in Bethel, August 2, 1829. Their children are Ellen, Jane and Herbert 
Miller. Mr. Mcintosh held many positions of trust; was selectman ten years; lister, 
thirteen years; over.seer of the poor, twenty-one years; grand juror, nine years ; auditor, 
six years; justice of the peace, two years; member of the Legislature in 1866-67; 
State senator in 1882 ; commissioner of licenses for 1885-86. He died at Saratoga, 
N. Y., September 6, 1887. 

Parker, Joseph, a native of Braintree, Mass., emigrated to New Marlboro, N. H., and 
afterwards came to Bethel, and removed subsequently to Braintree and Granville, Vt. 
He died in the latter town. His children were Joseph, died in Granville, Vt.; Abraham, 
died in Granville, Vt.; Enos, died in Michigan ; John, died in Granville ; Stephen, died 
in Hartford, Vt.; Lemuel, died in Michigan; Ephraim, died in Leicester, N. Y.; Nathan; 
and two daughters, one of whom married a Goodno, and the other a Lewis. Nathan, of 
above family, was born in Braintree, Ma.ss., April 4, 1787, and died May 26, 1864. He 
married, first, Lucinia Razie. There was no issue by this marriage that reached maturity. 
He married, second, Bethiah Jackson, daughter of Samuel Peak. She was born on the 
farm now occupied by her son, Nathan Parker, and was the second female child born in 
Bethel. She died in 1835, in the fifty-fourth year of her age. The children by the last 
marriage are John, who resides in Freedom, Portage county, 0.; Lucinia, resides in 
Bethel ; Marv, wife of William Webster, of Hudson, 0.; and Nathan. Nathan married 
for his third wife Polly Janes, by whom he had one child, George, a resident of Royal- 
ton. Nathan, son of Nathan, was born in Bethel, October 20, 1820, and married Mary 
L. Bliss, who died January 19, 1887. They have two children : Amna Lida, wife of My- 
ron Morse, of Manchester, Vt., and Sophia Rebecca, widow of Frank W. Harding, re- 
sides in Bethel. Mr. Parker has resided on his present farm fifty-two years, has been 
selectman six years, and lister six years. 

Pember, Elijah, a native of Ellington, Conn., bought land in Randolph, Vt., for his 
sons Samuel, Stephen and Thomas. The latter was killed in the Royalton massacre. 
Samuel, of the above sons, was born in Ellington in 1748, and died in Randolph in 1828. 
He married Esther Read of Ellington, and had a family of seven children, viz.: Samuel; 
Lucy, who married a Mr. Kimball ; Sophronia, who married a Mr. Robinson ; Achsa, 
Esther, Elijah and Read. Samuel of the above, born in Randolph, June 8, 1794, married 
Merrilla, daughter of Jacob Haskell, of Weathersfield, Vt., in which town she was born 
February 15, 1796. Their eight children were Esther, died young; Samuel Haskell; 
Andrew, a resident of Bethel; Monroe, resides on the old homestead in Randolph; 
Frances, married Daniel Washburn ; Ellen, deceased, married John Paine ; Angeline, 
died aged eighteen ; and Esther, resides in Millis, Mass. Samuel died in Randolph, 
December 26, 1874; his wife January 8, 1875. .Samuel Haskell, born in Randolph, 
June 15, 1826, married, first, Rhoda Morse of Reading, Vt. Their four children were 
Willie, who married Jennie Fuller, and resides in Rochester, Vt.; Ellis, died young ; Eva 



Old Families. 941 



Eudora and Ella Clio, twins, died fifteen months of age. He married, second, Jennie 
Rowell of T'mbridge, Vt., by whom he had three children, viz.: Verna, Myrtie and Eva. 
Mr. Pember is engaged in fanning and has been a resident of Bethel since 18G7, having 
previously resided in Reading and Weathersfield. 

Perry, Clarence C, M. D., of Bethel, was born in Pomfret, Vt, June, 1849, and is the 
second son of Asa and Martha Ann (Spencer) Perry. His father was born in New 
Bedford, Massachusetts, August IG, 1820, and had a family of seven children, viz.: 
Elbridge. a farmer, residing ni Pomfret, Vt.; Clarence C. ; Alice, wife of Owen Adams, 
of Barnard, Vt.; Martha, wife of Horace Eastman ; Asa, resides in Barnard ; Evelyn, 
wife of Henry Adams, of Royalton ; and Minnie, wife of Charles Cleaveland, of Barnard. 
Dr. Perry, after attending tlie local schools, became a student of the Green Mountain 
Academy at South Woodstock, Vt, also at Goddard Seminary in Barre, Vt. He studied 
medicine with Dr. C. C. Ellis, then of Barre, Vt, now of Somerville, Mas.s., and Dr. Ricli- 
mond S. Sherwin, of Woodstock. He entered the Medical Department of Dartnioutli 
College in 1874, graduating two years later. He commenced the practice of his profes- 
sion in 1877 at South Pomfret, Vt., where he remained two years, removing to Bast Bethel, 
and in 1880 came to Betliel village, where he has since practiced. Dr. Perry is a mem- 
ber of the Vermont State an<l White River Medical Societies. He married Mi.ss Belle C. 
Hudson, but has no children. 

Preston, William R., was born in Claremont, N. H , June 3, 1807, and was the second 
son of Clark and Martha (Reedj Preston. In his childhood his father removed to Weath- 
ersfield, Vt, but he became a resident of Bethel in the spring of 1834. At that time he 
engaged in farming. He married Cilpha C. Davis, March 11, 1834. She was born in 
Cavendish, Vt, July 17, 1807. They had three children : Celestia C, died at four years 
of age; Sarah Jane, died aged five years; and Plenry W., born in Bethel, December 2, 
ISof, and married April 16, 1874, Ida, daughter of Leonard K. and Nancy (Morse) Will- 
iams. She was born in Bethel, October IG, 1856. They have two cliildren ; Mabel Hen- 
rietta, born November 5, 1876; Walter Henry, born October 2, 1884. William R. died 
May 8, 1878. 

Smith, William P., was born in Braintree, Vt, December 4, 1831. Heman M., his 
father, born in Weathersfield, Conn., March 12, 1798, married May 2, 1826, Abbie Car- 
ley, born May 15, 1804, died September 11. 1844., He married, second, Margaret Wiley, 
born September, 1817. His children by the first marriage were George Tompsou, Her- 
bert Rogers, William Phineas, Wright C, Elsie Loraine, Emma Lorett, Henry C, born 
February 19, 1843, enlisted May, 1861, in Company I, Thirtieth New York A^olunteers, 
taken prisoner November 16, 1861, and confined in Libby Prison until the following 
spring, when he was paroled. He re-enlisted February 18, 1864, in Company B, Fifty- 
ninth Massachusetts Volunteers. He volunteered with others to take a rebel battery in 
a battle before Petersburg, July 30, 1804, and was killed. The children by the second 
marriage were Albert M., living in Melrose, Mass.; and Silas Wiley, living in Randolph. 
Heman M. is now (1890) living in Randolph at the advanced age of n-nety-two. Will- 
iam P. married Deceml:ier 13, 1857, Christiana, daughter of Calvin and Nancy (Steele) 
Smith, born in Ro.xbury, December 29. 1835. They have no children of their own, but 
have had two adopted children, viz.: Mary Anna, born December 10, 1864, died May 23, 
1877 ; and Mary Ehzabeth, born June 1, 1873, lives at home. Mr. Smith became a clerk 
in a dry goods store in Boston when fifteen years of age, and continued in the business 
five years. He then learned the machinisl's trade, and followed that business in North- 
field and Brandon, Vt, for fifteen yea>s. In 1866 he settled in Bast Bethel, where he 
has since carried on the leading mercantile business of that place. 

Spaulding, Andrew, was born in Corni.sh, N. H., and came at an early day to West 
Windsor and cleared a farm there. He married Saraji Hubbell and had four children, 
viz.: Sarah, married A. M. Whitney and died at Albariy, Vt; Silva, married Seth Hub- 
bell and died at Falmouth, Vt; Junius; and Abial, died at West Windsor. 



942 History of Windsor County. 

Spaulding, Junius, of the above family, was born in West Windsor and died at Bridge- 
water. He married Rebecca Jordan, and of their eleven children one died in infancy. 
The others were Rebecca (deceased), married' Abial Woodward ; Zebina ; Eliza, died in 
Bridgevvater; Yerulam, resides in ijasisachusetts ; (leorge, died at eighteen years of age ; 
Andrew, died at Bridgewater ; Arrjericus V., a lawyer, resides in Burlington, Vl.; Mary 
Ann, wife of Mr. Heath of Woodstock, Vt.; Julia Emeline (deceased), married Daniel 
Kelsey; and Charles, a resident of JJethel. 

Spauliling, Zebina, son of Junius, was born in West Windsor, March 29, ISIG. His 
father became a resident of Bridgewater in 1810. His first wife was Harriet Morse. 
They had five children: Romaiizo, Avas killed by a horse in Granville, Vt.; Ro.salvo, died 
si.\ months of age; Eliza, wife of C R. Chadwick ot Bethel; Charles, resides in Dead- 
wood, South Dakota; and Harriet, resides at St. I'aul, Minn. Mr. Spaulding married, 
second, Charlotte Duuham, third, Sfary Rowel, and focirth, Mrs. Mary, widow of William 
Albin, of Randolph, and daughter of Amasa Cross of Braintree, Vt., of which town she is 
a native. Mr. Spaulding has been a resident of Bethel since 1845, has been selectman 
and justice of the peace. 

Torrey, George, was born in Bethel, Vl., May 5, 1817, the second in a family of six chil- 
dren of John and Miriam (Morse) Torrey. David, his grandfather, born in Massachu- 
setts, married Tursey Lillie, and had thi-ee children who lived to adult age, viz ; John, 
Abigail, and Judah. David died in Bethel, September 3, 183.5. His widow married, sec- 
ond, Amasa Edson, of Brookfield, Vt. She died there December 12, 18.53. John was 
born in Massachusetts, December 5, 1793. He married Miriam Morse, April 12, 1814, 
who was born March 6, 1799. They had children as follows: Judah, George, Horace, 
John, jr., Milo, David. John died in Bethel. May 12, 1868. His wife diet in Fort At- 
kinson, Wis., October 3, 1873. George married, first, Betsey Meserve, October, 1846, 
who died December 7, 1847. He married, second, September 10, 1848, Betsey Ann, 
daughter of Salmon and Mary (White) Edson, born September 11, 182.5, in Brookfield, 
Vt. By this union there were three children, viz.: Charles Judah, born July 21, 1849, 
married April 14, 1874, Alvaritta C. Southard, and has five children living, viz. : Mar- 
cia Ella, Charles Elroy, Merton Duane, Elva N., and George Glenn, and is a farmer liv- 
ing in Addison, Vt.; Dana George, born February 17, 1851, carries on the home farm ; 
Lizzie Mary, born April 19, 1861, living at home. Mr. Torrey has always lived on the 
place where he was born. He has been selectman and lister. 

Weeden, Samuel, was born in Hartland, Vt., October 18, 1820. His father, .Samuel, 
son of Samuel, was born in Hartland, July, 1702. He married Patty Cady, and had 
seven children as follows: A daughter died in infancy ; William, a farmer living in West 
Windsor; Samuel; Lucius H., a farmer living in Bridgewater, Vt.; W.Tiren, a farmer fil- 
ing in Sycamore, 111.; Benjamin Franklin ; farmer living in Bridgewater ; and Edwin, died in 
Bridgewater. Samuel, his father, died in Bridgewater, July. 1870, and his wife Decem- 
ber, 1873. Samuel Weeden married Salemna, d.aughter of Edward and Ro.saiiuind 
(Bruce) Doton. She was born December 29, 1819. They have had three children, viz.: 
Lucia, died aged 22; Marcilla, died aged 17; Rosamund I., wife of M. D. Brown, lives 
in Lebanon, N. H. Mr. Weeden lived in Hartland until 1841, then moved to Reading, 
where he resided until 1852, when he went to California, where he remained three 
years. He then returned east, and resided in Woodstock, South Woodstock, and Read- 
ing until 1866, when he settled in East Bethel, where he has since resided, carrying on 
farming and the milling busines.s. 

Wheeler, Minot, was born in HoUis, N. H., May 17, 1777, and removed to Royalton 
at an early day. He married April 28, 1800, Sarah Farley, a native of Hollis. They 
had eleven children, three of whom died in infancy, viz.: Sarah, died nine years of age ; 
Susan, died twelve 3'ears of age ; Royal, died at Brattleboro, Vt.: Rebecca, the widow 
of Joel Day, resides in Bethel; Mary Ann (deceased), married John Wallace; George, 
died young; Minot, died in Royalton; George, died in Bethel; and Gardiner. Minot 
died December 22, 1849, He removed to Bethel, and was a cooper by trade. 



Old Families. 943 



Wheeler, Gardiner, son of Minot, was born in Bethel, January G, 1824, and married 
February 15, 1S43, Jane Elizabeth, daughter of John and Betsey (Twitchell) Woodbury. 
She wa,s born in Bethel, December .'U, 1S23. Of tlieir five children, one died in infancy. 
The others were, Wilber G., died eighteen year.s of age; Charlen M., died eighteen yeais 
of age; Ella E., died seventeen years of age; and Orrin, died fourteen years of age. 
Mr. Wheeler is a mason by trade and has carried on that business in connection with 
farming. 

Wilson, Theophilus E., born in Cabot, Vt., May 8, 1814, was eighth in a family of 
ten children. His father, Nathaniel, was the son of John and was born in Londonderry, 
N. H., July 22, 1773, and married Abigail Varnum, who was born Mav 13, 1777. Of 
their ten cliildren the six eldest were born in Peacham, Vt., the others in Cabot, Vt. 
They were as follows: Jane, born May 1, 1800; Sarah, born February 14, 1802; John, 
born September 10, 1803; Je.sse C, born April 3, 1805; David, born November 29, 
1S06; Hiram, born April 6, 1810; John, born April 18, 1812; Nathaniel, born Octo- 
ber 3, 1817; Rachel, born October 12, ISl'J. Nathaniel, the father, died November 
28, 1842, his wife March 3, 1825. He was a farmer and moved when a young man to 
Peacliam, thence to Cabot, where he died. Theophilus E. married November 2G, 1840, 
Rosetta M., daughter of Fifield and Juilith (Heath) Lyford. She was born in Cabot, 
February 28, 1821, and died in Bethel, September 13, 1888. Their cluldren were Louisa, 
born September l4, 1841, married August 24, 1865, Selam N. Welch and resides in Sut- 
ton, N. H.; Martha, born December 25, 1843, married Jamon P. Thurber and died April 
11, 1863; Edward F., born August 8, 1848, married Ida Flint. September 21, 1874, they 
have two sons. Earl and Pearl ; Emogene, born May 22, 1851, married October 23, 1872, 
Wesley E. Heatii, and they have three children, Carrie M., Josie Louise and Frank W. 
Mr. Wilson lived in Caljot till he was twenty-two years of age, wlien he engaged in 
school-teaching and ta\:ght eighteen consecutive terms in Cabot, Woodbury and Peacham. 
After his mirringehe settled on a farm in Catot, where he remained till 18G1. He then 
purcha.sed the hotel property m Cabot, which he ran until 18G8. In 1870 he removed to 
Bethel, purchased a hotel in that place known since and now as the Wilson House. He 
sold this property August 17, 1887, and has since lived a retired life. 

Bridgewater. 

Barrows, Stephen S., was born in Bridgewater, Vt., October 3, 1820. His father and 
mother were natives of Massachusett.s, and came to Vermont about 181G, and settled on 
the farm at Bridgewater Center now owned and occupied by Charles Dinnnick. Stephen 
S. lived at home on the farm until he was nineteen years of age. His education was 
limited to attendance upon the district school winters. Upon leaving home, for three 
years and seven months he worked out by the month, first for Augustus Bissell, of Rut- 
land, tlien for Eliphalet Tnomas, of Woodstock, receiving $10, $11, $12 and .$13 per 
month, a steady advance. He was married, January 4, 1843, to Arvilla, daughter of 
Smith and Phebe (Avery) Whitman. She was born in Bridgeivater, October 19, 1818. 
After marriage Mr. Barrows settled on the homestead farm which eventually came into 
his possession. His father lived with him until his death which occurred in 1851. His 
mother died in 1S41. In 1.854 he sold the homestead to Charles Dimmick and purchased 
the Atwood farm, but held it only one year. For the next three years he carried on a hired 
farm. In 1860 he purchased the Aaron Lamb farm near Bridgewater Co'-ners, which he 
has since carried on. With perhaps one exception this farm is the best farm in Bridge- 
water for agricultural purposes. A number of years since Mr. Barrows was oll'ered a 
large price for his farm by a gentleman who intended to develope a fine specimen of 
quartz rock, which is to be found in large quantities on the place. The death of this 
gentleman before the negotiation could be perfected prevented the sale. Good judges, 
who have seen specimens of this rock, liave pronounced it a very valuable deposit and 
worth, in itself, many times the value of the mere land. Mr. Barrows was one of the 



944 History of Windsor County. 

original Abolitionists, then a Free Soiler, and a Republican since the organization of that 
party, with the exception that he cast a vote for Horace Greeley, when he was a candi- 
date of the Democratic party. He has served as selectman of the town and justice of the 
peace for many years, and has often seived as petit and grand juryman. Mr. and Mrs. 
Barrows have three children as follows: Mary Jane, born November 21, 1843, wife of 
Stephen French, resides in Rutland, and has two children, viz. : Grace H. and Gertrude 
M.; Elvin S., born August 29, 1845, married Harriet Mitchell, a farmer living in Claren- 
don, Vt.; Helen A., born April 1, 1848, died January 29, 1879. 

Bugbee, William C, was born in Cornish, N. H., August28, 1827. His father, Howard 
Bugbee, Ijorn October 24, 178G, married April 20, 1814. Lavina, daughter of Samuel 
and Damaris (Saben) Chase, of Cornish. Lavina's i: rand father and Chief Justice Salmon 
P. Chase's grandfather were brothers. Her father, Samuel, was the fifth generation 
from Aquilia Chase, who was born in Cornwall, England, in 1618. In 18.38 Howard 
Bugbee moved from Cornish and settled in the northwest part of Bridgewater, where 
he lived until 18.51. His wife died there Octoljer 24, 1849, aged sixty-four. He mar- 
ried, second, Lucinda Chase, sister of his first wife, October, 18,51. The latter died at the 
residence of William C. Bugbee, December 2G, 18G0, aged seventy-one. Howard Bug- 
bee also died there February, 1868, aged eighty-one. His children, by the first union, 
were Charles C, born at Cornish, February 6, 1815, married November 30, 1840, Betsey 
Giles, was justice of the peace, selectman, and overseer of the poor, ard died in Bridge- 
water, February 16, 1884, his wife Seiilember 16, 1877; George H. ; Henry M. ; John 
F., a lawyei', who now lives in Canton, N. Y. AViUiam C. worked on a farm till 
he was twenty years of age, but from that time he began to devote himself to the 
busine.'s of carpentering and joining, for which he had a natural aptitude, and he followed 
that trade up to the pre-ent time as his principal occupation. He h.as built some of the 
finest residences of Bridgewater and adjoining towns, the Congregation.il meeting-house. 
Dr. Rodiman's resilience, Bridgewater village, and John J. Dewey's residence, Quechee, 
are specimens of his work. In 1873 he commenced the manufacture of chair stock at 
Bridgewater Corners, wliich he still carries on, but devotes a large portion of his time to 
his trade as a builder. He married. August 28, 1850, E.sther S.. daughter of Horace and 
Mary (Shepard) Gould. Mrs. Bugbee was born in the town of Franklin, Franklin county, 
N. Y., December 26, 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Bugbee have had two children : Mary Lavina, 
born February 1, 1854. died April 21, 1856. and Ida May, born April 6, 1857, married 
January 1, 1877, George A. Rice, manufacturer and farmer. For nineteen years after 
marriage Mr. Bugbee lived on the place now owned by E. P. Perkins, jr. In 1871 he 
settled on the place at Bridgewater Corners, where he still resides. He is a Republican 
in politics ; has been selectman for several years, and represented the town in the Leg- 
islature in 1870-71. Mr. and Mrs. Bugliee are members of the first Second Advent 
Church of Bridgewater, and Mr. Bugbee has been deacon of the church since 1868. 

D.avi.s, Hermon G. — This family are of Welch origin. The great-grandfather of Iler- 
nion G. was a native of Wales. He was a Welch chieftain and belonged to the defeated 
Welch faction, in the time of a struggle between Wales and England. Being forced to 
leave Wales, he took refuge in Fr.ance, was married there, emigrated to America, where i ~/ll\ 
he eventually settled in West Windsor. Jonathan Davis, his son, was born in West ' ' 
Wind.sor, and was a stonemason by trade lie married Sophia Lull. Their children were 
Almrtn Lull. Caroline, S_ylvester, Adaline, Mu-anda and Carrie. Almon Lull married Ly- , .' ■ 
dia Maria Gillet. He first settled in Sherliurne, Rutland county, where he lived .-ibout 
fourteen years, then moved to Woodstock where he reni.ained four year.s. In 1866 he moved \' 
to Hartland on a farm, known as the Aldrich place, where he still resides. Their children ' 
were Hermon G., Emma E. and Clariliel. Emma E. is the wife of David C. Hubl)ard, hotel- 
keeper in Wj'oming, N. Y. Claribel is the wife of James L. Briggs, carrying on the home- 
stead farm in Hartland. Hermon G. received his primary education in the district schools 
of Sherburne and Woodstock, his studies preparatory to entrance to college at South 
Woodstock Academy and the Canton High School, St. Lawrence county, N. Y. In 1869 



Old Families. 945 



he entered Tuft's College, Massachusetts, and was graduated from that institution in 1873. 
He studied law in the office of G-overnor Converse at Woodstock one ye.ar; taught school 
at Willow Park Seminary, Westboro, Mass., and, subsequently, six years in Middlebury 
Academy, Wyoming, N. Y. In 18S0, again studied law with the Hon. Warren C. French 
in Woodstock, two years. He was admitted to the Bar in 1882. From 1882 to 1884 
he was manager of the Chateauguay Steam Mill Company, in Bridgewater. From 1884 
to 1888 he taught in Middlebury Academy and Union School at Wyoming. On account 
of an injury received by his father, whereby he was obliged to give up the manage- 
ment of the mill, he returned to Bridgewater, and has since taken the full management 
of that interest. He married, March 29, 1874, Nelhe A., daughter of WiUiam P. and 
Amanda L. (Wood) Foster. Mrs. Davis was born in Woodstock, March 6, 1851. They 
have one chdd, Daisy Mabel, born January 9, 1882. 

Madden, Alonzo, was born in Sherburne, Rutland county, Vt., December 10, 1834, the 
eighth in a fanhly of twelve children of Michael and Electa (Johnson) Madden. His 
father was born in Cork. Ireland. When twelve years of age he was taken by a press 
gang on board a British man-of-war, where he was kept for three years and six months. 
Upon the arrival of the ship in a Canadian port, in company with three boys who had 
been imprisoned with him, he deserted, and eventually brought up in the town of Chester, 
Windsor county, Vt., where, for three years, lie worked on a farm for Blaney Sargent. 
He next worked for Jonathan Hall, in Plymouth, at lime-burning and farming. In 1816, 
at the age of twenty-two, he married Electa, daughter of Ebenezer and Dilly Johnson. 
Their twelve children were Ellis S., Michael, jr., James H., Sidney, George W., Edward 
A., Nelson, Lydia A., Alonzo, Margaret M., Mary M., and Charles A. After marriage 
he farmed it in Plymouth and Bridgewater, but for the last forty years of his life he car- 
ried on a larm in Sherburne, where he died April 11, 1875, aged eighty-one. His wife 
died April 2, 1857. He afterwards married Roxanna M., widow of Aaron G. Holt. The 
latter died July 3, 1877. Of the twelve children only six are living. Charles A., Mar- 
garet M. and Mary M. are living in Sherburne, the two foimer on the homestead. George 
VV. and Lydia A. are residents of Iowa. Alonzo Madden married December 2, 1857, 
Sarah M., daughter of Aaron G. and Roxanna Holt. She was born in Sherburne, Sep- 
tember 19, 1838. Her father died March 31, 1855, and her mother subsequently mar- 
ried her husband's father Her brothers and sisters were Esther A., Plenry H., Ellen M., 
Diana P., Albina M. and Ezekiel A. Mr. Madden went to California soon after his mar- 
riage, and for more than a year was engaged in gold mining. December 10, 1861, he en- 
listed in Company H, Seventh Vermont Volunteers, Colonel Roberts commanding. He 
received his discharge August 22, 1863, under a surgeon's certificate of disability. The 
regiment was at New Orleans under General Benjamin F. Butler. Mr. Madden receives 
a pension on account of disabilities growing out of the service. Mr. Madden has in the 
main followed farming as a business, but for the last four years has owned and kept the 
Ottaqiiechee House at West Bridgewater. He has filled a number of the town offices of 
his native town. Mr. and Mrs. Madden have but one child, Carleton W., born January 
9, 1871. \ 

Woods, John P.— Oliver Woods, grandfather of John P., raised a family of four chil- 
dren, viz.: Nehemiah, Elisha, Sally, and Betsey, all born in Groton, N. H. Nehemiah mar- 
ried Jeriisha Stevens, and raised a large family. Nehemiah and his wife died in Peter- 
boro. Sally died at the age of twenty. Betsey married William Alexander, and raised 
a family of three sons and three daughters. Jonathan Alexander, one of their sons, died 
ill Bridgewater in 1889, leaving a widow. Elisha Woods was bom in Groton, April 16, 
1790, married about 1810 Mary Nay, born December 23, 1795. He moved from Peter- 
boro, N. H., and settled in Bridgewater, March, 1814. He died in Chester, Vt., July 5, 
1855. His wife died at the residence of her son Elisha, in Bridgewater, August 30, 1878. 
Their children were John P., Elisha F., Russell N.. James N., Sarah, Mary Ann, Lorenzo F., 
Elizabeth F., Caroline, Julia, and Angeline. All were married. Elisha F., Mary Ann and 
Angeline are deceased. John P. Woods was born in Peterboro, November 21, 1811. He 



94^ History of Windsor County. 

lived at home until he was eighteen years of age. He ha<< followed farming principally 
as an occupation, but has also followed stone cutting and laying. He worked one sea- 
son on the State capitol, and was engaged on the stone work in the construction of the 
Woodstock Railroad. He married December 4, 1.S34, Betsey U., daughter of Hezekiah 
and Susannah (Dodge) .Johnson, who was born in Amherst, N. H., November 7, 18 IG. 
After his marriage he moved onto a farm in Bridgewater Center, upon which he lived 
twenty-three years. Here his wife died May 2.5, 1.'^.54. He married for his second wife 
Hannah G-. Corbell, widow of Leander Corbell. He had no children by the latter mar- 
riage. In 1858 he moved to Chester, where he lived till 1888, since which time he has 
resided with his son, Charles H. Woods. The children of John P. and Betsey Woods 
are George H., born February 28, 1836; Sarah J., born May 5, 1838; Charles H., born 
February 24, 1841 ; Volney J., born August 5, 1843 ; Minerva, born April .5, 1847, died 
when twelve years of age; Charlotte A., born March 4, 1849. George H. was twice 
married; his first wife was Eliza Moore, his second Clara Follansbee; had three children, 
Hattie, Mamie, and George. George H. is overseer for the Union Metallic Cartridge Co.. 
Bridgeport, Conn. Sarah J married, first, Thomas Pratt; .second, Sewell Wheeler, and 
lives in Boston. Charles H. married Lucy M., daughter of Jason L. and Harriet A. 
Spaulding, born in Bridgewater, December 29, 1842. Their children are Ida M., born 
July 21, 1863, married October 31, 1880, Lauris Barrows, and tlieir children are Lynn 
W., born December 5, 1881 ; and Roy A., born March 23, 1886. Charles H. Woods 
carries on the blacksmith trade in company with his son-in-law, Mr. Barrows, in Bridge- 
water village. Charles B., born April 29, 186.5; Etta M., born January 27, 1867, wife 
of Clifton R. Pinney, has one child, Marian L., born November 18, 1888; John J., born 
June 23, 1872; Eugene, born May 1, 1877; and Robert P., born October, 1881. Volney 
J. married Wealthy J. Chase; they have two children, Byron C. and Harry E. Char- 
lotte A. is the wife of John Balch, a farmer living in Springfield. Vt, and they 
have two children, Eva M. and Ada A. 

Wood, Barnabas, grandfather of Bazaleel, had four children, of whom John, father of 
Bazaleel, was the youngest. The latter was born in Rockingham, Windham county, Vt., 
August, 1786. He was four times married. His first wife was Anna Phippen, whom he 
married January 23, 1810. She died May 10, 1821. He married February 24, 1822, 
Lucy Phippen, a cousin of his first wife. She died September 27, 1828. His third wife 
wa.s Abigail Buxton, whom he married June 23, 1829. She died April 14, 1830. He 
married, fourth, Barnice Facett, October 30, 1831. Bazaleel lived in Ira till he was twenty 
years of age; received his education in the district scliool of that town. He came to 
Bridgewater in 1852 and was married M;u-ch 30, 1853, to Catharine, daughter of Charles 
and Rachel (Gates) Dimick. Mrs. Wood was born in Bridgewater, August 8, 1831. Her 
grandfather, Joseph Dimick, from Enfield, Conn., settled in Bridgewater in 1793, on the 
farm now owned by his son Chester Dimu-k, and died there. He reared a family of 
twelve children, four of whom, viz.: Charles, Chester, Mrs. Bulah Robinson and Mr;-'. 
Harriet Dimick, are residents of Bridgewater; Mrs. Julia Wheeler is a resident of Ply- 
mouth. Mrs. Wood'.s mother died February, 183.5, and her father married, for his second 
wife, Serviha Lakin, widow of Nathan T. Lakin. Electa R., sister of Mrs. Wood, is the 
wife of Matthew E. Kennedy, farmer Uving in Bridgewater. In 1860 Mr. Wood settled 
on the farm at Bridgewater Center, where he has since resided. August 14, 1862, he en- 
listed as private in Company A, Third Vermont Volunteers, and received his discharge 
June 19, 1865. He was twice wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, on which ac- 
count he receives a pension. Since the war he has followed the business of farming. 
Mr. Wood seems to have inherited the military spirit from his ancestors, as he had two 
great-uncles in the War of the Revolution, and his father was in the War of 1812, and 
was at the battle of Phttsburgh. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have one adopted child, Lizzie A , 
wife of Lewis B. Weymouth, residing in Quincy, Mass. She has two children, Katie H. 
and Lillie A. 



Old Families. 947 



Cavendish. 

Amsden, Alanson 0., was born in Reading, Vt., September 28, 1814, and married Maria, 
daughter of Dan Grout. They had two children, Ellen M,, wife of Milton W. Adams, of 
Cavendish, and Henry H. Alanson O. died Novendjer 28, 1850. 

Amsden, Henry H., son of Alanson 0., was born in CavendLsh, March 3, 1840, and mar- 
ried Lula A., the only child of Alpheus Sargent, who was born in Ludlow, April 23, 1814, 
married Almira Ober, and died in Cavendish, January 7, 1888. They have one child, 
Walter, born in Cavendish, Februrary 12, 1870. 

Buck, Mdo >S., of Cavendish, was born in Cavendish, August 20, 1844, and is a second 
son of Philemon A. and Abigail (Densmore) Buck. After attending the local schools he 
became a student at the Green Mountain Academy in South Woodstock, Vt., and the 
Goddard Seminary at Barre, Vt. He read law with Gilbert A. Davis, then of Reading, and 
now of Witidsor, Vt., and the late John F. Deane, of Cavendi.sh. He became a member of 
Windsor County Bar in 1875, and began the practice of his profession at Cavendish the 
same year. Mr. Buck married Mrs. Laura Giddings, nee Goddard, and has two children, 
Leslie and Ray. 

Dimsmore, Abraham, was born at Lunenburg, Mass., March 18, 1783, and died at Cav- 
endish, January 10, 1852. He married Mrs. Abigail Whitney, nee Snow. They had five 
children : Nancy (deceased), married Henry Spauldmg of Cavendish ; Abigail (deceased), 
married Philamon A. Buck of Cavendish; Ebenezer S. ; Abj-aham, died in Cavendish; 
Samuel, died in Chester. 

Dnnsmore, Ebenezer S., son of Abraham, was born in Cavendish, June 20, 1815, and 
marrieil Susan Taylor. They had one child, Emma L., who died at eighteen years of age. 
His second wife was Cornelia M. Davis. Ebenezer S. died March, 1890. 

Fletcher, Asaph, Dr., of Cavendish, was born in Westford, Mass., June 28, 1746, and 
was the son of William and Elizabeth (Remington) Fletcher. At the age of twenty-two 
he established himself as a physician in his native town. While a resident of Massachu- 
setts he held many public offices and was a member of the convention which formed the 
constitution of that commonwealth in 1780. He married Sally, daughter of Jonathan 
Green, of Chelsea, Mass. In February, 1787, he removed to Cavendish, Vt., where he 
resided and practiced his profession until his death on January 5, 1839. Dr. Fletcher 
was a member of the convention which applied to Congress to admit Vermont into the 
Union ; also a member of the convention to revise the constitution of the State. He was 
frequently a member of the Legislature; one of the judges of the County Court, a mem- 
ber of the Council, and was one of the eleciors when .lames Monroe was first elected Presi- 
dent. Besides these he held many other offices, which manifested the re.spect in which 
he was held, and the confidence reposed in him. His children were Sarah, who married 
Salmon Dutton ; Asa, born in Westford, Mass., June 26, 178U, and removed to Wood- 
stock, Vt., where he iDecame general of the militia and high sheriff, and wliere he died, 
leaving no male issue ; Salome, married Luther Fletcher, a physician who practiced for 
some time in Cavendish, but died at Granville, N. Y. ; Rebecca, married Asa Fletcher; 
Richard (for sketch of his life see history of Fletcher Library, in Cavendish); Addison, 
born in Cavendish, August 25, 1790, engaged in mercantile business in Mount Holly and 
Cavendish, and died in the latter place January 8, 1832, and left three daughters, Maria 
Dorothy, who became the wife of Hon. A. A. Ranney, a prominent lawyer of Boston, 
Mass., and Mary Cornelia, who married Rufus S. Andrews, a lawyer of New York city, 
and Helen L., who married George H.Johnson; Alpheus, born in Cavendish, July 17, 
1793, followed his father's profession in his native town, where he died May 25, 1839; 
Horace, born in Cavendish, October 28, 1796, who practiced law in Cavendish and after- 
wards became pastor of the Baptist Church in Town.shend, Vt., where he died; Ryland, 
an e.xtrnded sketch of whom appears in another part of this work. 



948 History of Windsor County. 



French, Hon. Calvin, of Cavendish, son of Josiah and Rebecca (Brown) French, was 
born in Cavendish, August 28, 1799. His father came from New Hampshire to Caven- 
dish about 1785, aud located about a mile north of Proctorsville. His other children were 
Josiah, who died at Clarendon, Vt.; Calista, who married Samuel Adams; Luther, who 
died at Wilton, N. Y.: Rebecca, who married Hiram Giddiugs. Josiah died in his sev- 
enty-si.Kth year in 1839. After attending the local schools Calvin went to academies in 
Rhode Island and Connecticut. He studied law witli Judge Reuben Washburn and Jo- 
siah Chandler. He was admitted to the bar in 1837, and in company with Luther Ad- 
ams opened an office at Proctorsville. This firm was afterwards dissolved, and in 1856 
Judge French sold his practice to Clark A. Chapman. Judge French was State's attor- 
ney in 1853-54 ; assistant judge from 1849 to 1862, and from 1860 to the time of his 
death, June 15, 1879. His first wife was Jerusha Mathewsou, by whom he had two 
sons, Quincy, who died young, aud Charles M., who died in Iowa. His second wife was 
Valeria Blood, and their children were: Jerusha, who died young; George B., who was a 
member of the First Vermont Regiment and afterwards joined other Vermont regiments 
and was mustered out of the service with the rank of adjutant, became a member of the 
Windsor County Bar in 1866, and in the following year was elected county clerk, which 
position he held a number of years, and now resides in Nebraska ; Jerusha, wife of H. G. 
Day; John Quincy, a member of the First Vermont Cavalry, killed during the war; and 
Marjr, wife of H. P. Gammon, of Proctorsville. 

Fullam, Timothy, was born in Weston, Mass., December 3, 1741, O. S., and married Eliz- 
abeth Thompson, of Sterling, Mass. He was a Revolutionary soldier and served under 
General Washington, and was at the battle of Bennington. He came to Cavendish in 
1798 and removed to Reading in 1818, where he died September 10, 1829. He had two 
children : Ebenezer and Sewall. 

FuUam, Ebenezer, son of Timothy, born in Filchburg, Mass., October 14. 1767, mar- 
ried Abigail Styles, and had ten children, viz.: Lincoln, died in North Carohna ; Betsey 
(deceased), married Joseph Stone; Lucinda (deceased), married Marvin Robinson ; Rox- 
ana (deceased), married Nathan Eaton ; Sophie (deceased), married RufusBuck; Marie, 
died young; Sullivan Burbank (deceased); Thomas Jefferson (deceased); James Madi- 
son, lives in Springfield ; and Augustus Granville, who died July 27, 18.52. 

Fullam, Augustus Granville, son of Ebenezer, born in Ludlow, February 28, 1814, mar- 
ried Mary S. Pollard and had two children : Mary Ann (deceased), married first Norman 
Rovce, second Joel B. Slack ; and Leighton Granville. 

Fullam, Leighton Granville, son of Augustus Granville, was born in Weathersfield, 
October 5, 1841, married Ada Slack, and had three children: Ernest Leighton, born 
May 7, 18Gr; Herman Granville, born October 28, 1868; Eben Joel, born March 20, 
1871. Leighton G. has been a resident of Ludlow since 1842, and a member of the firm 
of Fullam & Adams, manufacturers of lumber and chair stock, his eldest son being also a 
member of the firm. 

Fullam, James Madison, son of Ebenezer, was born in Ludlow, Vt., August 26, 1809, 
married Anna Pollard, and has four children, viz: James Madison, jr. ; Adrioam, a resi- 
dent of New York city; Joseph Ebenezer, died at the age of si.K years; and Lucien 
Winfield, lives in New York city. He has been a resident of Springfield since 1850. 

Fullam, James Madison, jr., son of James Madison, was born in Plymouth, Vt., August 
14, 1834, and married Mary, daughter of Salmon Whitcomb. They have four sons, viz: 
Fred W., lives in Weathersfield; Don Pollard; Eben Eaton, lives in Chester, and Robert 
Lincoln. 

Goddard, Aaron (deacon), was born October 28, 1771, and having lost both of his 
parents, was brought up by an uncle. He came from Swansey, N. H., to Reading at 
an early day. He married Elizabeth Howe, and they had the following family : Eunice 
(deceased), married Sewall Fullam, jr. ; Arnold; Candaoe (deceased), married Benoni 
Buck; Hiram, died in Reading; Jubal, died single in Reading; Cynthia (deceased;. 



Old Families. 949 



married Allen Spaulding ; Laura, died at eighteen years of age ; Aaron Winchester, re- 
sides ill Reading. Aaron died September 27, 1855. 

Gnddard, Arnold, son of Aaron, was born in Reading, April 5, 179S, and married 
Sarah Rice. Thev had but one child, Mrs. Sarah A. Hager, of Prootorsville, Vt. Arnold 
died June 12, 1869. 

Hardy, John, came from Massachusetts to Cavendisli, and had the following family : 
John, who resides in New York State; Ezekiel ; Solomon, died in Cavendish; Reuben, 
died in Michigan ; Patty (deceased), married Natlianiel Russell ; Jerusha (deceased), 
married Thomas Green ; and Sarah, married and died in New York State. 

Hardy, Ezekiel, married Rachel Tarbell and of their fourteen children two died young. 
The others were Maria (deceased), married Joel Davis; Mary (deceased), Addison, 
Thomas, Sophronia (deceased), marrie<l James Perry; Sarah, wife of George Ober, of 
Athens, Vt. ; Loui.sa, wife of Willard Wilson, of Cavendish; Fannie, wife of Joel Ober, 
of Springfield, Mass. ; Cali.sha, married Lewis Hicks ; Salome (deceased), married Darius 
Smith; Cynthia, died young; Minerva, wife of Calvin Getchell; Addison, died in Cav- 
endish, and Roland resides in Cavendish. 

Hill, Abel, a well-known resident of Cavendish for niany years, was bom in Sudbury, 
Mass., July 25, 17S7, and came to town in October, 18.34. He was for a long time an 
overseer in the Fullerton Woolen Mills, and one of the California " pioneers," making 
two trips to that territory afier he was sixty years of age. He was a good mechanic, 
and before moving to Vermont manufactured a thread-mill in New Hampshire entirely, 
from tlie dam to the macliinery, and tlien operated it. He was also a noted fiddler, and 
made and repaired violins as well. He died in Cavendish, April .30, 1S74, aged nearly 
eighty-seven, after having reared a family of eleven children, si.x of whom are now liv- 
ing, and four residents of the town, George S. Hill, president of the National Black 
River Bank, Harvey M., Mrs. E. W. Whitcomb, and Mrs. Sarah E. Ely. 

Stearns, John, was born in Ashburnham, Mass., December 15, 1788, and married Abi- 
gail Hartwell. He died August 12, IS'IS. Their children were Thomas, who died in 
Cavendish, but left no issue ; John H., George, died in Cavendish, but left no male issue ; 
Susan, died at nine years of age; Abel, died at seven years of age; Adams, died at eight 
years of age ; Luke, resides at Springfield, Vt.; Christopher W., lives on the old home- 
stead in Cavendish settled by John in 1815. 

Stearns, John H., son of John, was born in Cavendish, January 4, 1817. He married 
Relief T. Tarbell, and they had no children. 

Smith, James, was born in Peterboro, N. H., January 29, 1756. He came to Caven- 
dish in 1790, and built a store near where Captain Coffin settled. Four years later he 
removed to the Twenty-Mile Stream, where he died August 11, 1842. He married Sally 
Ames, and their children were Sally (deceased), married James Walker, a lawyer of Pe- 
terboio, N. H.; James William, resides at Rutland, Vt.; Addison, who aied at Cavendish; 
John, who lived most of his life at Three Rivers, Mich., but died in Cavendish. 

Smith, James, son of James, was born in Cavendish, November 13, 1797, and married 
Betsey L. Brown, of Plymouth. They had seven children, viz.: James, who died a bach- 
elor, at Moro, 111. Betsey, who married Norman C. Bigelow, a native of Reading, Vt., 
and was born January 16, 1818. He became a resident of Cavendish in 1841. Their 
children are Frank L., a graduate of Dartmouth College, class of '83, and a resident of 
Rutland, Vt., and Isabel. Mr. Bigelow died October 8, 1882 ; his widow resides in Cav- 
endish. Sarah, widow of Willard Flagg, lives at Moro, III; Harriet, died single; Mar- 
cia, wife of Dr. N. D. Thomas, of Little Prairie, Mich.; Isabel, died single, and William, 
died at the age of nineteen years. James died February 4, 1842. 

Spaulding, Willard, was born in Weathersfield, Vt., and removed to Champlain, N. Y., 
where he died, in 1824 or '.825, at tlie age of forty-four years. He married Rebecca 
Winn, and had five children; Bethuel, died in Cavendish; Curtis, died in Salem, N. Y.; 



950 History of Windsor County. 

Esther, died single ; Jackson, died in Cavendish : Gilbert J"., born in Essex, N. Y., Feb- 
ruary li, 1814, married Olive M. Blanohard, and their only child, George J., died at the 
age of twenty-four years. Mr. Spaukiing has been a resident of Cavendish since 1844, 
and is engaged in farming. 

Tripp, Joshua, born at Lyman, Me., May 14, 1819, is the second son of Theodore 
L. and Abigail (Knight) Tripp. Ilis father removed to Kirby, Vt., in 18'.2(j, wliere he re- 
mained three years, removing thence to Charlestown, Vt. He received only a common 
school education, following farming until he was of age. He learned the blacksmith trade 
which he followed until he removed to Proctorsville in 18G1. For the nextsi.K years he 
ran the stages from Proctorsville to Windsor, Vt, He then engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness, which he followed until 1881. Since then he has been a farmer. He married Clara 
Watkins and has one child, Mary, wife of Asa W. Putnam, of Proctorsville. 

Whitcomb, Thomas, was one of the early settlers of Cavendish, and was the son of 
Lieutenant Asa, and grandson of Colonel Asa Whitcomb, of Lancaster, Mass., who com- 
manded the Sixth Massachusetts, foot, in the Revolution, and was with Ethan Allen at 
Crown Point and Ticonderoga. Thomas was born November 7, 1789, moved to town 
in 1817, and settled on the farm now owned by H. J. Belcher. He died in St. Charles, 
III., Ai)ril 13, 1869. His second wife was Anna Wentworth, a descendant of the fam- 
ily whioh in colonial times furnished two governors of New Hampshire. He raised a 
family of eight children, three of whom an: now living in Cavendish, Willard F. Whit- 
comb, Mrs. Ro-iilla C. Chapman, and Mrs. Victoria M. Spaulding. 

Whitcomb, Asa Wentworth, was born in Cavendish, September 11, 1822, and on 
becoming of age entered the employ of Robbins & White, of Cavendish. During the build- 
ing of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad he was employed by that corporation, serv- 
ing the company in various capacities. He was the first, station agent at Cavendish, fill- 
ing that position before any depot was erected, and the first mail agent serving on the first 
train over the mountain before the completion of the road. He was conductor on the 
fast e.'cpress between Rutland and Bm-lingtou, and was afterwards connected with the 
ticket atid freight department in the Rutland depot. For a time he gave up railroading, 
and was clerk for Fullerton Si Co., in the Cavendish woolen mills, and during the last 
years of the war was in mercantile busin' ss for himself at Proctorsville. He then re- 
turned to Rutland and was for some years clerk at the Bardwell House. In 1872 he 
ag:iin went into railroad service at Bellows Falls, but after remaining eleven years was 
compelled to retire owing to failing health. He died at Cavendish, April 13, 1890, and 
left a widow and two sons, viz.: Cliailes W., cashier of the National Black River Bank, 
and George W., an engineer on the Cent)-al Vermont Railroad. 

Chester. 

Earle. Roswell, married Polly Partridge, and had one child, Loren, born in Chester 
July If), 180S, and who died April 12, 18S2 He married Lucy Snell, and of a fannly of 
ten children five died in infancy. The others were: Tyler L., Ellen, wife of Frank Put- 
nam, of Chester; Mary, wife of Oscar Hill, of Rutland; Arvilla wife of Arthur Lock- 
wood, and Philara. 

Earle, Tyler, son of Loren, wai liorn in Chester March 5, 1842, and married Marinna 
Lockwood. They had nine children, viz.: Bernard, Allen, Arthur, died at seven years of 
age; Edna, Edith, Winnie, Guy, Wesley and Nellis. 

Guild, Alanson, was born in Wrenthain, Mass,, July 4, 1709, and married Katurah 
Turner. He became a resident of Chester in 1807. He had tliree children : Herman, 
Luther, who died in Medfield, Mass.; and Horace, who died in Massena, N. Y., in 1890. 

Guild, Herman, son of Ahm.^oii, w;is born at Wrentham, Mass., September 1, 1800, 
and married, first, Iluldah Knight. They had live children : Martin ; Eliza (deceased), 



Old Families. 951 



married Oliver AcwouU ; Sarah, widow of Thomas Clark, lives in Metlfield, Mass. ; and 
Horace, died young. He married, second, Susan Thompson, by whom he had one child, 
Mason. Herman died December 15, 1889. 

Guild M-artin, son of Herman, was born in Chester, May 1 1, 1819, and married for his 
first wife Sophia Thompson. Tlieir children are Hulda S., wife of Calvin W. French, of 
Chester : Herman M.; Harvey M., .a physician, at Clareinont, N. H. Martin married for 
his second wife Mrs. Mary Ann Smith, nee. Wilcox. 

Guild, Richard, son of Richard, was a native of Wrentham, Mass., but came to Wmd- 
sor county. He was born October 17, 1762, and married Zillah Turner. Their children 
were James, Julia, Hiram, Laban and Galen. Galen died in New York Slate. Richard 
died October 20, 1819. 

Guild, Laban, son of Richard, was born in Wrentham, Mass., Septemlier 22, 1801, and 
married Alma W. Houghton, January 21, 1828. Alma died July 29, 1829. Laban mar- 
ried, second, Sabra D. Wightman, December .'SO, 1830. Their children were Lorrain, Al- 
raon N. and Henry F. Lorrain died when fifteen years of age. Almon N. is a resident 
of Weathersfield. Laban died September 28, 1868. 

Guild, Henry F., son of Laban, was born in Chester, July 25, 1839, and married Elsie 
M. Horton, November 9, 18G8. Their cliildren were Foster PL, Delia S., Elsie M., For- 
rest H. and Dora E. Foster H. died when about two years old. Elsie M. died when a 
few weeks old. Delia S. married Charles W. Hemenway, August 27, 1890. Henry F. 
died October 6, 1890. 

Henry, Hon. Hugh, of Chester, was born in Chester, Vt., March 21, 1838. After at- 
tending the local schools he became a student at Chester Academy and also an academy 
at Deerfield, Mass. He studied law with Luther Adams of his native town, and Con- 
verse & French, of Woodstock, Vt. lie was admitted to the Windsor County liar at the 
May term of court in 1802. In August of that year he enlisted in the Sixteenth Ver- 
mont Regiment, and when mustered out of service was employed in the provost mar- 
shal's oflice at Woodstock until after the close of the war. Judge Henry began the prac- 
tice of his profession in his native town in 1865, where he has since continued. He has 
been a member of both Houses of Legislature, and since 1884 probate judge of the 
Windsor district. Judge Henry married Miss Alice A. Ordway, and has two children : 
Emma C. and Hugh H. 

Lowell, Abram, M. D., of Chester, was born at Washington, N. H., in 1795. After 
attending the local schools he became a student in the academies of Walpole, Chester, 
Castleton, and Woodstock. He read medicine with Dr. Baker, of Chester, and began 
practice in that town about 1830. Remarried Miriam Whitney and had three children: 
Harriet W., Abraham L., and Helen M. He died February 13, 1870. 

Mather, Frederic P., was born in West Wind.sor, Vt., September 16, 1843, and is the 
eldest living sou of Charles and Mary (Wait) Mather. He studied dentistry with Dr. 
Hale, of Windsor, and afterwards became interested with him in partnership. He came 
to Chester in 1868, and opened a dentist's office, where he has been engaged ever since. 
Dr. Mather has been married twice, but has no children. 

Moore, John Newton, M. D., of Chester, was born in Cavendish, Vt., November 29, 
1823, and was the only son of Israel and Mary (Brown) Moore. He attended the 
Chester Academy and received his medical edncatiim at Castleton and Woodstock Medi- 
cal Colleges. He studied medicine with Dr. Abram Lowell at Chester, of which town 
he became a resident in 1835. Dr. Moore commenced the practice of his profession in 
Chest-ir in 1848, continuing three year.s, when he removed to Salisbury, Vt., and returned 
to Chester in 1859, where he was obliged to relinquish his profession owing to ill-health, 
but was engaged in the drug business for many years. He married Caroline Spaulding 
of Ludlow, Vt., but had no children. He died June 28, 1886. 

Morris, Uriah, was an original settler of the family in Chester. He married a Miss Tar- 
bell, and had the following family : John, Benjamin, Sally, Charlotte, and Polly. These 



9;2 History of Windsor County. 

childTen all died in Jefferson county, N. Y., excepting; Benjamin. Benjamin was born 
,in Chester, and married Charlotte Helton. They liail fonrsons: Henry, Norman and 
Alfred, wlio both died young, and Norman, who died in Chester, and has no issue living. 

Morris, Henry, son of Benjamin, was born in Cliester, October 15, 180'J, and married 
Lucy M. Lee. They had but one child, Lucy A., wife of George C. Allen, of Cliester. 
Henry died February 4, 1887. 

Perry, Daniel, was born in Sherburne, Mass., J.-inuary 22, 1767, and married Sally 
Whitmore. lie came to Chesterin 1794, where he died March 31, 185.'). He had twelve 
children, viz.: .losiah, died at Northfield, Vt.; Stephen, died in Iowa ; Daniel, died young ; 
Joel, died in Danby, Vt; Eusebe, married Ira Kingsbury, died December 26, 1878, at 
Grafton, Vt.; Eosene, mariied. Clemen.'; Leland, died September 1.5, 1852; Irene, widow 
of Mr. Lelaud, lives in Iowa ; Daniel, died in Albion, N. Y.; Amos, died in Kansas; Will- 
iam H., died at seven years of age ; George W., died in New York ; and Alonzo. 

Perry, Alonzo, son of Daniel, was born in Chester, January 29, 1817, and married 
Lucy Walker. Their eight children were Mary, wife of George W. Harri.s, of Melrose, 
Mass.; Oliver Hazzard, lives in Chester; Rosilla E., died young; Abbie A. (decea.sed), 
married Joseph Clough ; Forest A. and Flora I., twins, died young; Ida, died young; and 
Clinton E. Alonzo died September 11, 188S. 

Perry, Clinton E., son of Alonzo, born in Chester. January 1, ISGl, married Mary Rob- 
bins, who also descended from one of Chester's old families. Her great-grandfather, 
Natlian Bobbins, came from Stowe, Mass., to Chester in 178G. He married Lydia Whit- 
ney, and their children were Amos, Nathan, Ichabod, James, Hezckiah. Mary, and Lydia. 
Ichabod, son of Nathan, was born in September, 1793, and died in March. 1S74. He 
married Mary Farnsworth. He had two children, Lucy Maria, and Aaron Leland, who 
was born in Chester, August 31, 1833, and died August 7, 1884. He married Laura A. 
Divall, and had two children, Mrs. Clinton E. Perry and James Myron. 

Richardson, Abiel, was born in Townsend, Mass , May 31, 1783, and died in Chester, 
March. 1870. He married Rhoda Parkhurst, of Dunstable, Mai;s. Their children were 
Thomas. Walter P., Warren B., who died at Poultney, Vt., leaving no issue, Silas, who 
died without male issue at Madison. Wis. Abiel became a resident of Chester in 1819_ 

Richardson, Walter P., .son of Abiel, was born at Londonderry, Vt., June 24, 1810, and 
came to Chester with his father, where he resided till 1835, when he went to Plymouth, 
N. H., remaining in the latter place till 1840. when he returned to Chester for two 
years. He then became a resident of Putney, Vt., where he continued to reside till 18C1, 
since which time he has lived in Chester. He married Dorcas Sawyer, but has no chil- 
dren. 

Robbins, Philemon, was born in Sterling, Mass., in 1783, and came to Chester in 1815. 
His first wife was Lucy Sawyer. Their children were five: Hannah; Orrick L., 
who died single; Otis, died in Cavendish, left no issue ; Lucy (deceased), married D. H. 
Onion ; Sophia, died young. His second wife was Mrs. Sally Duncan, nee Carter. Their 
children were Charles, a resident of Chester; James, died single; Philemon, a resident 
of Chester. 

Sargent. — The families of this name are descended from William Sargent, an English- 
man, who came to Charlestown, Mass., in 1638. His descendants in Chester trace there 
line of descent through John of the second generation, Joseph of the third, Jabez of the 
fourth. The latter was the father to Jabez and Ezra, both of whom were early settlers 
of Chester. 

Sargent, Jabez, commonly known as lieutenant, was born January 18, 1720, and mar- 
ried Abigail Mower and came from Worcester, Mass., to Chester, dying in the latter place 
August 5, 1788. His children were Abigail and Lydia, both died young; Amos, Samuel 
and Naham. 

Sargent, Samuel, son of Jabez, was born November 0, 1755, and married Abigail 
Blaney. Their children were Abigail, died single; Jabez, died at Windsor, Vt.; Samuel, 



Old Families. 953 



died single in the West; Pliineas Osgood; Benjamin Blaney, died in Chester ninety-six 
years of age. Samuel died June 2, 1818. 

Sargent, Phineas Osgood, son of Samuel, born February 29, 1792, married Mary C. 
Duncan. Their children are Mary Abby, Lucy Helen, Emma Clara, Ann Duncan, all of 
whom are single and reside at Elizabeth, N. J., and Charles Osgood. Phineas died 
April 11, 1876. 

Sargent, Charles Osgood, son of Phineas 0., was born in Chester January 19,1839, 
and married Gr.ace G. Darby. They have five children, Osgood Cleveland, Grace Emma, 
M.-iry, Edith, and Elizabeth Laurinda. 

Walker, Elijah, married for his first wife a Miss Johnson, by whom he had two chil- 
dren, viz.: John, died at Dorset, Vt., and Leonard, died at Omaha, Neb. His second wife 
was Dorcas Wyra.an. Their children were Sally (deceased), married William Hobbs; 
Atlanta, Fannie, Wyman, all of whom died single; and Charles, born in Chester, Octo- 
ber 2.5, 1818, married Olive Newton, and their children are Charles, Ida and Herman. 

•Williams. — The families of this name in the town of Chester are decended from Roger 
Williams. Othniel Williams, the first settler in Chester, was a son of Jeremiah, who 
was a son of Jeremiah, he being a son of Joseph, who was a son of Daniel, a son of 
Roger Williams. Othniel w.is born at Providence, R. I., March 3, 17G1, and married 
Dorcas Fields. Their children were Pardon, died at Belleville, N. Y.; Avis, married 
Ezekiel Davis; Huldah (deceased), married Moses Perkins; Keziah, died young; Soviah 
(deceased), married Opliir Edson ; Alexander, died at Belleville, N. Y.; Arthur; Thomas; 
Rest, died young; Othniel, resides in Rutland, Vt. ; Alviu, died in Troy, N. Y. 

Williams, Thomas, son of Othniel, was born in Chester, August 9, 1798, and married 
Betsey Sawyer. Their children were, Abigail, who died nineteen years of age ; Laurenza 
(deceased), married Albert Baldwin ; Elizabeth, died nineteen years of age ; Henry Olin, 
died in infancy ; Warren Carlos, died at five years of age ; Warren Carlos ; Maria A. 
(deceased), married Putnam Sargent; George Alvin, died young. Thomas died July 13, 
1883, his wife passing away just two days before. They are buried in the same grave. 

Williams, Warren Carlos, son of Thomas, was born in Chester, July 6, 1833, and mar- 
ried Nellie Stevens. Their children are Walter S., a resident of Pipestone, Minn.; John 
P., a graduate of Brown University, and Professor of Mathematics in Providence High 
School; Mary I., wife of C. 0. Pratt, of St. Paul, Minn.; and Edith L. 

Williams, Arthur, son of Othniel, was born in Chester, March 3, 1797, and married 
Clarissa Dean. Of their three children, one died in infancy. The others were Darius 
Dean and Myron A., died without issue. Arthur died January 8, 1878. 

Williams, Darius Dean, son of Arthur, was born in Chester, December 9, 1824, and mar- 
ried Bliz ibeth L. Adten. Their children were Arthur, a resident of Gardiner, Mass.; 
Allen L.; and Dean C. Mr. Williams resides on the farm settled by his grandfather in 
1788. 

Ludlow. 

Adams, Warren, was born at Andover, Vt., August 28, 1815, and was the youngest son 
of Peter and Lucy (Gibson) Adams. His father's family, besides himself, consisted of 
Lucv f.. who married William Warner; John, died in Andover; Abraham, died in St. 
Louis, Mo.; Shepherd, died in Rochester, N. Y. Warren received only a common school 
education, and engaged in mercantile business and farming on East Hill, in his native town. 
He teamed his merchandise from Boston, and on his downward trips took produce to 
sell in that city. He came to Ludlow in 1840 and purchased real estate and built a num- 
ber of dwellings in the village. He also engaged in buying cattle and drove them to 
the markets at Brighton, Mass, On a journey to Rutland, Vt., he was thrown out of his 
wagon and killed in the town of Mount Holly, October 24, 1875. He married Lucy Cole- 

120 



9S4 History of Windsor Countv. 



man and had four children : Lowell P.; Lucy Jane, wife of Jonas G. Reed, of Burling- 
ton, Vt.; Lizzie, wife of H. C. Hay ward, of New York city ; and Norris, died young. 

Adams, Lowell P., son of Warren, was born in Andover, Vt., June 10. 1838, and mar- 
ried Lavinia Holden, of Mount Holly. They have one child, Willie W., horn in L\idlow, 
July 28, 1865, and married Emma J. Gates, of Bridgcwater, Vt. They reside in Ludlow. 

Hathorn, Ransom E., was born in Londonderry, November 3, 1843, and is the eldest 
son of Eleazer and Lydia (Foster) Hathorn. His father being engaged in harness-mak- 
ing. Ransom learned that trade early in life. On August 11, 1862, he enlisted as a pri- 
vate in Company G, Eleventh Regiment of Vermont Volunteers, and was discharged 
June 24, 186.1. During the war he was located in Virginia and took part in seventeen 
battles and skirmishe.s. After leaving the army Mr. Hathorn came to Ludlow and be- 
gan work at his trade for George Walker. In 1878 he formed a partnership under the 
name of Walker & Hathorn, and on account of the death of the former the following 
year, he purchased the business, which he has since conducted. Mr. Hathorn is one of 
the justices of the peace of tlie town; was aid-de-camp on Governor E. J. Ormsbee's 
staff in 1886-87 ; was for four years commander of O. O. Howard Post, No. 33, G. A. R.; 
also Senior Vic^e-Commander of the Department of Vermont, and represented the State 
at the National Encampment at .San Francisco. He has been twice married, hi.s first 
wife having been Jennie Ward, by whom he had one child, Willie. His second wife was 
Clara Wright, of Coventry, Vt. 

Howe, Elwin A., was born in Londonderry, Vt., September 18, 1843, and was the 
eldest son of Alva and Julia Ann (Miles) Howe. His early life w.as spent on his father's 
farm and he was also engaged in teaching school. On July 30, 1802, he enlisted in Com- 
pany G, Eleventh Regiment of Vermont Volunteers, as a private, and served in that 
regiment two years. He was mustered out to receive the appointment of first lieuten- 
ant in the One Hundred and Eighth United States Colored Infantry. He was connected 
with the latter regiment until March, 1866, when he was mustered out of service, having 
lieeu premoted captain. Returning to his native town, Captain Howe remained there 
till April 1, 18G9, when he came to Ludlow and was engaged until November, 1872, in 
the saddlery .and harness business with his brother-in-law, George E. Walker, under the 
firm n.ame of Walker & Howe. The ne.xt business enterprise he was connected witli 
wiis the Ludlow Toy Manufacturing Co., of which he w.is superintendent and business 
manager for fifteen years. He was appointed poslmaster at Ludlow, Vt., by President 
Harrison, taking possession of the ofiice April 1, 1890. He was elected a member of the 
Vermont House of Representatives in 1878 from Ludlow, was re-elected in 1880, and 
was elected Senator from Windsor county in 1884. Captain Howe married Lydia Jane, 
daughter of Ephraim snd Lydia (Harris) Walker, and h.as nine children, viz.: Eugene E., 
a graduate of Middlebury College, and now a couiiselor-at-law at Albany, N. Y.; Henry 
E.', Ella J., Hattie L., Alice M., George W., William H., Don.ald, and Alva. 

Ives, Eliliu, called" the Captain," was the fifth settler in Ludlow. He was descended 
from William Ives, the original settler of that name in America, who sailed from London 
and arrived iu Boston in 103.5. He was of the sixth generation, as follows : First,Will- 
iam ; second, John ; third. Nathaniel ; fourth, Caleb ; fifth, Charles. He was born in 
Meriden, Conn., February 28, 1704, and married Phiebe Hall, and had two children : 
Isaac, who died without issue; Roxanna, widow of Jonathan Atherton, resides in Cav- 
endisli at the advanced age of ninety-three years. Captain Elihu died October 14, 1834. 
The farm settled by Captain Ives is now iu possession of his grandson, Solon Ives Ath- 
erton. 

Stimson, Charles, a native of Maine, came to Ludlow in 1803. His wife was Comfort 
Walker, and their children were William, wlio died at Daiiby, Vt.; Charles; Sally, died 
single; David, died at Danby, Vt.; Comfort (deceased), married Aaron Rogers; John, 
died at Lexington, Mass.; Anna (deceased), married George Rogers; Mary, wife of 
Richard Bradford, North Springfield, Vt.; Anson, lives at Rockport, Mass ; Aaron, a resi- 
dent of St. Paul, Minn. 



Old Families. 955 

Stimson, Charles, son of Charles, was born in Milford, Mass., January 27, 1799, and 
lived in Ludlow till May 6, 1887. He married Helena Bassett, and their children were 
Harriet, wife of John McGowan, of Ludlow ; Elizabetli (deceased), married L. W. Nomse ; 
Emerson, resides at Brownsdale, Minn.; Surry W.; Mary, widow of Nathaniel Reed, re- 
sides in Adams. Neb.; Sophia, wife of A. W. Thompson, of Glens Falls, N.Y. 

Stim.son, Surry W., son of Charles, born in Ludlow, June 26, 1827, married for his first 
wife Harriet Edgerton, by whom he had one child, Harry P., president of the American 
National Bank in Kan.sas City, Mo. His second wife was Mary A. Parker. His third 
wife was Emma P. Howe, and by this marriat^^e there is a daughter, ifargie H. Mr. 
Stimson was engaged in farming until 1857, when he removed to Ludlow village and 
kept a livery stable until 1868, when he was elected sherilT. He filleil this ollice until 
1880. Since that time he has dealt in real estate, lumber and carried on manufacturing. 

Warner. Hiram Lindsay, was born in Mount Holly, Vt., July 4, 1825, and is the young- 
est son of Aaron and Esther (Pierce) Warner. He was a resident of Mount Holly till 
1866, being engaged in farming. In that year he came to work in the hotel at Ludlow. 
The following year he engaged in hotel business at East Wallingford, Vt., which he car- 
ried on ten years. From that time till 1882 he was in the hotel business at different 
places, but in that year he bought the Ludlow House, which he ran till 18S7. Since that 
time he has been engaged in farming. He married Drusilla Priest and has two children, 
Ina, widow of Eugene Diokerman, resides in Ludlow; Irvin, who married Mattie Holt, 
and has two children, William and Arthur. 

Warner, Rufus S., was born in Andover, Vt., May 12, 18.31, and is the eldest son of 
Joel and Betsey (Flint) Warner. His father was a blacksmith and removed to Ludlow 
in 18;-i-l, where Rufus attended the local schools and also the Black River Academy. He 
learned the printer's trade with the Rev. Aaron Angler and has been engaged in that busi- 
ness in Ludlow ever since, excepting about a year and a half, from 1861 to 1863, when 
he worked at his trade at Rutland, Vt. He married Ann Walker and has two sons, viz.: 
Edwin C. and Joel R., the latter a resident of Boston, Mass. 

Norwich. 

Blood, Levi, was born in Leominster, Mass., and married, first, Olive Lawtou. The chil- 
dren by this marriage were Levi, died in California; Lucy, widow of Franklin Olds, resides 
in Norwich; Henry, died in Norwich; Olive (deceased), married, first, Edwin Bartlett, and 
second, Frederick Martin. Levi marrie<l for his .second wife Fanny Smith. Their chil- 
dren were Abigail, died young; .Jame.s, died young; Mary (decea.sed), married Hazen 
Hopson ; George, died at West Lebanon ; William ; Frances (deceased), married Erastus 
Olds ; Rebecca (deceased), married William P. Burton ; Ellen, wife of Louis E. Burton, 
of Northampton, Mass. Levi is deceased. 

Blood, William, son of Levi, was born in Norwich, January 3, 1831, and married Eliza 
C. Peaver. Their children are Willie 0., born in Norwich, May 13, 1860, married May 
A. Messer and resides in Norwich; Lizzie A., a resident of Norwich; and Rebecca F., 
lives in Boston, Mass. 

Burton, Hon. Harvey, of Norwich, was born in Norwich, August 19, 1793. He studied 
law with George C. West, of Brownington, Vt., and was admitted to the Orleans County 
Bar in 1825. He began the practice of his profession in the following year at Norwich, 
which he continued until his death, October 22, 1868. He held many positions of trust, 
among which was that of State Senator in 1846-47. He married January 1, 1826, 
Salome, daughter of Pierce and Phcebe (Stoddard) Burton. Their children are Sarah J., a 
resident of Norwich; and William P., born in Norwich, December 2, 1828, married, first, 
Rebecca Blood, by whom he had one child, William Harvey, a resident of Chicago, 111. 
He married, second, Emily C. Craft, by whom he had two children : Samuel Craft, a resi- 
dent of San Francisco, Cal., and Anna Maude. William P. is a resident of West Lcb- 



956 History of Windsor County. 

anon, and was for many years engaged in trade at that point, and was over twenty 
years postmaster. Hon. Harvey Burton mariied for liis second wife, January 'JG, 1831, 
Harriet Brooks. Tlieir children were Elizabeth and Laura, l)Oth of whom died young; 
Charles H., born June 9, 183G, married Cliarlotte A. Corwni. and has two children. Will- 
iam Corwin and Mabel Brooks, and is in the eni]iloy of the Milwaukee and St. Paul Rail- 
road, and resides in Milwaukee; Louis E., born July 7, 1838, married Ellen Blood and 
has one child, Arthur Maurice, and resides at Northampton, Ma.ss.; and Frederick J., horn 
October 12, 1841, married Mary J. Emerson, and is in tlie employ of the Milwaukee and 
St. Paul Railroad, and resides in St. Paul, Minn. 

Cloud, Norman, was born in Brooklyn, Conn., in 1767, and came to Norwich in 1786. 
He married Ruby Wright. They had ten children : Polly, died young; John W.; Daniel, 
died in Ohio ; Polly, died young ; Maria (deceased), married Hezekiali Hazen ; Emily 
(deceased), married Lyman Burbank ; Eliza, widow of John Wadleigh, resides in Nor- 
wich; Mary Ann (deceased), married Moses H. W"est ; RufusB.; and Fidelia (decea>^ed), 
married Roland Emerson. John W., son of Noiman, was born in Norwich, November 

9, 1799, and married Lucinda Strong, of Northampton, Mas.<. They had two children: 
Roxanna (deceased), married David Lyman, and Joseph B., born in Norwich, February 

10, 1833, married, November 22, 1854. Emiraett Lyman. They have three children, 
all natives and residents of Norwich, viz.: John L., born February 15, 185G, married Lilla 
C. Sargent, has two children, Maude E. and Dana B.; Jennie E., wife of Edwin G. Lord ; 
and Joseph H., born January 31, 1865, married Emma B. Snelling. 

Cook, Samuel, was a member of the Shakers, and came from Connecticut to Norwich 
at an early day. He married Lydia Aldrich, and had a large family of children, among 
whom were John, Frank, Samuel and Lyman. 

Cook, Samuel, son of Samuel, married in 1799 Anna Pratt, and had nine children : 
Henry, died at Mansfield, N. Y.; Leonard, died in Norwich ; Clara (deceased), married 
Harry Babcock ; Lydia (deceased), married Thomas Sargent; Betsey (deceased), married 
Abel Gillette; Sally (deceased), married Azro Northrup; Anna (deceased), married Ben- 
son Swift; Fanny (deceased), married Robert Floyd; Harriet (deceased), married George 
Parker. 

Button. — The Buttons, of America, are of Saxon nativity. The original (^migrant of 
the family came to New England about 1630. The families of the name in Norwich and 
adjoinuig towns are lineal descendants of Thomas Button, of Wallingford, Conn., born 
March 1, 1707, married May 6, 1729, Abigail Merriam ; she died April 6, 1799; he at 
Royalton, Vt., in 1802. Their children were John, Thomas, Abigail, Samuel, Lois, Mat- 
hew, John, Nathaniel, Phebe, Amasa, and Asenath ; of these the first John and .\lathew 
died young. 

Dutton, Samuel, son of Thomas, was horn in Wa.shington, Conn., February 3, 1737, 
and married December 6, 1754, Joanna Root. The children by this marriage were Olive, 
who married Seth Fuller; Abigail, married Thomas Hazen; Lois, David, Joanna, and 
Samuel. Mrs. Dutton died in 1772. Samuel married for liis second wife, October 7, 

1772, Rachel Benedict. Their children were Daniel Benedxt, Thaddeus, Mathevv, Esther, 
Rachel died young, Reuben, Asa and Chloe, both died young. Samuel removed from 
Connecticut to Woodstock, Vt., in 1778. remaining there till 1796, when he removed to 
Royalton, and in 1802 to Hartford, where he died February 22, 1813. His wife died July 
21, 1828. 

Dutton, Daniel Benedict, son of Samuel, was born at Washington, Conn., August 22, 

1773, and married December 5, 1796, Lorana Smith. He died in Norwich, September 
1, 1849; she, September 15, 1857. Their children were Mathew, died at twenty-one 
years of age; Marvin, died in Kansas; Rachel (deceased), married Moses Thompson; 
Louisa, died at eighteen years of age; Aaron, died at Claremont, N. H., August 19, 1890; 
Samuel, died in lUir.ois; Olive, married a Mr. King, and died in Iowa; Norman, died in 
Kansas ; Esther (deceased), married Morgan L. Crosby ; Thaddeus, died in Hartford, Vt.; 
Daniel B., resides in Miltonvale, Kan.; John ; Louisa A., died single. 



Old Families. 957 



Dutton, John, son of Daniel Benedict, commonly known as " Deacon," was born in 
Stowe. Vt., August 23, 1818, and married June 14, 1848, Harriet Lord. They had six 
children, viz.: Louisa Augusta, died at eleven years of age; George Albinus, born Sep- 
tember 15. 1854, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1880, and from the Hartford The- 
ological Seminary in 1883, was ordained a Congregational minister at Norwich in 1884, 
and assigned by the American Board of Commi.ssioner.s for Foreign Missions as a mission- 
ary to northern Mexico, where he died June 6, 1885; Charles Sumner, born in Norwich, 
December 9, 1857, a graduate of Dartmouth College in Class of '80, married Ella Frances 
Lyman, has two children, Mabel Frances and Alice Lyman, resides on the old homestead 
in Norwich; Henry Allen, died at seven years of age; Harriet Elizabeth, wife of Otis 
Metcalf, of Hartford Vt.; and Mary Lorana, died young. Deacon John Dutton died Jan- 
uary 16, 1888. 

Goodrich, Horace Burton, the only child of Levi and Mary (Burton) Goodrich, was 
born in Norwich, September 7, 182G, and married Harriet Pennock. They have five chil- 
dren : Carlos Eugene, married Flora Tarbell, has three children, Arthur, Edward and 
Oscar, resides in Waltham, Mass.; Christina Priscilla, wife of George Carr, of Boston, 
Mass., has one daughter, Hattie May ; Horace Juan, married Lizzie Tarbell, has two chil- 
dren, Clarence and Conrad, and resides in Norwich ; Austin B., resides in Norwich un- 
married ; John K., married Inez Underwood, has no children and lives in Waltham, Mass. 

Hammond, Samuel.— Currier M. Day, of Norwich, was born in Norwich, Vt., June 7, 
1835, and is the second son of Sanmel Quimby and Mahala (Blaisdell) Currier. After 
attending the local schools he became a student at the Thetford Academy, and took a 
classical course at the Norwich University. He studied medicine with Dr. Shubael 
Converse, of Norwich, and Dr. Thomas Crosby, of Hanover, N. H. After attending a 
course of lectures at the Dartmouth Medical College he was graduated in June, 1857, 
from the University of Vermont. He began the practice of his profession at Shelburne, 
Vt., in 1857, and remained there between three and four years. In 1862 he became Regi- 
mental Hospital Steward in the Eighth Vermont Infantry, but in about three months was 
promoted Assistant Surgeon of the regiment. Resigning the latter position in 18G3, he 
returned to Norwich and began the practice of his profession, in which he is still engaged. 
Dr. Currier married, first, Abby K. Hersey, by whom he had one child, William H., a 
graduate of Dartmouth, who practiced medicine in Hartford, Vt., but since 1889 has re- 
sided at Pittsfield, Mass., and is engaged m the drug business. Dr. Currier married, 
second, Emily Hersey, a sister of his first wife. 

Hutchinson. — This is an old and numerous family in Norwich, as well as in other parts 
of the county. They were among the early settlers of Massachusetts, and were in Lynn 
and Salem in that colony as early as 1628 or 1629. A descendant of these early colo- 
nists named Abijah, who was a tailor, removed from Salem to Windham early in the 
eighteenth century. His son, Samuel, born about 1719, in company with his son, John, 
came to Norwich in 1765. They cleared an island in the Connecticut River, opposite the 
present residence of John W. Loveland, and planted it with corn. In the fall of that 
year they returned to Connecticut, and in company with a younger son, Samuel, re- 
turned in the spring of 1766, and made a permanent settlement. The elder Sanmel spent 
the remainder of his life in the town, and died February 8, 1809. His wife was Jemina 
Dunham; she died January 12, 1798. Besides the two sons named above, he had three 
daughters: Sarah, married Francis Smalley ; Tabitha, married Jonathan Delano; Jeru- 
sha, married Nathan Roberts. They all died young, soon after marriage. 

Hutchinson, John, son of Samuel, was born in 1741, in Windham, Conn., and married 
Mary Wilson, who was born in Ashford, Conn., in August, 1744. He enlisted in the 
Continental Army, and died at Philadelphia, June 22, 1778. His widow afterwards mar- 
ried Solomon Strong. His children were Jerome ; John, removed to New York State, 
where he died ; Lydia, who was probably the first child born in Norwich, married D. 
Hammond, of Thetford; and Abigail, married Hon. John Strong, of Woodstock, Vt. 



958 History of Winusof; County. 

Hutchinson, Jerome, son of John, was born in Ashford, Conn., March 2, 1763, and 
married Content Smith. Tlieir cluldren were John, who emigrated to New York State, 
where he died; Fanny, died single; Sarah (deceased), married William Loveland ; Cyn- 
thia (deceased), married Asaph AUen : Sophia (deceased), married Andrew J. Wdliams; 
Mary Ann (deceased), married Milo Marsh; and William. Jerome died in 1849. 

Hutchinson, William, son of Jerome, was born in Norwich, Vt., May 2, 1807, and mar- 
ried January 8, 1832, Eliza, daughter of James and Mary (Bartlett) Crary ; she was born 
Apiil 2, 18(37. Of their six children iliree died in infancy. The others are John W.; 
Charles Henry, proprietor of a foundry and machine shop in Manchester, N. H., and has 
one daughter, Charlotte Augusta; Frank, a farmer at Hanover, N. H., also connected in 
business at Manchester, N. H., and has two daughters, Martha Belle and Arabella Wa- 
terman. 

Hutchinson, Samuel, son of Samuel, was born in Connecticut, September 6, 1751, and 
married August 16, 1779, Hannah Burr; .^he was born March 5, 1761. They had four- 
teen children : Sarah, married Alphcus Hatch ; Ira, died at fourteen years of age ; Levi, 
died at thirteen years; Samuel; Jemima, married Seth Stebbins; Pearley ; Eunice, mar- 
ried Samuel Goddard; Timothy; Betsey, married William Dewey; Levi, died in Illinois; 
Elislia, died in infancy; Emma, married Jonas Boardman ; Hannah, died j'oung; and 
Austin, died in Norwich without issue. Samuel died September 30, 1839, his wife No- 
vember 11, 1826. 

Hutchinson, Samuel, son of Samuel, was born in Norwich, April 12, 1786, and died Feb- 
ruary 3, 1815. He married, February 26, 1818, Sarah Boardman, who was born May 6, 
1792, and died February 14, 1874. Their children were Eliza, died not quite three years 
of age; Charles, born July 15, 1820, is a Presbyterian minister, and resides in New Al- 
bany, Ind. ; Maria, wife of Reuben Loveland, of Hartford, Vt.; Jonas Boardman, died 
young ; Samuel ; Sarah Isaljella, a widow, married, first, Brainard French, and second, a 
Mr. Bosworth, and lives at Minneapolis, Minn.; Hannah Eliza, resides in Norwich; Em- 
ma, died young, and Ellen, widow of John 0. French, lives at Ma.xwell, la., were twins ; 
Emma Elniina. died young; Caroline Frances, married William S. Throckmorton, and 
second, Mr. Eastman, and lives in Lyndon, Vt. 

Hutchinson, Samuel, son of Samuel, was born in Norwich, March 28, 1826, and mar- 
ried Parthenia Blodgett. They had four children : Minnie Barrett, died young ; Charles 
Ashley, resides at Peacham, Vt.; Harriet Maria ; and Susan Hazen, wife of Harvey Ladd, 
of Norwich. 

Lord, David, came from Colchester, Conn., to Norwich, among the early settlers. He 
married Hannah Hanks, and had the following family : Richard, died young ; Asa ; Zal- 
mon, was killed in the War of 1812; R'chiu-d, died in Michigan ; David G., resided most 
of his life at Fairlee, Vt., but died at Hanover, N. H.; Roxey (deceased), married Hugh 
Pike Howe ; Cynthia (deceased), married Reed Page Howe, resides in Thetford, Vt., and 
was ninety-seven years of age in August, 1890 ; Ira, died young. 

Lord, Asa, son of David, was born in Norwich. October, 1784, and died March 16, 1861. 
He married, first, Ruth Howe, and their children were Ira, died in Thetford ; Lyman, 
died at twenty years of age ; Abigail (deceased), married William Cunimings ; Lucia M. 
(deceased), married Tarbell Senter; Gideon; Amasa C, resides in Illinois; Laura (de- 
ceased), married Jonathan S. Lord ; Mills A. He married, second, Amelia Root, and their 
seven children were Frances A.; Abel, died young; Emma, died at idghteen years of 
age; Ellen M.; William and Henry, twins, the former residing at Woodville, N. H., 
the latter died young; and Persis, wife of Myron Colburn, of Norwich. 

Lord, Gideon, son ot Asa, was born in Norwich, September 8, 1814, and married Beli- 
sant Clough. They have no children. 

Lord, Jonathan, a brother of David, came from Colchester, Conn., about the same lime 
with his brother, He married, in 1772, Mary Smith, and had the following family : Por- 
ter, died in Orange, Vt.; Russell, died in Thetford, Vt.; John ; Polly, died single ; Lydia 
deceased), married John Proctor; and Rachel, died at eighteen years of age. 



Old Families. 959 



Lord, Johu, son of Jonathan, was born in Norwich, Aujjust L 1782, and died June 19, 
1882. He married Lucy Bhss, and their children were David Bliss, died in Norwich ; 
Jonathan Smith, died in Norwich ; Lucius S.; John Mills, a Congregationalist minister 
residing in Weymouth, Mass.; Harriet A,, widow of John Button, lives in Norwich; 
Lucy Isabella, widow of Augustus Chandler, resides at Q-uilford, Vt; Horatio and Albi- 
nus, both died young. 

Lord, Lucius Stebbins, son of John, was born in Norwich, September 7, 1818, and 
married May 1, 1851, Alpha Rosetta, daughter of Samuel and Arabella (Baxter) Little. 
They had four children: Abby Sanborn, died at five years of age; John Franklin, born 
January 28, 1860, a farmer, and resides at Sloan, Iowa; Alpa Rosetta, wife of Albert F. 
Ruggle.s, of Norwich, died November 5, 1890, aged thirty-five years; and Eliza Nelson, 
assistant principal of the graded schools at Lewis, Cass county, la. Mr. Lord resides on 
the farm originally settled by his grandfather . Mrs. A. F. Ruggles taught fifty-five 
terms of school, and was teaching at the time of her death. 

Lyman. — The family of this name in Norwich are descended from Richard Lyman, 
who embarked from England in August, 1631, and first settled in Charlestown. Mass. 
Soon after his arrival in this country he migrated to Connecticut and die<l at East Wind- 
sor in August, 1640. His son Ricliard married Hepzibah Ford. He died June 3, 1662. 
Of their eight children, Richard, the eldest, was born in Windsor, Conn., in 1647, and 
removed to Nortliampton, Mass., and from there to Lebanon, Conn. He married, May 
26, 1675, Elizabeth, daughter of John Coles, of Hatlield, Mass. He died November 4, 
1708. Of his family of nine children Isaac, the fourth son, was born at Northampton, 
Mass., February 16, 1681 ; he was married four times, and had six children. Caleb, 
his second son, was born at Suffield, Conn., April 16, 1723, and married January 2, 1756, 
Mary Betts. Of their family, David was the eldest son, and was born in Lebanon, Conn., 
May 20, 1761. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in the Continental array, serving six 
months. He married, in 1785, Submit Goidd, and with liis wife and first cliild removed 
in 1789 to Norwich and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson. 
David died January 26, 1849. His children were David, died in Norwich; Orange, 
died at Wells River, Vt.; Harry and Fanny, twins, the latter married James Avery ; Eu- 
nice (deceased), married Aaron Drake ; Polly (deceased), tnarried Jonathan Smith ; Rhoda 
(deceased), married Joseph Drake. 

Partridge, Captain Alden. — He was the second .son of Samuel, who was also a son of a 
Samuel, and was born in Norwich, Vt., January 12, 1785. He entered Dartmouth Col- 
lege in 1802, but was obUged to give up his course of studies in 18(15 to enter West Point. 
He graduated from the latter October 29, 1806, and at once became a teacher of engi- 
neering with the rank of captain. He remained at West Point until 1817, wlien he re- 
signed, and in 1820 returned to Norwich and was connected with the University, as be- 
fore stated. After his retirement from the presidency of the University he engaged in 
establishing schools in various p.irts of the United States until his death on January 17, 
1854. Captain Partridge was elected by the Legislature in 1823 Surveyor-General of 
Vermont, and in 1818 was the chief surveyor of the American party to estabhsh the 
northeast boundary between the United States and the British possessions. He repre- 
sented Norwich in the Legislatures of 1833, 1834, 1837, and 1839. He was the Demo- 
cratic candidate for Congress in 1830, 1834, 1836, and 1838, and Independent candidate 
in 1848. Captain Partridge married Ann Elizabeth Swa.?ey, of Claremont, N. H. They 
had only two children : George C, born August 4, 1838, died in 1856 ; and Henry V., 
born December 10, 1839, resides in Norwich. 

Partridge, Samuel, born in Preston, Conn., in 1722, married Ruth Woodward. They 
had eiglit children: Elisha, Ruth, married Peter Branch; Samuel, Olive, married John 
Wright ; Ephraim, Elias, Reuben, and Isaac. Samuel died October 24, 1806, his wife 
April 29, 1786. 

Partridge, Samuel, son of Samuel, was born in Preston in 1749, and married December 
6, 1770, Elizabetli Wright. Their children were Aaion, born February 18, 1773, died in 



960 History of Windsor County. 



Norwich ; Alden, and Abel ; Ruth, mjiiried Levi Burton ; Charlotte, married a Mr. Fay ; 
Elizabeth, married David Newton. Samuel died July 22, 1834, his wife October 2(j, 1826. 

Partridge, Isaac, son of Samuel first, married Lois Newton and died May L^, 183.0, 
aged seventy-three years. His children were Cyrus, died in Norwich, leaving several 
sons and daughters; William, died at Detroit, Mich., unmarried, during the War of 1812 ; 
Samuel removed to Elmira, N. Y., where lie died, was a member of Congress from that 
district; Isaac Newton, died at Logansport, Ind.; Almira, married, first. Major 0. G. Bur- 
ton, second, Professor Ebenezer B.incroft Williston; Louisa, died in Cincinnati, 0,, in 
1830, aged twenty-five years; John Milton, a civil engineer, was accidentally killed at 
Crow Nest, near Cold Spring, N. Y. 

Pennock, Zilah, was born in Connecticut, August 16, 1766, and married, March 18, 1789, 
Lydia Howard, who was born August 27, 1766. Their children were Alexander, born 
November 21, 1790, died in New York State ; Jolin, born March 9, 1793, fate unknown ; 
Abijah Howard, born February 10, 1797, died in Michigan; Barzilla ; Lurah (deceased), 
born April 10, 1798, married, first, Nathan Badger, and second, William Courser; Lydia 
(deceased), born January 16, 1801 ; Mary (deceased), born January 28, 1803, married 
Elihu Russell; Abigail Morso (deceased), married Jasper Clark; S.arah C, born June. 26 
1815, went to New Yoik State and nothing further is known of her. Zilah became a 
resident of Norwich about 1790 and there died. 

Pennock, Barzilla, son of Zilah, was born in Norwich, February 10, 1797, and married, 
January 3, 1821, Mary Ann Johnson. They had seven children: Carlos Pratt; Reuben, 
born August 22, 1825, resides in Norwich ; Christinia, born March 27, 1830, wife of Charles 
.rohnson of Norwich; Harriett, born February 18, 1832, wife of Horace B. Goodricli. of 
Norwich : Juan Alonzo, died at nineteen years of age; Rosada L., born October 16, 1837, 
wife of W. F. Johnson, of Hartford, Vt.; and Henry Austin. Barzilla died June 28, 1881. 

Pennock, Carlos Pratt, son of Barzilla, born in Norwich, May 20, 1821, married, first, 
Rosalind (Jrow. Their three children were Eugene, died at eighteen months; Mary A., 
wife of Edward Carpenter, of H,artford, Vt.; and Lizzie A., wife of Luther Newcomb, of 
West Fairlee, Vt. Carlos married, second, Susan Clougli, no children. He is a farmer 
and lives in Norwich. 

Pennock, Henry Austin, son of Barzilla, was born in Norwich, January 29, 1842, mar- 
ried Emily Hovey, of Brookfield, Vt. They have no children. He is a farmer and re- 
sides on the old homestead in Norwich. 

Sargent, Thomas, was born in New Chester, N. H., April 10, 1776. He removed to 
Thetford, Vt., in 1820, and three years later came to Norwich. He married Susan Bart- 
lett, and had eight children: Daniel, Thomas, Emily (deceased), married Cephas Avery, 
Ebenezer, Walter, Meriba, died fifteen years of age, Phineas, unmarried, resides in Thet- 
ford, and Susan, wife of Elam Stowell, of Norwich. Thomas died July 28, 1851. 

Sargent, Daniel, son of Thomas, was born at New Chester, N. H., December 5, 1805, 
and married, April 3, 1834, Louisa Moore. She was born in Chelsea, Vt., M.ay 1814. 
Their children were Bartlett, John A., a resident of Lebanon, N. H., Mary L., died at the 
age of tliree, and Ella L. 

Sargent, Bartlett, son of Daniel, was born in Norwich, February 27, 1835, and mar- 
ried Isadora Ilsley, May 27, 1867. Their children are Leland P., born October 31, 1872; 
Susie M., born January 21, 1878; Henrietta M., born April 23, 1882; and Myra L., born 
November 3, 1886. 

Sargent, Thomas, son of Thomas, born at New Chester, N. H., September 16, 1806, 
married Lydia Cook. The latter was born in Norwich, May 1, 1804. They had thirteen 
children : Harriet, wife of George Young, of Windsor, Vt.; Mary Ann, wife of Paschal 
Slack, of Thetford; William; Meriba, wife of Edwin Newcomb, of Thetford; George, 
resides in Maplewood, Mass.; Betsey, wife of Cyrus Judd, of Thetford; Thomas, John, 
Charles, David, Solon, Lydia (deceased), married Harvey Delano; Ellen, wife of T. J. 
Blanchard, of Norwich. Thomas died July 8, 1889. 



Old Families. 961 

Sargent, David, son of Thomas, was born in Norwich, February 16, 1841, and married, 
first, Lucy Kilbum ; they had one child, Ada Lucy. He married, second, Lucy Lovejoy ; 
they liave three children : Mabel, George David, and Lee Quincy. 

Sargent, Walter, son of Thomas first, was Iwrn in New Chester, N. H., May 5, 1814, 
and married, first, Sally L. Yarrington. Their family consists of five sons : Edward T.- 
James, re>ides in Thetford, Vt.; Henry, lives at Lebanon, N. H.; Charles, resides in Clare- 
mont, N. H.; Nelson, lives in Lebanon, N. H. Walter married, secoti<l, Mrs. Lois Ann 
Slack, nee Blaisdell. 

Slack, William, married Alice Wood. Then- cliildren were William ; Joseph, died in 
Enfield, N. H., belonged to the Shakers; Jothara, died West ; Henry, died in Hartford ; 
Parmela, married Josiah Kendall ; and Lucy, married Reuben Hubbard. 

Slack, William, son of William, was born in Windsor, Vt., and died in 1857, aged sev- 
enty-seven years. He married Hannah Taylor, and their children were William ; Taylor, 
died in Norwich ; Louisa, wife of Worcester Brighaiii, of Norwich, Vt.; David, died at 
Thetford; Lorenzo, died at Lebanon, N. H.; Paschal, resides in Thetford, Vt.; Rlioda 
(deceased), married Dr. Ira Davis; Prosper, Hannah; widow of Mr. Phillips, lives in 
Thetford, Vt.; and George, died in Norwich. 

Slack, William, son of William, was born in Plymouth, Vt., June 10, 1802, and died 
September 3, 1845. He married Roxey Armstrong, who die<l June 15, 1889. Of their 
ten children, one died in infancy. The others were William; John A., resides in Royal- 
ton, Vt.; Ann (deceased), married John M.Emery; Charles A.; Hannah (deceased), mar- 
ried three times; Pembroke, lives in Washington ; Granville ; Josephine, widow of J. C. 
Boardman, resides in Norwich ; and Rosaline, wife of Horatio Blake, of Royalton. 

Slack, A. William, son of William, was born in Norwich, November 18, 1824, and mar- 
ried Zipporah B., daughter of Joseph and Betsey (Brown) Rogers. They have no chil- 
dren. From 1S50 to 187.3 Mr. Slack was four different times a resident of California, his 
longest stay at one time in that State being seven years. 

Slack, Prospe- (son of William, second), was born in Strafford, Vt., September 5, 181 G, 
and married Fidelia Hartshorn. They had ten children : Jefferson, resi<les in Sliaron ; 
Ransom; Jotham, died young; Rosatty, died young; Charlotte, wife of Orson Sargent, 
of Norwich; Edna, wife of Henry C. Burton, of Norwich ; Amy, wife of Elias Water- 
man, of Norwich ; Jo.sephine (deceased), married Mitchell Barby ; Rosie, wife of Azra 
Northrup, of Lebanon, N. H. Prosper's parents removed to Norwich in 1809, and since 
then, excepting ten year.s, he has been a resident of the town. 

Tilden, Timothy, was born in Lebanon, N. H., May 26, 1791. He became a resident 
of Norwich in 1818, settling on the river, but he removed on the hill to the farm now 
owned by his grandson in 1828. He married Sophia Frary, who was born in Hadley, 
Mass., August 31, 1793. Of their twelve children one died in infancy. The others were 
Reuben C, a resident of Norwich; Timothy, died in Hanover, N. H.; Fannie, wife of 
Samuel Armstrong, of Norwich; Sophia, widow of Oliver Cushman, resides in Norwich; 
Louisa, widow of Edwin M. Lewis, Uves in Norwich ; Verona, wife of Roger Strong, of 
Thetford. Vt.; Alvira, died single ; Ruth, wife of Jason 0. Johnson, of Norwich ; Theta, 
widow of Albigence Gove, lives in Hanover, N. H.; Ransom, died at sixteen months; 
Lydia Jane, wife of Anthony W. Johnson, of Norwich. Timothy died October 26, 1879, 
his wife April 21, 1872. 

Turner, Nathaniel, was born in Harvard, Mass., in January, 1769. His. parents were 
Shakers, but on becoming of age he severed his connection with that society. Soon after 
this he married Miss Susie Baker, who had also been a member of the Shaker society. 
He removed to Norwich in 1795, and purchased a farm in the northern part of the town, 
on which he died in 1850. His children were Anna, widow of Joseph Blaisdell, resides 
in Michigan; Nathaniel, died in Norwich; Lucy (deceased), married Hart Kendall; Phyl- 
ena, died single; Edward; Daniel, resides in Norwich. 
121 



962 History of WiNt)SOR CoUNTV. 

Turner, Edward, of the above family, was born in Norwich, September 17, 1804, and 
married Rosady Yarrinfjto"- They have one child, Araburgh Van, born in Norwich. July 
9, 18-16, and married Emma FuUinglon. They have four children, Leon, a resident of 
Boston, Willie, Ilila, Esfa. Mr. Turner is engajred in mercantile trade and also in farm- 
ing, and has been actively identified with town affairs. 

Waterman, Daniel, came from Mansfield, Conn., to Norwich in 1767. He married 
Ann Ford. Their children were Samuel, Daniel, James, Elijah, Elisha, Levi, all of whom 
died in Norwich ; Anna, married Levi Baldwin ; Mary, married Jeremiali Hedges; Eliz- 
abeth, married Daniel C.Baker; and John, The latter was born in Norwich, July "2, 
1768, and married, January 30, 1793, Hannah Hedges. She was born January 2, 1770. 
John died June 23, 1856, his wife April 4, 1858. Their children, excepting the young- 
est (William), are all dead. The others were John, Lavina, married David Freeman, 
Daniel, Warren, Hannah, Hannah second, and Willis. 

Waterman, Willis, son of John, was born at Norwich, March 28, 1808. and married 
Sarah Howard. They had nine children, viz.; Richard ; Harriet, wife of Stephen Davi.s, 
of Methuen, N. H.; Rhoda, died in Norwich ; Mary, wife of Ruf us Simonds, of Hartford, 
Vt.; Hannah, wife of Horace T. Sargent, of Hartford, Vt. ; John, Charles II., Elias L. 
and Webster D. 

Waterman, Richard, son of Willis, was born in Norwich, February 22, 1832, and mar- 
ried Abbie C. Pierce. They had two children, Addie and Delbert. 

Plymouth. 

Aylward, John, was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1815, the sixth in a family 
of nine children of James and Margaret (Cossin) Aylward. Only two of the nine chil- 
dren emigrated to America, John and a sister, Ella. After the death of her husband the 
latter returned to Ireland and died there. Only John and a sister, Alice, are now living. 
John married in Kilkenny, November, 1S47, Julia Murphy, born in Kilkenny, May, 1829. 
In 1848 he emigrated to America, and for the first twenty years lived in West Clare- 
mont, N. H., and Mount Holly, Vt., for the most part in the latter place. In 1868 he 
purchased of Moses Pollard the farm in Plymouth which he still owns and carries on. 
Mr. Aylward has demonstrated what perseverance and good n)anagement will do in 
making a good living and " more too " on a Vermont mountain farm. His children are 
James S., born December 31, 1848, in Clareraont ; John P., born June 16, 1850, at Wells 
River, Vt.; and Edward, born December 10, 1854, at Mount Holly. James S. married 
Sarah A., daughter of Harvey McWain, and lives in Ludlow, Vt. Their children are 
John, Ann and James. John P. and Edward carry on the home farm. 

Boynton, Parker A. — This gentleman is descended in the fifth generation from Nathan- 
iel Boyntonof Westford, Mass. The line is first Nathaniel ; second, Amos; third, Isaiah ; 
fourth, Amos; fifth, Parker A. Nathaniel was twice married; his first wife was Han- 
nah Perham, by whom he had eight children. His second wife was Elizabeth Shedd. 
and by this union there were six children, of whom .second Amos Boynton was the fifth. 
He married, January 9, 1770, Mary Parker, of Westford, and their children were Isaiah, 
Amos, Joseph, Mary, Al)igail and Lydia. Isaiah was born in Westford, Mass., in 1770, 
came to Vermont about 1791, and settled in Plymouth on what has always been known 
as tlie Boynton farm. He married Rebecca Page, December 18, 1796. The latter die<l 
May 12. 1816. He married, second, Hannah Parker, September 16, 1816, who dieil 
June 13, 1872. Isaiah Boynton died June 12. 1851. He had eight children by the first 
and two by the second marriage. Amos Boynton, the fifth child by the first uarriage, 
was born November 11, 1807, at the homestead in Plymouth. He married, February 20, 
1831, Cornelia Bates, daughter of Oren an<l Lois IJates. (For further notice of the 
Bates family see Warren Taylor's biography in this volume.) Their children were 
Lois A., Rebecca P. and Parker A. Lois A., born April 10, 1835, died August 28, 1843. 



Old Families. 963 



Rebecca P., boi-n August 5, 1839, is the wife of Gilmau Bond, a farinei- living in Cav- 
endisli; they have one child, Lois M. Parker A. lives on the farm of J. H. Bates in 
Cavendish. 

Davis, Joseph A., was born in Corapton, Lower Canada, October 5, 1824, the third in 
a family of six children of Gaylon and Rhoda (Hoisington) Davis. The latter was the 
widow of Ralph Howard at the time of their marriage. Thev were both natives of 
Windsor, Vt. Their children were Gaylon, jr., Aaron (deceased), Joseph A. William H., 
Orlando (deceased), and Susan. All were married and raised families. The father died 
in Bridgewater, and the mother in Windsor. When Joseph A. was ten years of age he 
was bound out to Francis Perkins for seven years, but remained only three years. He 
learned the carpenter trade, and has followed it as a business since he was twenty-one 
years of age. He married September, 1845, Samantha, daughter of Abijah and Betsey 
Hudson. Since his marriage, with the exception of a year and a half in Windsor, he has 
lived in Plymouth. He enlisted January 5, 1864, as a private in Company C, Sixth Ver- 
mont Volunteers. In October, 1864, he was transferred to Company B, Tenth Regi- 
ment of the Reserve Corps, and served in that regiment till the close of the war. He 
was mustered out at Washington, July 20, 1865. He was in all engagements in General 
Grant's advance on Petersburg, and received a rupture at Brandy Station, Va., on which 
account he receives a pension. The Tenth was stationed at Washington, D. C, when 
Lincoln was kdled, and when they wanted forty men of the regiment to do duty that 
night, those who would volunteer to step forward two paces, Mr. Davis was one of 
the number. He had done duty the night before and did duty the night thereafter, 
making three nights without rest. Though Mr. Davis owns and carries on a farm in Ply- 
mouth, he devotes most of his time to his trade as a builder. His first wife died May 
12. 18G6. He married second, 1869, Matilda Potter, widow of George Potter. Her 
maiden name was Gove. His children are Sylvanus, killed in the battle of the Wilder- 
ness ; Orzina, wife of Gustavus Curti.ss, of Woodstock ; (_>rlando, married Hattie, daugh- 
ter of Mason Davis; Addie, wife of A. W. Taft, of Woodstock; Norman, married Eva, 
daughtL'r of Mason Davis; Alice, wife of George Potter, of Plymouth; Lora, wife of Her- 
bert Cook, of Rutland ; Ella, wife of Ransom Hastings, of Plymouth ; Delia A. (de- 
ceased) ; Clara, wife of Allen Carlysle, of Plymouth ; Mary, wife of Warren Flanders, 
of Cavendish ; Edgar (deceased) ; and Bertie E. (deceased). Mr. Davis has seventeen 
grandchildren. 

Foley, William, was born in Middlebury, Vt., March 18, 1849, the second in a family 
of five children of Miles and Margaret (Cavenaugh) Foley. His father and mother were 
natives of County Wexford, Ireland. They were married in Ireland, and their eldest 
child, Margaret, was born there. They emigrated to America in 1847, and settled in the 
village of Poultney, Rutland county, Vt. Miles Foley was a contractor on the D. and 
H. Railroad. He subsequently bought a farm in Hampton, Washington county, N. Y., 
which he carried on until his death, which occurred in 1854. His widow afterwards 
married James Cullen, now a resident of Fair Haven, Rutland county. When about ten 
years of age William left home and worked for Rodney Ray till he was 22 years old, at- 
tending winter schools. After leaving Mr. Ray he purchased teams, and followed team- 
ins from 1871 to 1888, in Poultney and Fair Haven. December 21, 1888, he purchased 
the " Boynton " farm in Plymouth, which he now carries on. He married January 27, 
1879, Julia A., daughter of Michael and Mary (Agan) McCague. Mrs. Foley was born in 
Fair Haven, October 20, 1856. Their children are John D., born January 15, 1880 ; Ed- 
ward J., born November 21, 1882; and William XL, born June 21, 1884. 

Gould. Simon, was born in Shrewsbury, Vt., November 26, 1828, the second child of 
ten children, of Chester and Hannah (Gdman) Gould. His father was twice married. 
Chester Gould, the father, was born in Guilford, Vt., June 16, 1799, and died at his home 
in Shrewsbury, March 6, 1869, He carried on farming for fifty years in Shrewsbury. 
Elder Gurnsey, who preached his funeral sermon, writes of him : " He was ever ready to 
lend a helping hand, and by his industry and frugality, neighborly kindness and charity, 



964 History of Windsor County. 

he ever maintained a character worthy to be remembered and imitated by those who 
survive." Hannah Gould, his second wife, was born in Oilman, N. H., December 19, 
1809. She died at the homestead in Shrewsbury, May 21, 1877. She was the daughter 
of Simon and Abigail Gilman, who moved from New Hampshire to Shrewsbury and 
died there; Simon, March 19, 1853, and Abigail, June 5, 1864 Phebe was twice mar- 
ried. Her first husband was Alonzo N. Russell : her second, J. P. Greene. She died in 
Cavendish, November 7, 1887. Stephen married Elizabeth B. Fleming, of California. 
He went to California in 1849, and here their only child, William B. Gould, was born. 
May 1, 1862. His wife died in 18G2, and he died in San Francisco, in 1865. Their or- 
phan child was brought from California to Vermont by his uncle, William Fleming, and 
has always been treated, cared for, and educated by his uncle, Simon Gould, as his own 
child. VVilliam B. Gould, the nephew, married November 5, 1880, Louise D., daughter 
of Edgar and Mary M. (Horton) Glynn. Jared married Martha Brown. He is a tinsmith, 
living in Enfield, Mass. Harriet is the widow of Martin B. Hartshorn, and re.sides in 
Reading, Mass. Dwight C. was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, and died at White 
Oak Church, near Richmond. John B. is a fanner living in Shrewsbury, and married 
Delia Calkins. Otis A. married Orsie Clark, and lives in Clinton, Oneida county, N. Y. 
Anna was twice married ; her first husband was William B. Fleming. She is now the 
wife of Lewis Tasheira, and lives in San Francisco. Upon the death of his father, Simon 
Gould became the owner of the homesteail farm in Shrewsbur)', and carried it on for 
many year.s. He still owns it, but since 188.5 he has made his home at his nephew's, 
William B. Gould, who owns and carries on what was known as the William Merrill 
farm, on the east shore of Echo and Mirror Lakes, Plymouth. 

Hall, Christopher C. — Nathan Hall came from Ma.ssachusetts and settled in Plymouth, 
Vt., about the year 1795. He married Ruth Johnson, by whom he had ciiildren as fol- 
lows: Delia, Jonathan, Moses, Nathan, jr., Daniel, George and Sybil. Nathan, jr., was 
born in Plymouth, August 30, 1809; married February 1832, Prudence B., daughter of 
Elijah aii<i Hannah (Clark) Hubbard. Their children were Stillman (deceased) ; Christo- 
pher C, Eleazer A. and William J. (deceased). Bleazer A. married Maranda B., daugh- 
ter of Elisha and Phebe Sanderson. Their children were Alice (deceased) and ALar- 
anda. He is a manufacturer of lime, a lumberman and farmer. William J. was twice 
married. By his first wife, Carrie Sawyer, he has one child, Maud, living. By his sec- 
ond wife, Anna Benham, he also has one child, Parma. He died in Mendon in 1880. 
Christopher C. was born in Plymouth, July 25, 1836. He married November 1, 1866, 
Lora R., daughter of Stephen and Laura fl. (Hutchinson) Ayers. Mrs. Hall was born 
in Plymouth, October 13, 1851. Their children are Ida M., born September 24, 1867, 
married October 23, 1889, Walter E. Slack ; Matt Clark, born November 10, 1869; Lula 
M., born June 28, 1873, died February 7, 1890; Willie J., born November 20, 1878; 
Pansie B., born October 11, 1880; Jam<^s A., born September 1, 1886; and Walter C, 
born October 15, 1888. Mr. Hall enlisted October 23, 1862, as private in Company C, 
Sixteenth Vermont Volunteers. He received his discharge August 10, 1803. He re- 
enlisted October 1, 1864, in the navy, on board the U. S. S. Monadnock. He was in both 
engagements at Fort Fisher, in Charleston, S. C, upon the retaking of Fort Sumter, and 
in the James River upon the capitulation of Richmond. He was discharged July 1. 18G5. 
Mr. Hall has carried on farming and lime burning in Plymouth since the war. He has 
served as selectman of the town four years. 

Pinney, L. Norton, was born in Plymouth, October 5, 1820. His grandfather, Jona- 
than Pinney, supposed to have emigrated from England about 1760, settled in Guilford, 
Windham county, Vt., where he married Priscilla Grovor of that town. He learned the 
trade of carpenter and joiner in England, serving the required seven years with a master. 
He came from Guilford to Plymouth about the year 1800 and settled on the jilace now 
owned by Wallace Bedell, which lies in a valley in the northern part of the town, to 
which he gave the name of Pinney Hollow. He had eleven children, all of whom were 
born in Guilford and came with their parents to Plymouth, viz.; Lizzie, John, Jonathan, 



Old Families. 965 



Eleazor, Priscilla, Solomon, Horatio, Gracia, Amial, Joel and Delino. Five o£ the sons 
and two of the daughters after marriage settled in Pinney Hollow, the other daughter 
settled at Plymouth near by, the youngest son died young, the oldest son settled in 
Broome county, N. Y., and Joel, the seventh 9011, settled in St. Lawrence county, N. Y. 
Jonathan Pinney had a sister, Catharine, who married Jacob Grover and came to Plym- 
outh from Guilford, Vt., and settled near Grover Pond, in the northwest part of the 
town. He was a hero of the RevohUion, married three wives, and raised twenty-four 
children. He drew a pension of ninety-si.x dollars a year for his military services. 
Solomon, the fourth son, was married by Ephraira Moore, esq., to Anna Burt, daughter 
of David Burt, formerly of Windsor and then of Plymouth, on the 30th of December, 
1877. Solomon Pinney was born in Guilford, November 9, 1787, and came to Plymouth 
with his parents when pbout fourteen years old, and learned the trade of carpenter and 
joiner, which he followed until married. He was a volunteer in the War of 1812, and 
was out in the Army of the North for three months. After marriage he settled on a 
farm near where his father first located. He built a saw-mill on the site of the one his 
son, L. Norton, now runs, aud subsequently a grist-mill in company with his brother 
Jonathan. He died Noveml)er 2.5, 1845, and his wife Anna died May 28, 1880, and both 
lived through life after their ilrst settlement on the same farm where their son Horace 
B. now lives. Their children were Naham B., L. Norton, Allen B. (deceased), Jeanette 
H., and Horace E. Naham B., born December 20, 1818, is living in MechauicsviUe, Vt., 
has retired from mercantile business, aud is attending to farming and blooded stock rais- 
ing. He has only one child, Mrs. May H. Seward, who lives on a farm near Mechanics- 
ville, Vt. His wife, Celista Mann, of Ira, Vt., has been dead for a number of years. 
Jeannette F. is the wife of Zera Clark, esq., of Hartford, Windsor county, Vt. Horace 
E., born April 18, 1836, married at Woodstock by the Rev. Moses Kidder, March 22, 
1859, to Sarah J. Cilley, lives on the homestead farm of his father, and cared for his 
mother after the decease of his father during her life. Their children are Athelia J., 
who married Willier A. Spaulding, a farmer in Pinney Hollow ; Allen II., who married 
Jennie Hudson of Bridgewater, Vt.; and Nettie S., who lives with her parents. L. Nor- 
ton Pinney, the second son, has been a life-long resident of Plymouth. He married, in 
February, 1852, Angeline, daughter of Benjamin and Caroline (Nason) Carpenter. She 
died November 19, 1879. Their children are Alice J., wife of James B. Blanchard, a 
farmer living in Pinney Hollow, who has two children, Clarence B. and Eddie J., both 
living at home; and Byron W., who married Jesse Hughes of Plainfield, N. H., and 
whose children are Loren N. and Harry L. Norton Pinney has for years carried on the 
manufacture of toy stock on a branch stream of the Otta Quechee in Pinney Hollow. 
June 2, 1840, he lost his left hand by the bursting of a musket, and on January IG, 1887, 
he lost all the fingers of the right hand, saving the thumb only, in a planing machine. 
This illustrates what a man may accomplish with only a thumb left, as by the use of it 
he is enabled to dreiss and feed himself and do much of the shop work. In politics he is 
a Republican, in religion a Universalist. Since the death of his wife he has made his 
home with his daughter, Mrs. Blanchard. 

Sanderson, Elislia F., was born in Bridgewater, April 14, 1823. He married, March 5, 
1852, Phebe W., daughter of Thomas V. and Susan (Sanderson) Vose. She was born in 
Bridgewater, September 23, 1822. She has two brothers living, and one sister deceased, 
viz.: PHny F., hving in Rutland; Thomas V., at Wood Lake, Minn; Sally M., wife of 
John F. Bugbee. She died October 15, 1852. Mr. Sanderson owned and occupied a 
portion of the home farm after marriage. He enlisted as private in Company G, Six- 
teenth Vermont nine months' men, and was in the battle of Gettysburg. He was mus- 
tered out August 10, 1863. He sold his place in Bridgewater, and in 1865 settled at 
Plymouth Union, where he has carried on the manufacture of chair stock ever smce. 
He has one child, Miranda V., born January 30, 1853. wife of Eleazer A. Hall, of Ply- 
mouth. Her children are Eugene S., Coro B.. Julian A., Nellie A., Ada B.. and Lmd- 
sey S. Arthur Spofifard, a grandson of Mrs. Sanderson by a former husband, has been 
brought up by and is living with Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson. 



966 History ok Windsor County. 

Slack, Joel, grandfather of Eben K., a native of Massachusetts, married, in Winches- 
ter, Va., Lydia March. Their first child, Esther, was born in Virginia in 1803, and in 
the same year he carae to Plymouth and b\nlt a log-house on the place now owned by 
Mavnard Brown. The next j'ear, ISO'l, he moved his family from Virginia and settled 
on tlie above place. Here his children, Reuben K. and Joel M., were born, the former 
in ISO", the latter in 1811. He died there in 1845 aged seventy-seven, and his wife 
May 18, 1857, aged seventy-four. 

Slack, Reuben K., married Prudence Barllett, of Bridgewater, in 1834. The children 
were Joel B., born 1835; Martin Van Buren, born 1837, died April 14, 1800; Eben K., 
born 1838; Mary Esther, born 1840, died February 27, 1800; Addie Oliva, born 1847. 
Reuben K. died at the homestead, April 7, 1800, aged fifty-three years eleven months. 
His wife is living with her daughter, Mrs. Leighton FuUam, at Ludlow. 

Slack, Eben Kimball, was born in Plymouth, Vt., February 5, 1838. He married, first, 
.Jennetta Louisa, daughter of David and Louisa (Pollard) Burt. She was born in Plym- 
outh. March 22, 1840, and died November 3, 1804. October 10, 1805, he married 
Anna E. Burt, sister of his first wife. She was born in Plymouth, February 21, 1846. 
David Burt, her grandfather, married Abigail Wooster, in Windsor, Vt., October 18, 1792. 
They had seven children, of whom her father, David, was the fifth born in Plymouth, 
September 22, 1799; he died in Rockingham, A^t., July 29, 1881. Louisa Pollard, his 
wife, was the daughter of James Pollard, one of the early settlers of Plymouth; she 
died April 1.5, 1889, aged eighty-three. James Pollard, born 1770, died April 9, 1850; 
Rlioda, his wife, born 1775, died July C, 1802. The homestead now owned by Mr. and 
Mrs. Slack passed from James Pollard to David Burt, thence to his daughter Mrs. Slack. 
By his first wife E. K. Slack had one child, Ellen Mary, born January 31, 1861, died 
October 7, 1804. The children by the second marriage are Orrie A,, born January 29, 
1867, married, October 10, 1888, Walter i\L Cook, of Plymouth ; Walter E., born Octo- 
ber 1, 1869, married October 23, 1889, Ida M. Hall, of Plymouth; Lena Barbara, born 
August 31, 1883, and Winifred L., born April 10, 1880. Mr. Slack carries on the farm 
named above. He is a good farmer and a good Democrat. Both he and Mrs. Slack are 
members of the Christian Church of Woodstock. 

Taylor, Newell N., was born in Plymouth, December 2, 1827, the second in a family 
of nine cliildren of Nathan and Sally (Moore) Taylor. John Taylor, a native of Carlisle, 
Mass., came to Plymouth in 1784. He married Abigail Wheeler. Nathaniel was the 
fifth son of John and Abigail Taylor. He was born in Plymouth and married Sally, 
daughtc- of Ephraim and Betsey Moore. Her father was among Plymouth's early set- 
tlers, and located at the " Notch," wIku-c his grandson, Ephraim Moore, now resides. 
He was a prominent man of the town, holdmg many of its trusts. After marriage Na- 
thaniel Taylor settled on the farm in North Plymouth now owned and occupied by Hor- 
ace Ward. He died in Keene, N. 11., May 25, 1873, where he resided at tlie time of his 
death. His wife died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Sprague, in Plymouth, Oc- 
tober 20, 1875. Their children were Julia, died when a year old ; Newell N., Norman, Ry- 
land N., Julia (second). Seneca W., died when a year old; Seneca W. (second), Jerome, 
and Adaline. Of the seven living children, all are married except Norman. Juli.a, Mrs. 
Sprague. and Newell N. are the only chddren residing in Plymouth. With the excep- 
tion of three years in Minnesota, Newell N. Taylor has passed his whole life in Plymouth, 
following farming as his occupation. He nuirried January 29, 1803, Mary R., daughter 
of William and Rebecca Merrill. Mr.s. Taylor was born in Plymouth, September 30, 1844. 
Their children are Dora M., wife of Willis P. Bowman, clerk in Proctorsville, one child, 
Arthur ; Sherman N., Carlos A., Myrtie A., Ruby A., Sadie A , and Willie S. Mr. Tay- 
lor now owns and carries on the farm at the " Kingdom," iu Plymouth, known as the 
'' Weaver farm." 

Townsend, M. J., was born March 15, 18.53, in Pittsfield. Rutland county, Vt., the 
youngest in a family of si.x chihhen of Moses and Azubra Townsend. He married, 
March 20, 1883, Mary Jane, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Boyle) Hayes. Mrs. Town- 



Old f'AMiLlfiS. 967 

send was born in Ludlow, Windsor county, April 17, 1860. Daniel Hayes, her father, 
emigrated from Ireland in 1848, and settled in Ludlow. In 1805 he purchased and moved 
on to a farm in the southwest part of Plymouth township, which he now carries on. In 
1885, Mr. Townsend purchased and moved onto the Isaac Pollard farm, in the extreme 
southwest corner of Plymouth. He carries on this farm, hut is also a successful specula- 
tor in stock and other farm products. The childi-on of Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are Mo- 
ses Joy (deceased), Bessie Ann, and John Hayes. 

POMFRET. 

Chedel, John A., was born in Pomf ret. May 30,1848. George, his great-great-grandfather, 
with a brother, emigrated from England and settled in Connecticut. John, his son, came 
in company with Bartholomew Durkee from Pomfret, Conn., and settled in Pomfret, Vt., 
March 9, 1770, Mr. Durkee reaching the town three days before, during which time Mr. 
Chedel was detained in Hartford. Tims Mr. Durkee became, by three days, the first settler 
of the town. John was twice married, h.is second wife being a Miss Allen. Of the children 
by the last marriage, Asa, grandfather of John A., was the second child. He was born 
in Pomfret, April 1, 1772, on the place now owned and occupied by his nephew, 0. M 
Chedel. He married Polly Aldrich, whose father lost his life as a soldier in the War of 
the Revolution. She was a granddaughter of the Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, the first min- 
ister in Pomfret. They had ten children, of whom seven reached adult age, viz.: George, 
married and settled in Woodstock, and died there February, 1889, aged eiglity-nine ; 
John, father of John A.; Mary E., widow of Stephen Raymond, living in California; 
Joseph A., settled in Providence, R. I., and died there; Laura, was the wife of George 
Dewey, and died in Hanover, N. H,; Clarissa L., was the wife of Levi Reed, and died 
in Bridgewater, Vt,; and Harriet M., is the widow of Solomon Harding, and lives in 
Pomfret. Asa died in Pomfret, May 9, 1855, and his wife died there July 14, 18C8. 
John, son of Asa, was born in Pomfret, May 11, 18011. He married October 27, 1846, 
Hannah A., daughter of Asa and Alice (Dunham) Perry. She was born in Middleboro, 
Mass., October 24, 1828. They had two children, John A. and Hannah A. John died 
in Pomfret, September 29, 1872, his wife died there January 20, 1881. John A. married 
Jennie, daughter of Albert A. and Janet (Whitcoinb) Brooks. She was born in Bethel. 
September 1, 1849. Their children are 'Maud E., born May 3, 1875; Annie L., born 
April 15, 1879 ; and Alice K., born October 28, 1SS3. Mr. Chedel owns the Chedel home- 
stead in Pomfret. In 1881 he moved from Pomfret, and has carried on, at Gaysville, 
general merchandising there since. He has held the positions of town clerk and treas- 
urer since 18S7. 

The Doton family in Pomfret descended from Edward Doton, who emigrated from 
England, one of the Mayflower pilgrims, when about twenty years of age. He had a .son, 
a grandson and a great-grand.ton whose names were John. The latter of these three was 
born in 1700, died in January, 1750. The eldest of his four children was Edward Doton, 
born May, 1725, died April 17, 1705. He married .loannah Whitney. His son, John 
Doton, born in Plymouth, Mass., September 14, 1750. died March 30, 1812. He mar- 
ried Basheba Bowker, born March 20, 1755, died February 8, 1838. In the spring of 
1786, he moved with his family from Ware, Mass., to Pomfret. He built a log-house on 
the farm which has ever since been known as the Doton homestead. The present home- 
stead residence was built by his son, John Edward, in 1811. His son, John Edward 
Doton, was born in Pembroke, Mass., July 3, 1780, died April 8, 1863. He married 
Betsey Vose, born March 14, 1783, died August 7, 1865. He was for many years county 
surveyor, justice of the peace, and held many town offices. Their children were Calvin, 
Sarah Matilila, Hosea, Samuel Spencer, Electa, Abigail Bvarts, Louisa, Joanna .-md John 
Quincy. Samuel Spencer Doton married Charlotte, daughter of Otis and Rebecca Winn, 
and had children as follows: Edward Otis, Elizabeth R., William Kllery and Fred W. 
Samuel Spencer married second, Cynthia I. Wood, daughter of Amos and Eunice Wood. 



96s 



History ok Windsor County. 



Thej' had no children. Mr. Doton has always lived in Pomfret. He built a saw-mill 
in tlie south part of the town, which he ran about one year, with which exception he has 
followed farinini;. He purchased tlie farm where he now lives of his brother. Rosea, 
anil carried it on until he sold it to his son, Fred W., in the spring of 18SG. He is now 
(1890) living with his son, but for the past two years he has been in feeble health. Fred 
W. Doton, his son, married Mary Eraily, daughter of John W. and Mary Emeline 
(Wood) Dana, who was born in Pomfret, December 24, 18.52. She is a descendant, in 
the fourth generation, from John Winchester Dana, who married Hainiah P., daughter 
of General Israel Putnam, and reared a family of thirteen children. She has in her po.s- 
.session a pair of silver tablespoons, from a halt dozen given by General Putnam to his 
grand-daughter, Polly Dana, Dr. Israel Putnam Dana, physician and surgeon, of South 
Royalton, and Edward Youngs Dana, owning and occupying the homestead farm in 
Pomfret, are brothers of Mrs. Doton. Fred W. now owns .and carries on the home 
farm, giving special attention to the raising of thoronghlired Atwood Merino sheep. 
The children of Fred W. and Mary Emily Doton are a daughter, uiniamed, born Au- 
gust .5, 1882. died an infant, and John Dana, born August 1,'j, 1884. If any one were to 
inquire who of Pomfret's sons had left the impress of his character more wide-reach- 
ing tlian any other, the answer would undoubtedly be Ho.sea Doton. Robert A. Per- 
kins, who was intimately a.ssociated with him in literary work, now connected with the 
press in New York city, wrote of him : " It is entirely within bounds, to say that, out- 
side family inlluence and the atmosphere of the place, Mr. Doton stands l)y far the 
greatest single influence towards the right in the town's life, and it is a thing such as no 
other town ever hail." This inlluence was exerted mainly as teacher in the schools of 
Woodstock, Hartford and Norwich, but for the most part in the schools of his native 
town of Pomfret. It is said no less than one hundred and fifty of his pupils in Pomfret 
became practical and successful teachers. His pupils are literally scattered from Maine 
to California, but wlierever found, their rememlirance of their teacher is with a kind of 
supreme respect and alfection, which seems a peculiar feeling reserved only for this man. 
He was three tiuKjs married, to Lois Paddock, to Harriet F. W.are and to Elvira Wood, 
vv'ho survives him, living in Woodstoc'^-, Vt. Mrs. J. K. P. Chamberlain, a widow, now a 
teacher in Lincoln, Neb., is his only cliild. Mr. Doton never desired or .sought public 
office, but he was elected to the State Senate in 1865, also in 1866. 

Hutchinson, Charles, was born in Pomfret July 6, 1806, the third in a family of ten 
children of William and Deborah (Bishop) Hutchin.son. His great-grandfather, Aaron, 
was a native of Hebron, Conn. He married Margery Carter in Connecticut, from which 
State he moved m 1776 and settled in Pomfret, on the farm now owned and occupied by 
Charles Hutchinson. He died October 1800, his wife August 1818. They are buried 
in the Christian burying-ground in Woodstock. William Hutchinson, father of Charles, 
was born at the homestead in Pomfret, April 24, 1781. He married May, 1802, Deborah 
Bishop, born in Middleboro, Mass., February, 1784. William Hutchinson died February 
2.5, 1866 ; his wife April 14, 1862. They had ten children as follows: Sophronia, Louisa, 
Charles, William, William, 2d, Deborah, Henry, Margery, Susan and Adaline. Sophronia 
was the wife of Robert French. Norman, Robert and Martha Ann are their children now 
living. She and her husband are dead. Louisa was the wife of Lorenzo D. Hawkins. Both 
are dead Rush C, their only son, was colonel of the Ninth Regiment N. Y. Volunteers, 
known as the "Hawkin's Zouaves." William was thrice married. His first wife was 
Lucy Ann Burns. James B. Hutchinson of Bridgewater fs their only child. His second 
wife was Rosina Braley. No children by this union. His third wife was Aramantha 
Clary, who survives him, living in Pomfret with her son, William B. She has also two 
other sons, Wallace and Charles. Deborah is wife of Lauriston Redwood, living in Ran- 
dolph, Orange county ; children, Frances, Lemuel and Clara. Susan was the wife of Han- 
ibal Totman. She died in Pomfret in 1869 or 1870; children, Henry, Frank and StarK. 
Charles Hutchinson has spent his whole life on the homestead farm. It came into his 
possession in 1866. He built his present fine residence in 1874. He is one of Pomfret's 



Old Families. 969 



moiit, successful farmers. He ia Republican in politics, and has been town lister fifteen 
years, selectman three years. 

Leach, Henry W., was born in Bridf^ewater, Vt,, March 12, 1812, the youngest of six 
children of John and Lavina (Snow) Leach. His father was a native of Middlebury, 
Mass., married there, and four children were also born there, viz.: Betsey V., Otis Ada- 
line S., and Sophronia, all deceased except Betsey V"., now ninety-two years of age, 
widow of Solomon Aldeii, living in Bridgewater. .fohn Leach moved from Middlebury, 
and settled in Bridgewater, where his two youngest children were born, viz.: Marcus and 
Henry W. Marcus, who married Susan Lewis, of Barnard, settled in Hartford, V"t., and died 
there November 1886. He had no children. John Leach died m Bridgewater at the age 
of ninety. His wife died three years before him. Henry W. has been three times mar- 
ried. He married, December 1, 1838, Ro.xelona Thompson. She was a daughter of Da- 
vid and Betsey (Leach) Thompson. She was a cousin of Professor Zadock Thompson, and 
was born in Bridgewater, August 10, 1808. deceased March 26, 1865. Mr. Leach married 
second, September 6, 186.5, Louisa Doton, who died February 28, 1871. He married, third, 
January 23, 1873, Electa Doton, sister of his second wife. (See Doton record on page 967 
of this volume.) After his first marriage Mr. Leach settled in North Bridgewater, 
where he lived till 1871, then moved to Pomfret, where he has since resided. From tlie 
time he wa-; twenty-six years of age, he has been a member of the Congregational 
Church of Bridgewater. By his first marriage he had four children : Samuel O., born 
September, 1841, and died June, 1844 ; Orriu Thompson, born May 1, 1842, married Sa- 
rah Alden, of Bridgewater, Mass., is a carpenter by trade, lives in Norwood, Mass., and 
has one child living, Emily ; Austin Kingsley. born June 17, 1844, married Mary Dung- 
lass, and is a farmer living in Woodstock ; Henry Corydon, born June 17, 1848, married 
Julia Pratt, of Middlebury, Mass., and has one child, Henry Warren. 

Maxham, Charle.s H., was born in Pomfret, November 29, 1834, the fifth in a family 
of seven children of Judson A. and Elmira (Hawkins) Maxham. He received his educa- 
tion in the common schools of Pomfret. His first venture away from home was the de- 
livery and sale of a wall map of St. Lawrence county, N. Y., in company with his brother 
Addison. For the next four years he was employed in lumbering and farming in com- 
pany with his brother-in-law, Reuben Davis, in Norwich, He married March 26, 1863, 
Lucretia M., daughter of John and Lydia (Gordon) Roberts. She was born in Sharon, 
Vt., October 9, 1840. There were eight children m her father's family, only three living, 
Mrs. Maxh.im and her two brothers, William G. Roberts, road-master of the Passumsic 
Railroad, living at White River Junction, and Cyrus A. Roberts, section boss on the same 
road, living at Norwich. Mr. and Mrs. Maxham have no children of their own, but have 
brought up Linnie, daughter of George and Lydia Rogers, a niece of Mrs. Maxham, and 
Ned W. Maxham, son of Addison Maxham, a nephew of Mr. Maxham. After marriage 
Mi. Maxham lived in Norwich one year, then in Sharon seven years. In 1874 he pur- 
chased the farm known as the " Hodges farm," in South Pomfret, which he has since 
carried on. Mr. Maxham has filled the town offices of selectman, lister, overseer of the 
poor and town representative in the Legislature in 1882. He has served as administra- 
tor and executor in the settlement of many estates. 

Perry, Lieutenant Robert, son of John and Abigail (Knowlton) Perry, born in Aah- 
ford. Conn., November, 1743, a veteran in the French and Revolutionary Wars, settled 
in the northern part of Pomfret, October 16, 1780, where he resided until his death in 
1816. He marrieil Sarah Hodges in A.shfotd. They had ten children, viz.: Anna, Sarah, 
Perci.a, Clari.ssa. Elizabeth, Robert, Seth, Ro.xy, Mary and Freda (twins). Captain Robert 
Perry, of the above children, was born December 18. 1774. He married March 23, 1803, 
Meliitabel Morgan. He inherited the homestead and died there April 13, 1849. llis wife 
died June 10, i 845. Their children were Eliza, Robert, Freda, Emily, Mehitabel, Chauncy 
and Lester. Robert was never married. He was a man of sound judgment, a practical 
farmer and accumulated a snug fortune. He represented the town in the Legislature and 
held nearly all of the town offices. He died in the house where he was born April 13, 
122 



970 History of Windsor County. 



1883. Freda and Emily, maiden ladies, died at the homestead, Freda, Marcli 4, 1S89. 
Emily, February 22, 1881J. Meliitabel married Peter W. Web.^ter, a farmer of Newbury, 
Vt. They had nine children, only two of whom, viz.. Persis and Ira. aie livint^. Slie 
died at the hoine.steaii Ootoliei- 2, 1865. (Miauncy Perry married January 21. 1845, Pliebe 
Leonard, who was born in Sharon, July 13, 1820. He, with his maiden sisters, owned 
for many years the Perry homestead. He and his wife reside at the homestead. Lester 
Perry inherited a part of the liomestead farm, living in a house opposite the old place, 
and died there Fel)ruary 1."), 1859. He marrieil January 4, 1847, Kuth C. Leonard, sister 
of Mrs. Chaunoy Perry. Slie was born November 23, 1821. They had one child, Luvil- 
la Eliza, born October 25, 1852, who married, October 25, 1871, Francis Young Snow, 
who was born in Sharon, October 5, 1842, She married, second, John Allen, a farmer 
livinff in Pomfret. He enlisted as private, October 1, 1861. in Company E, Eip;lith Ver- 
mont Infantry and was discharfjed April 26, 1804. He had two tcetli knocked out with 
a spent ball and received a fractui'e of tlu' ri^'ht fore-arm, on wliicli account he receives 
a pension. He was tlie .son of Cliarles H. and Maria E. (Ferguson) Snow. His fAther 
was a painter by trade, but fol'owed farming for llie most part. He died March 8, 1880. 
His children were William J.. Rosantlia M.. Sylvester M., Francis Y., Geoi.ue P. and 
Floyd S. Sylvester .VI. and George P. were also soldiers in the VVar of the Rebellion, 
the latter dying at Baton Rouge during the war. Francis Y. owns and carries on the 
Perry homestead. He has two children, Luvia M,, born April 7, 1875, anil Liila Ruth, 
born October 3, 1885. 

Pratt, Jo-seph H., was born in Northampton, Mass., Fel>ruary 15, 1827. II is father, 
Francis Pratt, born in W;ishington, Ma*s., January 1, 1798, married Roxainia Strong. 
March, 1825, in Northampton. In 1833 he moved to Norwich, Vt., settled on a farm, 
and died there February 15, 1875. His wife died at Norwich, February 7, 1846. He 
married for his second wife, Mary B. Palmer, November 4, 1846, who died in Norwich 
May, 1881. Laura Elizalieth, born Fel>niary 15, 1830, the only sister of Joseph II., mar- 
ried Caleb West of Norwich, March, 1847. Tliey had three children. Franci.s, Charles 
Henry (deceased), and Samuel Boardman. Mr. West died April 3, 1884. Joseph H. 
w.is six years of age when liis father moved from Northampion to Norwich. He re- 
ceived his education in the Norwich coimnon and .academy schools, and at the Meriden 
Academy, N. H. He commenced teaching winters when nineteen years of age, and 
tauglit three successive winters. He married, OctoVjer 19, 1847, Ann D., daughter of 
John and Phinelte (Willard) Hazen. Mr.s. Pratt was born in Pomfret, October 28, 1823. 
She descends in ihe seventh generation from Edward Hazen who emigrated to America in 
1649 and .settled in Rowley, Mass The line is: 1st, Edward; 2d. Thom.as; 3d, Tliomas; 
4th, Thomas ; 5tli, Hezelciah ; 61 h, John. The.se all had large families, Thomas 3d heading 
the list with sixteen chililren. After marriage Mr. Pratt lived three years in West Pom- 
fret, then moved to Norwich, Vt., where he lived until 1864, then returned to Pomfret and 
.settled on the Hazen homestead in district No. 7, '' Bunker Hdl," the place of his wife's 
birth, and has carried on that farm ever since. He is Republican in politics, and repre- 
sented the town of Norwich in the Legi.slature in 1862 ; the town of Pomfret, in 1868-9. 
Children: John Francis, born June 18, 1848. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 
1871, and received an appointment in the United States Geodetic Coast Survey, and is 
now stationed in Washington on the P.acific Coast. William, born October 23, 1852, was 
graduated from Dartmouth in 1874. lie is superintendent of the Mount Vernon, 0., 
Iron Bridge Company. Arlliur E., born September 27, 1854, te.icher of music; edu- 
cated in Pomfret and in Norivich Academy. George Hazen, born March 1, 1858; edu- 
cated in Norwich Academy and at Meriden, N. H.; civil engineer, employed on the 
Seattle and Eastern Railroad in Wa.shinglon. Elizabeth R., born December 15, 1862, 
living at home; educated at Tilden Seminary at West Lebanon, and Kimb.ill Academy 
at Meriden, N. H. 

Whipple, William C, was born in Pomfret, January 7, 1830, the youngest of a family 
of three children of Obed and Charlotte (Clement) Wliipple. Obed, his father, was born 



Old Families. 971 



ill Cliarlestown, N. H., October 9, 1797, and married June 13, 1819, Charlotte, daughter of 
William and Anna (Nichols) Clemem, born in Royalston, Mass., November 19, 1796. He 
came from Charlestown, April, 1819, and settled in Pomfret on the place now owned and 
occupied by his son, William C. He was a tanner by trade, and followed the occupation 
during his life. He died July 7, 1880, at the homeslead. His wife died February 25, 
1887. He was a deacon in the Unitarian Church. lie filled a number of the town offi- 
ces ; was a quiet, unobtrusive man, but posse.s.sed sound judgment, and his counsels were 
sought. Their children were Matilda, Miller and Obed. William C. Whipple spent his 
minority at home, receiving his education in the schools of Pomfret. He also learned the 
tanner's trade of his father; built anew tannery near the homestead, ran it a few years, 
then sold it lo his brother Obed. This tannery was subsequently burned. From the age 
of sixteen to forty he taught school in Pomfret and adjoining towns, also in New Hamp- 
shire and Massachusetts. He was principal of the Academy at Waucoiida, Lake county, 
111., for four years. He married, March 13, 1851, Harriet Maria, dam^hter of Mitchell 
and Maria (Vail) Clark, born June 22, 1832. Her father was born in Hartford, Vt., Feb- 
ruary 29, 179G ; died August 16, 1882. Her mother, born July 21, 1803, died February 17, 
1837. Her father married, second, Lavinia Kent, October 11, 1837. He had six chil- 
dren by the first, and three by his last wife. Mr. Whipple was in Illinois when the War 
of the Rebellion broke out, and leaving his school in charge of his wife, he enlisted as 
private in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-Seventh Illinois Infantry, Colonel Hirara 
F. Sickles. He was in the service one year and two months, At hi close he was regi- 
mental quartermaster. He was on detached duty most of the time, serving as scout in 
-Alabama and Georgia. His experience in this capacity was a varied one, and full of in- 
teresting and exciting incidents. Mrs. Whipple spent five months with her husband dur- 
ing the lime of his service. He was mustered out March 29, 1866. Afier being mustered 
out, he resumed his position as principal of Wauconda Academy, where he remained one 
year. In 1867 he returned to Pomfret for the purpo.se of taking care of his paients. 
Upon the death of his father he came into the posses.sion of the homestead, which he still 
owns ail I carries on. With the exception of a single animal, Mr. Whipple and his bro- 
ther Obed were the first to introduce the Jersey stock into Pomfret. Mr. Whipple has 
filled the ollices of selectman, overseer of the poor, lister, auditor, superintendent of 
schools, justice of the peace, and ie[iresentative in the State Legtslature. He is a mem- 
ber of the Blue Lodge A. F. and A. M., Woodstock, No. 31. He is commander of Post 
82, G. A. R. 

Rochester. 

Angell, Gideon W., was born in Stockbridge, Vt., August 4, 1831. Slickriuy, his grand- 
father, born in Rhode Island, was the first of the family who came to Vermont. He first 
settled in Bridgewater, and died in Rochester about 1840. His son Eber married, in 
Barnard, Prudy De Wolf and had eleven children as follows: Lucinda, wife of Abner B, 
Carr, died in Brandon ; Eber, married Margaret Smith, and their children were John R:, 
Jennie and Willie; Sarah, wife of Cephas Hardinir, lives in Woodstock; Olive, widow of 
Jesse M. Huntington, lives in Pomfret; Gideon W. ; .Alvin N., twice married, fir.st, Ruth 
Webster, second, Amelia Webster, have one child living, Frank C, lives in Randolph ; 
Rufus M., married, first, Harriet Feiris, second, Tamar Hutchinson, have one child, Har- 
riet, lives in Randolph; Eliphalet J., married Celestia Davis, one child, Arthur ; Eliza, 
died unmarried. Eber Angell died in Pomfret, July 1872, and Prudy, his wife, in 1840 
or 41. Gideon W. married, first, March 8, 1857, Maria C, daughter of Makepeace and 
Eunice (Emerson) Richardson, born March 27, 1836, died April 29, 1877. They had two 
children, viz.: Charley M., born December 20, 1861, married, December 25, 1886, Maud 
Washburn, and Nina M., born July 21, 1871, lives at home. Mr Angel! married, second, 
April 24, 1883, Mr.s. Harriet G. Towles, nee Johnson, born September' 3, 1836. Mr. 
Angell has lived in Rochester since he was eight years of age, and since 1865 has owned 
and carried on the farm where he now live.s, situated on the Branch. He has served 
as lister three terms and as selectman four terras. 



972 History of Windsor County. 

Beokwith, Oren L., was born in Beading, Vt., Ducember 29, 1838, was a soldier in tlie 
late war in Company E, Fourth Vermont Refriment, ami served three years. His fa- 
ther, Harris, born in Leominster, N. H., August 18, 1797, was a soldier in the War of 1812. 
He married Zilpha Beokwith, born January 8, 1800. Harris died in Hancock, August, 
1875. His wife Zilpha died November 28. 18G.3. They reared a family of eleven chil- 
dren, as follows: Arvill.a, born .January 27, 1820. married, first, Levi Kidder second, 
Samuel Harlow, lives in Rocliester; Melissa, born November 22, 1822, married first, Jo- 
seph Kidder, second Howard Piper, and died in Hancock, January, 1886; Justin, born 
September 29, 1824, married first, Mary Coleman, second Widow Bemis, and died in 
Rochester, September 1886; Lyman, born Nove;uber 21. 1826, married first, Orcelia 
Hodj^kins, second Olive Stevens, and lives in Rochester, Vt.; .John, born December 17, 
1828, married Catharine Philiater, and lives in Columbus, Wis.; Gerdin, born January 1, 
1830, was a soldier in the Twenty first Wisconsin Rej^iment, and was. killed in battle; 
Charles;, born Aufcust 23, 1832, married Julia Rumwell, was corporal in Company E, 
Fourth Vermont Regiment, and was killed at Warrenton, Md.; Eliza, born A'^gust 11, 
1834, married first, Frank Hopkins, second Samuel Somerville, and lives in Duxbury, 

Vt. ; Kneeland, born April 23, 1836, married, first, a Robins, second, , and lives in 

Larned, Kan.; Oren L.; and Maryetta, born September 30, 1841, wife of Evander Whit- 
tier, is living in Lincoln, Vt. 

Emerson, Enoch, a native of New Hampshire, came to Rochester, Vt., in early life, 
where he lived and died in 183'). He married Eunice Dana, by whom he had nine chil- 
dren, viz.: Stillman, died in Illinois; Asa, died in Rochester; Enoch, died in Rochester; 
Lyman, died in Rochester ; Ezekiel, died in Rochester ; Eunice, married, first, Alanson 
Mosher, second, Makepeace Richard.son, and died in Rochester ; Orpha, unmarried, died 
in Rochester; Achsah, married William Powers, and died at Silver Creek, N. Y. ; a son 
died in infancy. 

Emersan, Lyman, was born in Rochester in 1792. He married, first, Anna Warren, 
by whom he had three children, viz.: Lyman, Mary Ann and David. Lyman and Da- 
vid are living in Wisconsin. Mary Ann married Barna Cooper, and they botli died in 
Rochester. He married, second, Olive Warren, sister of his first wife. By this union 
there were nine children, viz.: Louisa, widow of Eaten Martin, lives in Rochester ; Eze- 
kiel, lives in Rochester; Anna, married F. D. Ely, lives in Dedham. Mass; Lucy, died 
young ; Enoch, lives in Rochester ; Jane 0., married Horatio Morrow, and they are 
missionaries in British Burmah, India ; Eunice, unmarried, lives in Rochester; Ellen, 
died in infancy ; Edna F., widow of William F. Chase, lives in West Newton, Mass. 

Emerson, Ezekiel, was born in Rochester, Vt., September 14, 1830. Enoch, his grand- 
father, was a native of New Ilamp.shire. He married Eunice Dana, and reared a fam 
ily of nine children, as follows : Stillman, died in the West ; Asa, died in Rochester ; 
Lyman, father of Ezekiel ; Ezekiel, died in Rochester; Eunice, married, first, Alanson 
Mosher, second. Makepeace Richardson; Orpha, unmarried, died in Rochester; Achsah, 
was the wife of William Powers, and died at Silver Creek, N. Y. ; Enoch, died in Roch- 
ester ; and an infant died not named. All, except Ezekiel and Orpha, married and raised 
families. Enoch died in Rochester. His widow married again and moved to Illinois, 
where she died. Ezekiel lived at home in Rochester until twenty-one years of age. In 
1853 he went to Wisconsin, where he engaged in lumbering eight years. He enlisted a 
a private in Company A, Fifth Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, May 10, 1861, and receive 
his discharge July 27, 1864. At the close of the war he returned to Rochester, where he 
has resided ever since. He owns the Emerson homestead farm situated on the '■ Branch.' ' 
He has filled the offices of constable nine years, and selectman one year. 

Hubbard. — The families of this name in Rochester are descended from three brothers 
who settled in Massachusetts. Bli.sha, a descendant of one of these brothers, was born in 
that town, and married in Putney, Vt., Tamar Moore, They had a family of sixteen chil- 
dren as follows: Abizah, Eunice, Susannah, Bli.sha, Tamar, Dolly, Abel, Otis, Arna, Peter, 
Sally, Rosalinda, Delano, Betsey, Abigail M., and George. Elisha and his wife died in 



Old Families. 973 



Rochester, and of their family tlie first thirteen children were born in Putney, Vt., the last 
three in Rochester. Abel, son of Elisha, Wii.s born February 18, 1785, and married Susan 
Thatcher. lie died February 21, 186(i. ITe had a family of twelve children, viz.: Amanda, 
Joseph, Hannah M., Sally, Howard, Samuel, Benjamin, William T., I'hilinda, Susan, 
Ohastina and Tainar. Abel became a resident of Rochester in 17U4, and lived upon the 
farm now owned and occupied by his son William T. His wife was born October 18, 
1788, and died April 23, 1882. William T., son of Abel, born in Rochester, Decembers,' 
1824, married, January G, 1853, Harriet, daughter of Thomas |B. and Harriet (Eaten) 
Martin, born in Rochester, January G, 1S2G. They have three children, Emma V., 
born October 13, 1853; Ida L., born December 15, 1855; and Enoia, born February 10, 
1859. Petei-, son of Elisha, born September 13, 1789, married, in 1820, Anna, daughter 
of Isaac Trask. They had nine children: Iva M.. Varsil M., Otis, Isaac T., Harriet A., 
Emeline C, Peter A., Clementine, Hiram F. Peter died November 1, 1853, his wife 
January 1, 18G4. Varsil M., son of Peter, born in Rochester, Vt., January 31. 1815, 
married, June 21, 1841, Susan Jane, daughter of Leonard and Mary (Steele) Taylor. 
Her father was born in Windsor, October 31, 1779, and died in Rochester. Her mother 
was born in Weathersfield, December 23, 1788. They had ten children, Mr.«. Hubbard 
being the eighth, and was born in Rochester, December 18, 1824. They liad twelve chil- 
dren, viz.: Charles L., born June 30, 1842, married Susanna Madigan, had four children, 
Florence E.., wife of Charles Barton, Henry, Susie and Josie ; Charles L., lives in Orange, 
Mass.; Mary Jane; Isaac T., Ijorn February 4, 1847, married, June 11, 1872, Arabella 
Holton, born in Middlebury, October IS, 1841, and had two children, Harry Varsil, born 
September 14, 1873, and Lewis Ives, born December 20, 1885; Isaac T., owns with his 
father the home faim and runs it; Winfield Scott, born March 24, 1849, married Rachel 
Garabell, and has one child living, Winlield Scott; Harry D. ; Frank L., born July 28, 
1853, married Delia MeCullum, has four children, Rena K., Amisa T., John E. and Rich- 
ard S., and lives in Rochester; Abbie E., born September 27, 1855, wife of Will Tupper 
of Rochester, and they have two children, Robbie W. and Helen A. ; George B., born 
March 11, 1S5S. died November 2, 1859; Varsil Fred, born June G, 1860, married Mrs. 
Eva Johnson, nee Bass, and has one child, Edna; Carrie E., Arthur W., and Katie T. 
Mr. Hubbard has resided on his present place since 1841. He has served as lister five 
terras, and selectman three terms. 

Martin, La Roy, was born in Rochester, Vt., June 13, 1860, the youngest in a family 
of four children of Mervin and Harriet (Barnes) Martin. Thomas B., his grandfather, 
married, first, a Miss Baton and had nine children, viz.: Mervin ; Thomas, a farmer living 
in Hancock, Vt.; Eaton, died in Rochester ; Oscar, a farmer living in Rochester ; Harriet, 
wife of William F. Hubbard ; Abig.ail, wife of Alonzo T. Briggs ; California, wife of Dr. 
John McDuffee; Eugene, died young; and Emroy, wife of Mr. Etz, living in Mendon. 
Mervin, his father, was born in Rochester, August 9, 1824. and died June 3, 1SG5. His 
wife, Harriet Barnes, was born in Rochester, June 20, 1826 Their four children were 
Abbie Isabel, born May 22, 1853; Clarence Eber, born September 22, 1854, a farmer 
living in Hancock; Angle Adella, born August 22, 1857, wife of Allen Jones, living m 
Randolph, Vt.; and La Roy F. Mrs. Martin resides with her son. La Roy F. The latter 
married March 25, 1884, Carrie, daughter of John and Kate (McClintock) Flanders. She 
was born February 19, 1864. Mr. Martin has always resided in Rochester, and since 
1884 on the farm which he owns and carries on. 

Morse, Calvin, was born m Stockbridge, Mass., April 6, 1774, and died March 27, 1837. 
He married first, in September, 1798, Mary Button, who was born November 10, 1773 
The children by this marriasre were Almira, died single; Melinda (deceased), married 
Charles Gary ; and Calvin, died in Royalton. He married, second, January 26, 1806, Ab- 
igail Webber, who was born September 27, 1778. The i.ssue of this marriage was Mary 
(deceased), married Lyman Mcsser; Alpha; Maria (deceased), married, first, Oscar Morse 
second Daniel Bugbee. Alph.a.sonof Calvin, was born in Rochester, April 14, 1S12, and 
married, December 19, 1836, Matilda Washburn. She was born in Rochester, Novem- 



974 History of Windsor County. 

ber 28, 1812, and died July 20, 1864. Of her eight children, two died in infancy. The 
others were Francis, died at two years of age; Edward, a member of Company 15, Sixth 
Vermont Volunteers, killed on picket dul_> ; Alanson, resides in Sac City, la.; Calvin, 
resides in Rochester; Abigail, died three years of age; and Francis, a resident of Iowa. 
Mr. Morse married, second, Mrs. Lucy I. Cheney, nee Chamberlain. 

Mosher, Francis T., was born in Rochester, October 7. 1818, tlie eldest in a family of 
four children of Alanson and Eunice (Emerson) Mo.sher. His father died in Rochester, 
November 1824, aged forty-five. His mother died in Rochester October 18G8. Their 
children were Francis T., Charles E., George C, and Harrriet. The latter two are de- 
ceased. Carles E. lives in Iowa. 

Mosher, Francis T., married, January 12, 1841, Roxa, daughter of William and Lucy 
(Chandler) Baker. Mrs. Mosher was born in Rochester July 2, 1819. They have had 
five children, viz.: Francis J., born May 10, 1842, married, first, Kate E. Brien, second, 
Jennie Holbrook, and third, Eugenie Dyer, and lives in Rochester; Diana R., born De- 
cember 29, 1848, widow of Dr. Charles W. Chaffee, lives in Chicago, and has one child, 
Francis Charles; George E., bom October 22, 1849, married, December 31, 1873, Luna 
L., daughter of Arnold and Martha (Chaffee) Huntington, she was born in Rochester, 
September 27, 1854, and they have one child living, Ella F., born October 1, 1875 ; 
George E., lives with his father, and helps carry on the home farm; Lucy M., born No- 
vember 2, 1851, wife of Alonzo C. Harlow, photographer in Moutpelier; Eunice A., born 
April 21, 1855, married Joseph W. Sault, and died May 31, 1883, m Rochester; they 
have one child, Albert C, born October 4, 1881. Mr. Mosher was one year old when his 
father moved from Rochester village and settled on the farm situated on the "Branch," 
now owned and occ\ipied by him. He has served the town as its selectman seven years, 
and overseer of the poor eleven years. In politics he is a Democrat. 

Robinson, Eleazer, came from Connecticut to Bridgewater, Vt. He was a Revolution- 
ary soldier and married Mary Backus. Their children were Nathaniel, died in Bridge- 
water; Luther, died young; Horatio, died in Bridgewater; Luther; Lucy, died single; 
and Eunice (decea,sed), married Sylvanus Pratt. Eleazer died m November, 1821. 

Robin.son, Luther, son of Eleazer, was born in Bridgewater and went to Granville to 
live in 1833, where he died October 17, 1882. He married Polly Moore, who was born 
June 30, 1792. They had four children, viz.: Luther, Mary (deceased), married Benja- 
min Cady ; Eliza, wife of Aaron Bagley, resides in Granville; and Lucy, wife of Oren 
Sabin, of Hill, N. H. 

Robinson, Luther, son of Luther, was born in Parker Gore now the town of Little 
Sherburne, Vt., December 2, 1817, and married September 27, 1S41, Marcia Briggs, who 
was born in Plymouth, Vt., May 17, 1819. They had two children, Albert N., born in 
Granville, September 4, 1843, married Mrs. Elleti Aljbott, nee Ford, and had four children, 
Alice, Eugene, Clinton and Sar;di, and resides in Rochester; Joseph 0., born in Gran- 
ville August 24, 1815, married, October 31, 18()7, Ford, and they have one child, 

Fred J., born in Rochester July 21, 1871. Mr. Robin-on since 1807 has been a resident 
cf Rochester, and in that year bought of Mr. Ralph the saw-mill situated at West Roch- 
ester. He employs eight hands and manufactures 700,000 of clapboards and 400,000 feet 
of coarse lumber. 

Wyman, Elijah, a native of Connecticut, came to Weathersfield, Vt., and married Ab- 
igail Worcester of that town. They had seven cliihiren, viz. : David, died in West Ran- 
dolph; Abigail, mariied a Mr. Evans, and dieil in Newark, N. Y. ; Frank, died young ; 
Asa, died in Granville, Vt. ; Elijah, died in Rochester, Vt ; Pliny, died at Berea, 0. ; and 
Walter, died at Rochester, Vt. 

Wyraan, Elijah, of above family, was born in Weathersfield, July 25, 1807, and mar- 
ried, November 15, 1831, Diadamia Knowllon, who was born in Weather'fteld, July 26, 
1809. They had a family of four children, viz. : Angeline. wife of Henry Lewis, of 
Springfield, Vt. ; Cyrus G. ; John ; and Lucian M., died in Washington, D. C, in 



Old Families. 975 



December, 1863, in the gervice of his country. Elijah became a resident of Rochester 
in the spring of 1832, where he died March 5, 1880. 

Wyman, Cyrus C, son of Elijah, was born in Rochester, October 5, 1835, and married 
Ellen P., daut^hter of Ezra W.asliburn. They have five children, viz.: Addie, born 
March 24, 1860, wife of Frank Fuller, of Rochester ; Fred, was born February 18, 1872; 
Lena, born March 2, 1874; Eftie, born August 23, 1876 ; and Leon, born August 16, 
1884. 

Wyman, John K., son of Elijah, was born in Rochester April 1, 1838, and married. 
May 17, 1869, Alice Nasou. Ihey have one child, Gretta, born March 4, 1870. 

ROYALTON. 

Abbott, Daniel, one of the early settlers of Pomfret, married Debora DeWolf. They 
had a f.imdy of seven children : Scott, Austin, Lorietta, Julietta, Collamer P., Ira A., 
and Edna. Collamer P. was boin in Ponifrct, and married Ervilla Hacketl. He was a 
member of Company C, Ninth Vermont Regiment. His brothers, Ira A. and Austin, 
weie also in the war. He removed to Chelsea, Vt., in 1867. His children are Casper 
P., Wilbur A., Alice L., Irwin D., JuHa B., and Arthur A. 

Abbott, Casper P., born in Pomfret, February 18, 18.58, resided in Chelsea till 1879. 
He learned the harness trade in Hanford, where he carried on the business until 1.S8G, 
when he moved to South Royalton, where he carries on his trade in connection with 
the livery business. He married, March 6, 1883, Abbie M., daughter of Melvin and 
Abbie (Brockway) Hazen. They have two children, Maud Ethel and Ralph Collamer. 

Allen, Horace P., born in Eastport, Me., November 27, 1821, was the only .son of Ja- 
son and Lucy Ann (Parkhurst) Allen. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Phineas Park- 
hurst of Lebanon, N. H. Dr. Parkhurst, when a youth, was shot at the time of the In- 
dian invasion of Royalton, but afterwards studied medicine and became one of the promi- 
nent physicians of New Hampshire. He died at the age of eighty -eight. Jason, father 
of Horace P., removed from Eastport, Me., to Lebanon, N. H., where he engaged in mer- 
cantile business and died at Hanover, N. H. Horace P. attended the Norwicii Military 
Academy, and in 1840 became a cadet at West Point, where he remained three years and 
was obliged to resign on account of ill-liealth. He then became a resident of Jamestown, 
N. Y., and removed to Royalton, Vt. He was three years cashier of the South Royalton 
Bank, and for ten years was wool buyer for Jordan, Marsh & Co., Boston. He has been 
town clerk since 1874 and lister for twenty-seven successive years. He married Susan W., 
daughter of the late Phineas Pierce. They have one son, Parkhurst P., connected with 
the publishers of the Youth's Companion, Boston, Mass. 

Bhfs, John, was born in Rehoboth, Mass., September 17. 1773, and settled in Royal- 
ton in 1796, where he died August 29, 1859. He married Rebecca Ilulchinsou. Tlieir 
chddren were Emily (deceased), married Orthneil Dunham; Calvin Parkhurst, died in 
Randolph, Vt.; Nathan, died sixteen years of age ; Charles, died three years of age ; Sa- 
rah Ann, widow of Isaac Brown, resides at Bethel, Vt.; Charles William ; Mary L. (<le- 
ceased), married Nathan Parker ; John Hutchinson, a resident of Springfield, Mass.; Re- 
becca Jane (deceased), married Ira Holt. 

Bliss, Charles Williams, son of John, born in Royalton, September 16, 1814, married 
Henrietta Whitney. They had three children, viz.: WiUis Whitney, died forty-two 
years of age ; William Henry, an attorney of Middlebury, Vt.; and Daniel W., resides 
with his father and carries on the home farm. 

Bradstreet.— The family of this name in Royalton is descended from Governor Simon 
Bradstreet, one of the early governors of Massachusetts B.ay Colony. Governor Brad- 
street was born at Horhling, Lincolnshire, England, March 1603. He married first Ann, 
daughter of Governor Thomas Dudley. John, his third son, was born at Andover, Mass., 



9/6 History op Windsor County. 



July 22, IG52, married Sarah, daughter of Rev. Wihiani B. Perkins, of Topsfield, Mass., 
where he died January 11, 1718. His eldest son, Simon, born at Topsfield, April 14, 
1082, married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Joseph Capin. His eldest son, Simon, born 
April 21, 1714, married a Miss Fhnt, and had a son Henry, who was the father of Will- 
iam Bradstreet, who was born at Topsfield, and removed to Royalton in 1829. He mar- 
ried Elizaljeth Killum. They had a family of five children : Eliza (deceased), married Squire 
Marcv ; Maria (deceased), married Dr. Nelson Gardner; George W.; Abigail, widow of a 
Mr. Ward ; and Harriet, widow of Wdliam Ray, resides in Andover, Maps. George W., 
son of William, born in Boxford, Mass., May 1, 1809, married Charlotte S. Pierce. They 
had four children, viz.: George Pierce, who for eighteen years has been clerk of the Sen- 
ate Committee on Judiciary, and resides in Washington, D. C; Jennie, died aged two 
years; Frank W., a resident of Washington, D. C; and Susan, died aged one year. 

Brooks, John, came from Alstead, N. H., and settled in Royalton, Vt , at an early day. 
He married Martha Prentice. Their children were John, Howard, Austin, Joshua, Ash- 
nath, Susan, Sophia, Martha and Austin. John died January 2.5, 1852. 

Brooks, Austin, son of John, born at Alstead, August 4, 1799, married for his first wife 
Huldah Anderson. Of their five children, one died in infancy. Austin's second wife 
was Susan Smith of West Randolph, born March 3, 1824. Tneir children are Selden S., 
Clarence W., a resident of Ogden City, Utah, and Francis D. 

Brooks, Selden S., son of Austin, horn in Royalton, November 20, 1846, married La- 
rene, daughter of Harvey and Mary (Washburn) Corbin. They have two children : Ma- 
bel E. and Sarah S. Mr. Brooks is engaged in farming, and owns and carries on the 
homestead farm. 

Brooks, Francis D., son of Austin, born in Royalton, June 10, 1850, married Eva J. 
Marsli. They have two children: Lewis Francis, born November 30, 1878, and Lora 
May, born May 7, 1884. 

Brown, Eben G., born in Augusta, Me., August 18, 1852, is the only son of Benjamin 
and Harriet Maria (Brown) Brown. Benjamin, the grandfather of Eben G., was born 
in Ei)ping, N. H., September 2, 1793, and married Mary Colcord of Kingston, N. H. 
Benjamin, Ids father, was born Novemlier 12, 1830, and died in Boston, May 23, 1884. 
Eben G. married Hattie Ella, daughter of David and Lendia (Burnhani) Allen. Her 
father was the son of Solomon Allen, who was born in Greenfield, Mass., February 22, 
1800, and married Nancy Pressy of Chelse.a, Vt., who was born October 3, 1804. Of 
their seven children, David, the eldest son, was born November 15, 1829, married Lendia, 
second daughter of Ariel and Sally (Payne) Burnham. Their children are Hattie R., born 
in Brookfield, Vt., July 18, 1853; Lendia Ardelle, born May 16, 1855, resides in Worces- 
ter, Mass.; Ariel Burnliam, born July 30, 1857, married Mary, daughter of Thomas and 
Mary Leiand, and they have one child, Alice M., and reside in Clinton, Mass. David 
Allen died March 13, 1885, his wife August 5, 1857. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Brown are Benjamin C, born in Boston September 8, 1877 ; Lendia Hermione, born 
February 13, 1882; Albert, born April 23, 1883, died May 7, 1883, and Florence May, 
born February 28, 1885. Mr. Brown removed from Canaan, N. H., and settled in Roy- 
alton in 1885. 

Carpenter, Harlin, was born in Strafford, August 3, 1841, the eldest in a family of 
three children of Selah and Rebecca TWest) Carpenter. After attending the district 
schools he was a student for three terms at the Academy of New Hampton, N. H. He 
was graduated from Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1862. He 
studied dentistry with Dr. G. D. Blanchard, of West Randolph, Vt., and has been asso- 
ciated as partner with tlie following gentlemen, Drs. J. N. Haskell, oi Woodstock, Vt., 
Charles B. Erickson, of New Britton, Conn., G. W. Frame, of Brooklyn, N, Y., George 
W. Modeman, George E. Nettleton, of New Haven, Conn., F. M. Hemingway, of Bos- 
ton, and George F. liar wood, of Worcester, Ma.ss. Dr. Carpenter opened an office in 
South Royalton, August 1, 1887, where he now carries on his profession. 



Old Families. . 977 



Corbin, Elijah, born in Thompson, Conn., in 1776, came to Royalton in 1792 where 
he died November 5, 1812. He married Orinda Childs, and raised a family of eleven 
children, viz. : Parley and Elsie, who died in Royalton; Esbon, died in New York 
State; Betsey (deceased), married William Hatch ; Erastua, died 'in Royalton- Frank- 
lin; Hiram, died in Royalton; Dolly, died siujjle ; Lucy (deceased), married Caleb Tem- 
ple; Mary (deceased), married Cbaunoy Temple; Martha, widow of John Kent, resides 
in Royalton. 

Corbin, Franklin, son of Elijah, born in Royalton, January 5, 1801, married March 12 
IS'iS, Abilena Clapp, who was born August 14, 1806. Of their nine children two died 
in infancy. The others were Lucy, wife of John Wild of Royalton ; Mary (deceased) 
married Charles E. Sawyer; Miranda, died single; Arthur, died young; Ella, wife of e! 
A. Thatcher of Royalton; Arthur, died .seventeen years of age; Elba A., born in Royal- 
ton, married Emma, daughter of Dr, James E. Morse of Hartford, Vt., and resides on 
the farm settled by his grandfather. He has no children. 

.Cowdery, Nathaniel, was born November 20, 1G99, and married Mehitable Damon. 
Their son, Jabez, born in Montague, May 29, 1741, married Ruth Wickham. who was 
born in (Jlastonbury, Conn., November 27, 1742. They had eleven children. Elihu, their 
youngest son, was born in Sandersfield, Conn., May 20, 1782. He was a physician, and 
m 1798 came to Tiinbridge, Vt. He married Hannah Fifield, who was born in Unity, 
N. H , September 6, 1788. Their children were David W.; Chloe, widow of Sewall God- 
frey, resides in Tunbridge; Fitch, died aged twenty-six; Ruth, died aged nineteen; 
Adelia A., married, first, Rev. Lyman Wing, second, Sylvanus Newell; Xlary, married 
Samuel Turner; and George. Elihu died September 16, 18.o4. David Wickham, son of 
Elihu, was born in Tunbridge, Vt., May 26, 1811. His first wife was Clarissa Tarbell, 
by whom he had eight children: Ruth, widow of Wallace Foster, engaged in teaching in 
Kansas; Bet.sey Ann. wife of James G.Bingham of Royalton; Mary Ellen, wife of 
Thomas Johnson of Salem, Mass.; .John W., resides at Saratoga Springs. N. Y.; Clara, 
widow of David Bosworth, and lives in Royalton ; Maria P., wife of William G. Davis, 
of Glens Falls, N. Y.; Fred D. and Frank D. Mr. Cowdery has been a resident of Roy- 
alton since 1855. 

Day. — This name is of Welch origin, derived from the river Dee in Wales. Robert 
Day, the American ancestor, was born in 1604 and came to Cambridge, Mass,, in 1634. 

He was twice married, being accompanied on his voyage by his first wife, Mary . 

His second wife was Edith Stebbins. He died in Hartford, Conn., in 1618. Of his four 
children, John is the common ance.stor of the Hartford branch. He married Sarah May- 
nard and proliably died in 1730. Of his family of eight children, John, the second son, 
was born in 1677. He resided at Colchester, Conn., and was twice married. He had 
eleven children. His .son, Benjamin, was born in Colchester, Conn,, February 7, 1704, 
He married Margaret Foote and died December 22, 1777. Of his family of thirteen chil- 
dren Benjamin, the eldest son, was born in Colchester, September 13, 1731, and removed 
from Hebron, Conn., to Royalton in 1774. He married for his first wife Abigail, daugh- 
ter of Samuel Day of Colchester. Their children were Samuel, Benjamin, Mary, Asa 
and Solomon. His second wife was a widow, Mrs. Eunice Young, by whom he had chil- 
dren as follows: Standish, Ralph, Alfred, Sylvester, Ebenezer.and^ |ra. 

Denison, Dr. Joseph A., of Royalton, was born at Stougliton, Conn,, December 22, 
1774. and was the eldest son of James Denison, who became one of the early settlers of 
Harllaud, Vt. Dr. Joseph A. became a resident of Bethel, Vt., in 1797. He studied 
medicine with Dr. Gallup. He practiced his profession in that town till 181.5, when he 
removed to Royalton, where he died September 5, 1855. He married Rachel Chase. Of 
their family of nine children, three died in childhood. The six who reached adult age 
were Jo-sep'h A.; George, an Episcopal minister, died at Keokuk, la.; James, an attorney, 
died at San Antonio, Tex.; Alice (deceased), married David W. Grant; Rachel C, re- 
sides in Royalton; and Dudley C. Joseph A,, the eldest son of Dr, Joseph A,, was horn 
in Bethel, Vt, He studied medicine with his father, attended lectures at the Medical 



978 • History of Windsor CountV. 

School at Woodstock, Vt., took a classical course at the University of Vermont, and a 

course of lectures at the Medical Department of Yale College. He spent all of his pro- 
fessional life in Royalton, where he died. He married Eliza Skinner. Of their family of 
twelve children, seven are living. 

Button, Amasa, son of Araasa, was born in Clarendon, Vt., in 1783. At the age of 
six he came to Royalton with his father. He married for his first wife Tamison Ash- 
croft, by whom he had children as follows: Harry, died young; Carlo.s, died in Roches- 
ter, N. Y,; Caroline, the widow of Dr. James Woodworth, resides in Bethel, Vt.; Carl 
ton, died in BufTalo, N. Y.; and Harry died in Rochester, N. Y. Ilis second wife, Altha 
Louisa Hazen, was born September li, 180.5. Their children were Altha Louisa (de- 
ceased), married Joseph N. Kinney; Amasa Parmelee, a resident of Craftsl.iury, Vt.; Da- 
vid Hazen ; Tamison Ashcroft, wife of Samuel Mcintosh ; EInora Maria, died seven years 
of age; Sarah Parmelee, wife of Rodolpluis D. Kinney; and Francis Edward, a resident 
of Barton, Vt. Amasa died April I, 1863. 

Dutton, David Hazen, son of Amasa, born in Royalton, January 12, 1822, married Har- 
riet D. Walbridge of Randolph, and they have two children, Henry Walbridge, born in 
Royalton April 6. 1847, married Laura Anna Chapin, and has two children, Altha Lula 
ami Laura Annie; and Abigail Caroline, wife of Charles H. Kidder of Bethel. 

Ellis, Moses, was born in Walpole, N. 11., and married Catharine Boyden, by whom 
he had five children, none of whom are living. He settled in East Barnard about 1785, 
where he died in 1830. 

pjllis, Enoch, son of Moses, was born in Barnard, June 30, ISOi. He became a resident 
of Royalton in the spring of 1842 and married, first, Eliza Smith, by whom he had two 
children: Moses, a resident of Keene, N. II., and Martha, died thirty years of age. His 
second wife was Marcia Spaulding, by whom he had four children : Marcus, George, Al- 
bert and Abbie. Enoch died June 27, 187'.). 

Ellis, George, son of Enoch, born in Royalton, December 4, 1847, married Florence 
Spaulding. They have three children: Oliver J , Jesse A. and Clifford E. Mr. Ellis was 
a member of the House of Representatives in 1884, and is one of the present board of se- 
lectmen. 

Fay, Willard E., tlie youngest of three children, was born in Williamstown, Vt., De- 
ci-inber 8, 1861. Gardner Fay, his father, who was a son of Henr_y, who is still living 
ill Calais, Vt., enlisted as a private in the last war, and was killed at Orange Grove. His 
mother, Matilda Saucry, married for her second husband Edson Allen. He had two 
br. ithers, Allen Gardner, attorney- at-law, lives in Montpelier, and Frank Irvin, jeweler, 
resides at Orange, Mass. Willard E. was si.x months old when his father enlisted, and 
he lived with his grandmother, Mrs. Saucry, in Williamstown till he was seven years 
of age, then with Norman G. Davis until he was fourteen, then went to learn the black- 
smith trade of James Parmenter of Brooklield. He worked at his trade the three years 
following with Albert Martin of Williamstown. In 1884 he finally settled in Royalton, 
where he carried on his trade. 

tjotf, Oliver, a native of Rehoboth, Mass., first settled on the farm now owned by Ed 
win Allen in Pomtret. He had ten children : Noah, died m Royalton ; Frederick, died 
inPomfret; Bliss, resides in Woodstock; Oliver, died in Pomfret, aged ninety-two; 
Luther, died in Sharon, aged ninety ; Calvin ; Thankful (deceased), married Martin Boy- 
den ; Olive (deceased), married Chester Perrin; Hannah (deceased), married Luther 
Boyden ; and Nancy (deceased), married Samuel Boweii. Calvin, son of Oliver, was 
born in Pomfret, and married Lavinia Bugbee. Their children were Phineas, Emily H., 
widow of Benjamin Day ; Lucinda, William S. and Harry B. (twins). Phineas, son of 
Calvin, was born in Royalton, February 25, 1809, married Aurilla Spaulding. They had 
two children : Calvin Phineas, born in Royalton, November 30, 1834, married Mary Aus- 
tin, and they have one child, Abby ; and Amanda, died aged twenty-four. Phineas died 
January 15, 1880. Harry B., son of Colvin, was born in Royalton, May 23, 1818, mar- 



Old Families. 979 



lied June 2, 1837, Lucy F. Follett of Pomfret, who died January 22, 1877. His second 
wife was Laura A., widow of Elislia G. Shurtliff and daugliter of Lewis and Olive Bur- 
rows. Mr. GofF lias adopted two children, viz.: Charles F., living at Barnard, and Hat- 
tie M., who married Warren F. Wheeler, and died at Stoneliam, Mass. 

Jlickey, Dennis, was born in County Limericlc, Ireland, in 1832. His father died 
when he was twelve years of age. His mother, with seven of her nine children, emi- 
grated to America in 1849. Dennis and a sister came a year later, landing in New York 
the 2d of September, 1850. Mr. Hickey was taken sick with ship fever and after re- 
maining a few months in the hospital at Staten Island, joined his mother at Port Henry, 
N. Y. In the spring of 1851 he came to Bridport, Vt., and was engaged in farming in 
that town and Cornwall till 1861. In September of that year he enlisted in Company F, 
Fifth Vermont Regiment. He was discharged on account of disability April, 18G2. Re- 
turning to Cornwall, he afterwards became a resident of New Haven, Vt., and removed 
to Royalton in the spring of 1874. He married, September 9, 1866, Harriet Alexander, 
and has a family of four children : Edward D., George S., Maggie L. and Florence M. 

Howard, Philip, a native of Bridgewater, Mass., born in 1770, came to Royalton in 
1794, married Rebecca Wilber for his first wife, and had nine children. Caroline Ste- 
vens was his second wife, and they had two children. His family located in the West, 
except Elisha, child of the first wife, and Charles, child of the second wife. Charles 
lives in Bethel, Vt. Philip died at his son Bli.sha's home in 1860, aged ninety years. 

Howard, Elisha, son of Philip, was born in Royalton, July 22, 1806, and died June 24, 
1886. He married Polly Davis, by whom he had eleven children. She was born in 
Pittsfield, Vt., March 14, 1808, and died at Royalton, Aprd 26, 1888. Their children 
were Almira W., born April 3, 1833, married Humphrey Cheney of Colton, N. Y., where 
they now live; John Benjamin, born May 7, 1836, died at Salem, Oregon, in 1887; 
Mary Elizabeth, born October 22, 1834, married Harvey Ainsworth, and lives in Delton, 
Wis. ; Amanda Melvina, born March 8, 1838, died at her father's home May 10, 1869 ; 
Thomas Benton, born November 22, 1839, died at Alexandria, July 3, 1861, a true sol- 
dier of the Union; Silas Wright; Philip Newton, born November 15, 1843, was color- 
bearer of the 16th Reg. Vt. Vols., and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 
1863 ; David Wheelock, born December 31, 1845, married Lizzie Evans of Furgus Falls, 
Minn., and they live in Star, Dakota; Sarah Francelia, born January 18, 1847. married 
Chester Clark, of Royalton, and died June 27, 1884 ; Frank William, born Oct'-ber 9, 
1851, married Clara McPherson of Furgus Falls, Minn., where he lives; Aldula H,, born 
September 25, 1854, married M. K. Tucker, of Pittsfield, Vt. 

Howard, Silas W., the sixth child of Elisha and Polly Howard, and Iho only one of 
their family who-se residence is Royalton, is a farmer and lives on a farm adjoining the 
one on which his grandfather settled, and where the family have lived for the last thirty- 
five yeans. He was a soldier in the Rebellion. He w.os mustered into Company E, 2d 
U. S. Sharpshooters, November 27, 1861, and was discharged in 1862. While in the 
service he was severely wounded, having received .seventeen wounds at the battle of 
Antietara. He married Dorah Rand, daughter of Reuben and Harriet Rand of Barnard. 
They have seven children, Frank B., Edith M., Erva A., Willie D., Arthur H., Lucinda 
and Florence. 

Jones, Joseph R., M.D., was born in Livonia, N. Y., June 12, 181.5, the youngest son 
of Abiel and Rebecca (Rix) Jones. His father was a physician and a Presbyterian min- 
ister, and went as a home missionary to Ohio, returning to Royalton in 1825, where he 
died. Dr. Jones was a student in the Royalton Academy, took a course of lectures at 
the Medical College, Woodstock, and was graduated from Dartmouth College. He stud- 
ied medicine with Dr. Charles B. Chandler of Tunbridge, also with his brother. Dr. 
Daniel Jones of Ludlow. He commenced the practice of his profession at East Barnard, 
but after two years lie was obliged to move West on account of ill-health. Locating at 
Princeton, 111., he practiced there five or six years, when he removed to La Moille, 111., 
where he continued in his profession until his death, December 22, 1882. Dr. Jones was 



gSo History of Windsor County. 

a member of the Illinois State and Bureau County Medical Societies. He married Susan 
Hutchinson of Tunbridge, who returned to South Royalton in the spring of 1883, where 
she now resides. He had no children. 

Lamb, Hon. Charles M., of Royalton, was born in Randolph, Yt., April G, 1803, and is 
the youngest son of Joseph and Dorcas (Marcy) Lamb. He received his education in the 
district schools, and by attendance one term each in Randolph and Claremont Academies. 
Mr. Lanb became a member of the Orange County Bar in 1850, and commenced the 
practice of his profession at Tunbridge, Vt. In December, 1852. he moved to South Roy- 
alton, at which time he became a member of the Windsor County Bar. He continued 
his practice alone till 1870, when he entered into a partnership with Arthur Culver, which 
continued until Mr. Culver's death. He associated himself with Charles P. Tarbell in 
April, 1873, which partnership still exists under the tirin name of Lamb & Tarbell. Mr. 
Lamb is the eldest man in the practice of his profession m the State. He married Louisa 
Hutchinson and had a family of four children : Amos H.; Emily, wife of Henry H. Kins- 
man of Hartford, Conn.; Hellen (deceased), married Joseph Stannard of Cleveland, 0.; 
and Susan. 

Pierce, Nathaniel, married Priseilla Shepard and had children as follows: Lucy, mar- 
ried Dr. Phineas Parkhurst of Lebanon, N. H.; Wdliard, Betsey and Isaac. The latter 
married Polly Smith, who was a sister of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Apostle, who was 
a native of Royalton ; also Bester, who lived and died in Potsdam, N. Y., and Priseilla, 
who married a Mr. Howe. 

Pierce, Willard, son of Nathaniel, born in Connecticut in 1761, married, July 22, 1784, 
Susan Waldo of Pomfret, Connecticut. Soon after his marriage he removed to Royal- 
ton. He had a family of eight children, viz.: Betsey, died young; Phineas; Albigence, 
died in Royalton ; John D., died in Strafford, Vt.; Lucy (deceased), married a Mr. Her- 
rick of New London, N. H. ; Betsey (deceased), married, first, a Mr. Greenough, second, 
Joseph L.Dewey; Priseilla (deceased), married Dr. Thomas Wnipple of New Hamp- 
shire; and Daniel W., died in Sharon, Vt. Willard died in Royalton in 1828. 

Pierce, Phineas, the son of Willard, born in Royalton, July 13, 1787, married, Septem- 
ber 30, 1813, Charlotte Stone Parkhurst. They had eight children : Charlotte Stone 
(deceased), married George Bradstreet; Susan Waldo, wife of Horace P. Allen of Roy- 
alton; Phineas Dana, married Eleanor D. Kibbe; Martha Parkhurst (deceased), married 
David Bryant Co.x ; Priseilla Whipple, widow of Sdas H. Clark; John Henry, died 
young; Frances Carohne ; and Ellen Augusta. Phineas died November 15, 1875. 

Richards, Samuel H., was born in Middlebury, Vt., April 16, 1856, the eldest son of 
Samuel H. and Phebe Richards. He has been a resident of Royalton since 1884, and is 
section boss on the Vermont Central Railroad, also engaged in farming. He married 
Melinda Pecor and has a family of five children, viz'.: Erva A., Ella May, Hattie M., 
Maud Edna and Samuel U. 

Shepard. — Among the early settlers of Sharon was Moses Shepard, who was a native 
of Connecticut, and was born in 1753. He died February, 1828. He had four children: 
Thomas, Isaac, Polly and Sarah. Isaac, second son of the above, married Esther Hitch- 
cock, and their children were Constant, who resides in Worcester, Mass.; Isaac Steph- 
ens; Mary (deceased), married Horace Gould ; Ruth (deceased), married John Waldo; 
John, died about thirty-three years of age; Pliny, died in Minnesota; and Ann (de- 
ceased), married Alvin Fellows. Isaac Stephen, born in Sharon, Vt., June 14, 1802, 
married December 7, 1827, Lucy Wheat, who was born in Pittsfield, Vt . November 4, 
1803. They had four children ; George, died in Wisconsin in 1862 ; Mary Jane (de- 
ceased), married Rev. RoUin Fay, a Congregational minister ; John F.; and Esther Ann, 
wife of James Ruldle of Royalton. Isaac S. died August 2i, 1883. John F., son of 
Isaac S., born in Sharon, September 4, 1835, married Mary Button. They have five 
children : Charles F., resides at Barre, Vt.; Lucy A., wife of Arthur Fowler of Royalton ; 
George S., lives in Pawtucket, R. I.; John C; and Fred J. John F. has been a resident 
of Royalton since 1846, and is engaged in lumbering and farming. 



Old Families. gSi 



Skinner, Edmund R., born February 22, 1827, married Rebecca Damon. They have 
three children : Betsey, wife of Alpheus Bachelder of Plainfield, Vt. ; Anson P.; and Ruth, 
wife of Henry Smith of Strafford, Vt. He removed from Plainfield to Boyalton in 1853,' 
and in 1882 became a resident of Tunbridge, where he now resides. 

Skinner, Anson P., was born in Mar.shfield, Vt., March 5, 1845. He commenced the 
meat and grocery business in South Royalton in 1872, and having been burned out in 
August 1886, united in building the fine block in which he now carries on business. He 
married Helen French and has three children : Leon A., Edith and Archie. 

Slack, John A., married Harriet Little and had six children, Charles W.; Samuel L.; 
Fred J., resides in Manchester, N. H. ; Lewis P., lives in Washington; Hattie L., wife 
of W. B. Smith of Lake Village, N. H.; and Louisa S., wife of William A. Woodworth 
of South Royalton. Samuel L. was born in Norwich, November 18, 1851, and married, 
Octoher 2, 1869, Ade J., daughter of L-a and Elvira Batchelder. She was born in Plain- 
field, Vt., April 9, 1853. They have three children: Hattie E., born September 11, 
1873; Wallace W., born December 3, 1876; Harry J., born December 11, 1880. Mr. 
Slack removed to California in 1871, and returned to Vermont in 1888, locating in Roy- 
alton. 

Slack, Royal, was born in Windsor, Vt., 1786, and died in 1849. He married Sally 
Wilcox and of their eleven children, eight died in infancy, the other three were Harriet, 
died single ; Joel P., died in Northfield, Vt., and John W., born in Norwich, Vt. Decem- 
ber 4, 1821, became a resident of Royalton in 1856. He married Eunice Houston of 
Northfield, Vt., who died March 15, 1889. Their family con,<iisted of three children: 
George M., a resident of Royalton ; Ileman B.. married Mary Taylor, they have one 
child, G-eorge, resides at Proctor, Vt.; and Mary Ella, wife of Carter R. Rogers of Proc- 
tor, Vt. 

Southgate, Thomas, was one of three brothers who settled at an early day in Bridge- 
water. He had three children: Mary (deceased), married Alonzo Davis; Franklin, lives 
in Colorado; and Thomas. The latter was born in Bridgewater, June 17,jl795, and mar- 
ried Dulcina Marsh, who was born December 26, 1798. Thomas died August 2, 1839, 
and his widow married Samuel Harwood of Holley, N. Y., where she died September 5, 
1881. Thomas Southgate was a merchant in Bridgewater, also postmaster and town 
clerk. He had children as follows : Julia Adelme, wife of Robert Johnson of East Ken- 
dall, N. Y.; Charles Carroll ; Volney Marsh, lives in Rockford, 111.; and John Murray, also 
living in Rockford. 

Southgate, Charles Carroll, was born in Bridgewater, October 24, 1831. He married 
Eleanor, daughter of Caleb and Millie (Densmore) Livingstone. She was born in West- 
moreland, N. H., November 24, 1829. They had four children: Florence, born Octo- 
ber 14, 1854, married George B. Piersons of Montpelier; Charles Thomas, born Febru- 
ary 1, 1857, married Cora Diamond, thev have one child, Ray Edward; Hattie, born 
November 24, 1858, died August 18, 1863'; and Helen Frances, born April 4, 186], is the 
present postmaster of South Royalton. Mr. Southgate moved from Bridgewater to 
Woodstock in 1847 and learned the tailor's trade, and in 1852 located in business at South 
Royalton. 

Stearns, David Clark, was born in Windham, Windham county, Vt., December 28, 
1835, the second in a family of six children of James and Achsah (Burnap) Stearns. 
James Stearns, his grandfather, came from Worcester, Mass., and settled in Wmdham in 
the latter part of the last century. He married Sarah Chase and had a family of six 
children. David Clark was married in Lowell, Mass., to Sarah J., daughter of Sullivan 
and Laura (Sherwin) Fay, who died February 24, 1866. He married, second, Ellen 
Frances, daughter of Harvey and Laura (Smith) Lee, who was born in Peacham, Vt., 
April 3, 1844. She was eleven years a teacher, five years preceptress of Chester Acad- 
emy and two years principal of Royalton Academy. Mr. and Mrs. Stearns have bad 
but one child, Ellen Lee, born in Windham, April 24, 1870, died in Royalton, March 17, 



982 History of Windsor County. 

1888. Mr. Stearns moved from Windham to Royalton, where he first settled upon a farm. 
In 1884 he bocaine owner and proprietor of the Cascadnac House, Indian name for 
White River, which position he still occupies. 

Thurston, Geoige, son of Edward, came with his father frurn neerCield, Mass., when a 
child, and settled in Norwich, Vt. He married Melinda Dean, and dii-d in Sharon, 
April 20, 1866. His wife died in Barnard, March, 1881. They had eight children: one 
dieil in infancy; Henry, killed by an accident in Braintree, Vt.; James, died in Sharon; 
George U., born in Hartford, January 18, 1840, enlisted August 10, 1862, m Company K, 
Si.Kteenth Vermont Regiment, mustered out July 10, 1863, re-enlisted the same year in 
Company I, Ninth Vermont Regiment, was mustered out in June 1865, and married 
Martha Longee of Washington, Vt , and had four children: Delia, Franklin H., Bertha, 
and Louisa, is a farmer and resides in Sharon ; Harrison H., farmer residing in Sharon ; 
Mary Jane, wife of Henry George, of Sharon ; Wilbur N., born in Sharon, February 11, 
1847, enlisted as a private in Company G, Ninth Vermont, June, 1802, was translerrecl 
in the fall of that year to the Seventeenth U. S. Infantry, was taken prisoner at Har- 
per's Ferry September 15, 1822, was paroled the next day, and was hnally discharged 
from the service on account of wounds, November. 1864, and married first Celia Starks, 
by whom he has two living children, Melinda M. and Henry W., and married, second, Ab- 
bie G., daughter of James and Rebecca Williams, is a carpenter by trade, but is at present 
engaged in farming in Royalton; Andrew, died in Braintree, Vt; and Alice B. (deceased), 
married William Harlow. 

Tolles, David, the son of Benjamin, was born in Weathcrsfield, Vt., September 10, 1816. 
He moved from his native town to Bethel, Vt , February, 1843, and became a resident of 
Rovalton, March, 1855. He married Parthenia DarttoE Weathersfield. The issue of this 
marriage was two children, viz.: Almond D.. who was born in Bethel, March 19, 1846, 
and married Harriet R. Bugbee of Bethel. He resides in Great Falls, N. H., and has two 
children, Benjamin D. and Edna P., and Edna P., died single. David married, second, 
Mrs. Jane Arnold, nee Wellin^iton. 

Waterman, Robert Smith, was born in Portsmouth, N. H., April 24, 1832, the f.fth in 
^ family of ten children of Benjamin Franklin and Lucy (Goelet) Waterman. His great- 
j.randfather's name was Abraham, a native of Rhode Island, who came at an early date to 
Jloyalton. His son, Gideon, married Mary Lee. and rai.sed a large family. Benjamin F. 
moved to Crown Point, N. Y., in 1842, where he died. Robert Smith Waterman was a 
p.ivate in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Infantry Regiment. N. Y. He enlisted 
.\ugust, 1862, and received his discharge June 13, 1805. He lost his eyesight by a sun- 
st oke while in the army, and receives a pension on that account. He married Marcia, 
da ighter of James A. and Mehitable (Chapman) Reynolds. They have six children, 
\i/..- John E., James F., William R., Charles F., George A,, and Mabel A. Mr. Water- 
man moved from Crown Point and settled in Royalton in 1880. 

West, Caleb, came from Connecticut to Norwich in 1785. His wife was Ruth Ben- 
ton. Their children were Ruth (deceased), married Roger Lyman ; Pamelia, died sin- 
gle; Darius; Aaron, died in Pennsylvania; Hannah, died single; Irenia (deceased), mar- 
ried David Button; Caleb, died a young man ; and Josiah. Darius, son of Caleb, was 
born in Connecticut, January 31, 1782, married Sarah Ila/.en. They had eight children, 
one of whom died in infancy. The others were Moses H., a resident of Norwich, Vt.; 
George and Sarah, both died young; George, resides in Royalton; Caleb, died in Nor- 
wich; Sarah, died young; and Charles. Darius died June, 1840. Charles, .son of Darius, 
was born in Norwich, August 13. 1826, married Dorcas E. Dutton. They had six chil- 
dren : Ellen E.; Lucy S., wife of Frederick D. Freeman of Sharon, Vt.; Mary D., wife of 
Frank S. Ainsworth of Brookfield, Vt.; Ada E., died aged twenty-four; Laura, died 
aged sixteen ; and Elizabeth A., died aged eighteen. Mr. West became a resident of Roy- 
alton in the spring of 1807, has been seleettrian and wa-! a member of the Legislature in 
1880, 



Old FAMlLtEJi. ggj 



Springfield. 

Arms, Selah Root, was bora at Deerfield, Mass., Febiuary 21, 1789, and received hie 
education at Williams College, and afterwards took a course at the Andover Theolofiical 
College, and was ordained in 1822 at Cavendish, Vt. He was fir.st .settled June 5, 1825, 
over the Congregational Church at Grafton, Vt., and was dismissed Oc'tober 30, 1831. 
His next charge was at Livingstonville, N. Y., and on January 25, 1835, removed to 
Windham, which pulpit he filled till 1849, when he came to Springfield, and purcluased a 
farm on which his son, Henry M., now resides. From this time until his death, Novem- 
ber 7, 18G7, he never had any charge and simply preached as supply. He married Eliza 
Ames of Chicopee, Mass., and had eleven children, viz : William ; Maria, single, resides 
at Springfield ; Eliza, wife of John Mosely, of Springfield, Mass.; George, a resident of 
New York city; Fannie, wife of Daniel Goddard, of Springfield; Emily, died young; 
Emily Maxwell, died at the age of 27 years ; Nathan P., died at the age of 22 years ; 
Ebenezer Burgess, a member of Company A, Third Vermont Regiment, died in the army 
in 18G2 ; Henry M.; Ellen, died single, was a teacher at Hilo, Sandwich Islands. 

Arms, Henry M., son of Selah R., was born in Windham, Vt., August 17, 1840, lived 
in Springfield till 1871, when for the next ten years he was engaged in stock raising in 
New Mexico, since when he has resided in Springfield. He married Sarah Jane, daugh- 
ter of Hon. Henry Clo.sson, and has three children, viz.: Jessie, Burdette Loomis, and 
George Eben. 

Allen, Jonathan, was born in Middletown, Conn., January 10, 1782, and was the .son 
of Ebenezer Allen. He came from his native town to Springfield, May 24, 1810, and lo- 
cated on the farm now occupied by his .son Dennis B. He married Abigail Birdsey, who 
died August 23, 1855, and had four children : Lucy M., died single; Dennis B.; Emily, 
resides in Springfield; and Walter J., a resident of Corning, Iowa. Jonathan died 
July 23, 1834. 

Allen, Dennis B., son of Jonathan, was born in Springfield, April 26, 1814, and mar- 
ried Fannie Divoll, of Weathersfield, who died August 28, 1867. They had one son, 
Walter B., born September 13, 1858, and married Alice E. Martin. Their children are 
Vivian Josie, died in infancy ; Claude M., born January 6, 1887 ; and Harry D., born 
August 28, 1888. 

Barney, Franklin, was born in Shrewsbury, Vt., October 22, 1 829, being the fourth son 
of Jeffrey A. and Harriet (Ewing) Barney. He received only a common school educa- 
tion and his father being engaged in farming, he passed his life till he was twenty years 
of age on a farm. He then began working in granite quarries in getting out granite 
abutments and piers for railroad bridges. In the fall of 1850 he apprenticed himself to 
Oriu Taylor, of Clarendon Springs, Vt. He learned the trade of marble worker and be- 
gan working at the business in 1851 for Chester Dunkley, of Claremont, N. H. He then 
came to Springfield, returning to Claremont, where from 1856 to 1861 he worked for 
different marble manufacturers. He married Nancy A. Roger.% of Springfield, Vt., and 
has five children, viz.: Jeffrey Rolla, eng.aged in the shoddy business at Claremont. 
N. H.; Franklin, jr., engaged in business with his father; Lund Rogers, Mary Louisa, and 
Jennie Tower. Mr. Barney came from a long-lived family, his parents both reaching an 
advanced age. Of their ten children, eight are now living. The others were over forty- 
five years of age at their death. 

Cobb, William H., was born in Randolph, Vt, July 14, 1834. He was engaged in farm- 
ing until he was twenty-one years of age, and passed the three succeeding years in Ill- 
inois. Returning east,'he located at Ascutneyville, Vt., and was for two and a half years 
engaged in mercantile business at that point. Removing to Springfield at this time he 
formed a partnership with Justus Darlt and H. C. Dean and carried on a geTieral store in 
what IS now the Brown block, then situated on the other side of the street. The fiim name 



9§4 History of Windsor CounTV. 



was Cobb, DaiU & Co. Six months later Mr. Dean's interest was purchased by the other 
members. Then Mr. Dartt sold out to George P. Haywood, and the business was re- 
moved to the Randall block when that structure was finished. Mr. Haywood's interest 
was afterwards bought by Granville S. Derby and the firm became Cobb & Derby, which 
continued until they sold to Charles A. Leland & Co., in the spring of 1882. Mr. Cobb 
married Ellen M. Diggins, of VVeaihersfield, and has had three children, viz. : Haltie E., 
Horace M., died at the age of five years, and William F. 

Dana, Thomas, eldest son of Thomas and Hannah Dana, was born in Roxbury, Mass., 
May 18, 1779, and died at Springfield, September 2, 1852. He married Betsey Davis 
and had the following family, viz.: Thomas, died at .seventeen years of age; John, died 
young ; William, died in Charlestown, N. H.; Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Dana, lives 
in Boston, Ma.ss.; Benjamin Franklin ; and Hannah Wilson, widow of Wairen W. Brooks, 
reside in Somerville, Mass. He became a resident of Springfield in 1799. 

Dana, Benjannn Franklin, son of Thomas, was born in Springfield, Vt., September 5, 
181-1, and married .Jane E. Wilson. Of their children, two died in childhood. Mr Dana 
became connected with Jonathan Chase in 1836 in the mercantile business, remaining 
with him till 1839, when he became a mendier of the firm of Porter & Dana, and was 
engaged in the sale of merchandise till 1871. He was also interested m woolen manu- 
factures at Springfield and Brattleboro, Vt, and Alste.ad, N. H. He retired from active 
business in 1870. 

Derby, Granville S., was born at Nelson, N. H., August 19, 1832, and was the only child 
in a family of eight that lived to maturity. His parent's names were Samuel and Lucre- 
tia (Farwell) Derby. His father was born at Lincoln, Mass., in 1790, and came to Spring- 
field m 1840, where he died in September, 1873. Granville passed his early life on a 
farm and for two years engaged in business at Quincy Market, in Boston. He then went 
west, but returned at the beginning of the war and joined the Sixteenth Vermont Regi- 
ment. He afterwards returned to Springfield and engaged in farming until 1877, when 
he became a member of the above firm. He married Mary B. Houghton and has three 
children : Wallace G., Roger S., and Richard H. 

Gould, Philetus W., was born at Northbridge, Mass., May 21, 1834, and his father be- 
mg boss mechanic at Edward Harris's mills at Woonsocket, R. I., he learned the machinist 
trade at tho.se works. He had been engaged at various times at woolen-mills in diflferent 
parts of the country before coming to Springfield. He married Clara A. Adams; has 
two children, Emma J., wife of John K. Ford, of Springfield, and Estella. 

Haskins, Eli, was born in Bolton, Conn., and came to Springfield in 1792, locating on 
tlie farm now owned by his son, Coleman A. He carried on a tannery on this farm for 
a number of years. He married Submit Sanders, and they had these children, viz.: Sub- 
mit (deceased), married Enos Bemis; Lusha, widow of David Dickerson, resides in 
Weathersfield, Vt.; Abigail (deceased), married Benjamin Walker; Mary, wife of Ashael 
Smith, r(^sidcs in Iowa; Calvin J, hves in Springfield; William, a bachelor, died in 
Springfield ; Colernan A., single, lives in Springfield ; Electa, single, lives in Springfield; 
John, resides in Chicago, III.; Eli, died in 1865. 

Knight, Nahum, son of Laban, was born in Springfield, Vt., June 7, 1805, and married 
Sarah Williams. Their nine children were Lucia Ann, died at the age of nine years ; 
William M., resides in Springfield; Lucius E., resides in Alleghany county, N. Y. ; Mar- 
vin, died at the age of nineteen years; George, died at ten years of age ; Pliny, resides 
at Plymouth, Vt. ; Harrison, died at twelve years of age ; Henry, died at the age of ten 
years ; and Horace M., born in Baltimore, Vt., December 24. 1858, engaged in business 
at North Springfield. Nahum became a resident of Baltimore in 1841, and died there 
August 21, 1858. 

Lewi.s, Benjamin, was born in Sterling, Mass., July 24, 1789, and came to Springfield 
about 1810. He married Barbara G. Stim.son, and had seven children, viz: George E.; 
Benjamin A., resides in Clareinont, N. H. ; Joseph S., died in Springfield and left no chil- 



/ 



Oi,D Families. gss 



dren; Martha A., widow of Edward Davis, resides in Springfield; Barbara Elizabeth 
(deceased), married Samuel 0. Walker; John Thomas, died at sea- and William A 
Benjamin died April 20, 1877. 

Lewis, George E., son of Benjamin, born in Springfield, Vt., July 13 1814 married 
Mary Kedfield, of Springfield, and had two cliildren : Henry E., resides 'in Springfield ■ 
and John T., died at Boulder, Col, was a member of the Ninth and Si.xteenth Vermont 
Regiments. George E. was ordained to preach in 1850 and has traveled over a greater 
part of the Middle and New England States supplying pulpits of the Iteformed Metho- 
dist churches. 

Martin, Micajah, M. D., of Springfield, was born in Dublin, N. H., Septembei 1 1814 
and IS the fourth son of Micajah and Polly (Wakefield) Martin. After attending acad- 
emy and college at Jersey City, N. J., he began the practice of medicine in 1843 at Lon- 
donderry, Vt., remaining there si.x: years. He then removed to Grafton, Vt., where he 
.staid until 1851, when he came to North Springfield, where he has since practiced his 
profession. He belongs to the eclectic school. His first wife was Lydia Spaulding and 
tlieir one child is Nettie Spaulding. His second wife was Marietta Lockwood and'their 
two children are Loren E. and Fred W., botli residents of Springfield. 

Porter family, the, are descended from John Porter, who was born in Dorset, England, 
in 1596 and became a resident of Hingham, (Danvers) Mass., in 1635. His son Joseph 
was baptized in Hingham, September 9, 1638, and he had a son William, called 'Uhe 
Deacon," who was born August 30. 1074, and lived at Topsfield, Mass., afterwards at 
Norton, Ma,ss., and died in Braintree, Ma.ss. His son, Jabez, was born in Topsfield, 
Mass., February 1, 1723, was a graduate of Harvard College, and a school teacher by 
profession. He kept the Latin .school at Braintree, where he fitted young men for col- 
lege. Several of his text books, the publication of the same dating back to 1537, are in 
possession of his great-grandson, F. W. Porter of Springfield, Vt. 

Porter, Samuel, who was the only son of Jabez, was born m Braintree, Mass., April 
10, 1763, and was so thoroughly educated by his father tliat he was able to enter the 
senior cla.ss of Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 17IJ0. He began to study law 
with Hon. Stephen R. Bradley, of Westminster, Vt.. in 1791, and wa,s admitted to prac- 
tice in the Windham County Court in 1797. He was a lawyer of eminence and lived in 
Dummerston, Vt., and was elected chief judge of Windham County Courts in 1804; was 
Judge of Probate a number years ; member of the State Legi-slature for 1802-3-4 and '5. 
He married Mehitable Fletcher and of his eight children four of his sons settled in Spring- 
field, Vt., and became identified with the various interests of the town, viz/: Samuel W., 
Frederick A., George W., and Charles E., who died February 10, 1810. 

Porter, Samuel W. (son of Samuel). (See sketch of life in the chapter devoted to 
Springfield.) 

Porter, Frederick Wadsworth, son of Samuel W., born in .Springfield, Vt., October 27, 
1823, married Caroline Silsby. They had five children, viz. : Anna Silsby, wife of John 
W. Marsh, of Woodstock, Vt. ; William Bradley, died at the age of sixteen years; Frank ' 
Farrington, resides in Springfield, Ma.ss. ; Elizabeth West ; and Russell Williams. I 

Porter, Frederick Augustus, son of Samuel, born in Dummerston, Vt., September | 
5, 1796, married Hannah Thayer. They had two daughters, Mary Elizabeth (deceased), 
married Frederick Wilkinson; Gracie Ann, died at the age of twenty-nine years. Fred- 
erick A. died February 17, 1867. 

Porter, George Washington, son of Samuel, born in Dummerston, Vt., July 28, 
1800, married Lucretia H. Bodurtha. Their family weie George C; Maria, who died 
young; Samuel W., who is Master Armorer at the' Springfield Arsenal; William II. H., 
died in Boston, Mass., January 31, 1886, was a member of the firm of Frye, Phipps & 
Co., hardware merchants of that city; Helen M., died vsingle ; Edward C, died young; 
and Albert G., resides in Springfield. George W. died May 14, 1879. 
124 ■ - ' 

V 



\ 



g86 History of Windsor County. 



Porter, George C, son of George W., was born in Ware, Mass., May 24, 1830. His 
first wife was Harriet A. Cram. His second wife was Mary E. Milliken, by whom he 
had one child, Artie F., wife of Authur L. Richards, of Newark, N. J. 

Porter, Chartes Edward, son of Samuel, born in Dummerston, Vt., September 2, 
1806, married Lydia Ann Emerson. He died April 10, 1859. The widow and son, 
Chartes Emerson, reside at Newburyport, Mass. 

Randall, Amos, came from Massachusetts and had a large family of children. Moses of 
this family was twice married, the first wife being Esther Whitney, by whom he had a 
number of children, only three of whom reached maturity ; they were George S.; James, 
who resides in Iowa; and Jane, wife of Orin Rice, of Springfield. 

Randall, George S., son of Mose.s, was born in Springfield, December 2, 1819, and died 
August 11, 1883, leaving no children. His first wife was Sarah Lockwood ; his second 
Mrs. Augusta L. Farr. 

Randall, James, the son of Daniel, came from Durham, N. H., and settled in Spencer's 
Hollow at an early day and had a large family of children, among whom were two sons, 
Miles and Solomon. The former left no i-ssue. 

Randall, Solomon, son of James, was born in 1781 and died September 9, 1863. He 
niiirried Elizabeth Eldridge, and of their live chiklren one died in infancy. The otheis 
uere Parmela, wife of Daniel Washburn, who lives at Guildhall, Vt. ; Miles, tiled in 
Springlield, and has no descendants living in the county ; Smith K.; and Mary, wife of 
Hiram Houghton, of Chartestown, N. H. 

Randall, Smith K., son of Solomon, was born in Springfield, Vt., September 21, 1812, 
and married Eveline Henry, of Chartestown, N. H. Their children were Mary (de- 
ceased), married Emerson \'V hitcomb ; George H., a widower, having no children, resides 
at Fitchburg, Mass. ; Edwin S. married Christina Weston, and resides in Springfield, and 
has three children, viz. : Maud, Josie, and Clyde ; James, married Millie Patterson and has 
one child, Arthur, residing in Springfield; Abbie, wife of Enoch Weathersbee, of Si)ring- 
lield ; Sarah, wife of Oscar Weston, of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; and Elizabeth, wife of John 
Cutler, of Springfield. 

White, Nathan, was born at Uxbridge, Mass., March IT, 1776, and came to Springfield 
in the winter of 1805-6. He married for his first wife Rachel Rist and had nine children, 
.ine of whom died in chiMhood. The others were Sarah (deceased), married Isaiah Ellis ; 
Calvin, died in Michigan ; Luther, died in Springfield ; Ellas, unmarried, died in Spring- 
field : Caroline (decea.sed), married David Tower; Bezaleel, died in Mi.ssouri; Avander. 
died in Illinois; Sophia, widow of Lewis Weston, resides in Fitchburg, Mass. Nathan 
iiKirried for his .second wife Olive Pulnani, and their children were Nathan P.; Marvel, 
resides in Illinois; Levi R.; Rachel B.; Olive M., wife of Samuel Brown, of Springfield ; 
.lames E.; George B., resides in the West; and Josiah G.. died at the age of twenty-seven, 
uiunarried. Nathan died March 28, 1858. 

White, Levi R., son of Nathan, w|S born in Spring; field, April 25, 1822, and married 
S.iphronia Smart; has one child, Frances AL, wife of George Wiley, of Springfield. 

White, Abel, son of Mark, was born in Acton, Mass., .September 26, 1760, and married 
Huh Prescolt, of Westford, Ma-;s., March 20, 1803. Tliey had five children. He came 
lo Springfield in 1816 or 1817, where he died July 22, 1825. 

White, Abel Prescott, son of Abel, was born July 23, 180-1, and married Anna Fassetl 
of Springfield, and their children were Francis L. died at the age of four; Jo.seph, treas- 
urer of the Vermont Snath Company ; Frances A., (deceased;, married George Hubbard, 
of Guildhall, Vt.; Marshall B., died at the age of twen-y-eight years; and Mary E., wife 
of George Ellis, of Rutland, \'t, .Miel Prescott resides at Rutland, Vt. 



Old Families. 987 



Stockbridge. 

Dean, Lewis P., was born in New Salem, Mass., May 20, 1830, the second child in a 
family of seven children of William Dean. He had three brothers, De.xter VV., G-eorge S., 
Albert S., and three sisters, Martha A., Harriet M. and Elij^a S. He married Lucy Ann.j 
daughter of Oliver and Lucy Peck. They had two children viz.: Herbert L., born iii 
(laysville, July 1, 18.59, married Ella M., daughter of Samuel and Susan (Adams) Bean, 
born December 22, 1859, at Royalton. They have one child, Daisy L., born at Bethel, 
August 2G, 1885. Herbert L., after serving as clerk in his father's store up to the time 
-»t4he latter's death, succeeded him as proprietor and continued the business at Gaysville. 
He is at the present time (1890) postmaster of the place. Harry W., born in Boston, 
November 24, 18G2, married, first, Minnie Claflin. Their children are Coady and Lewis. 
He married, second, Rachel . They have one child, Hazel. Harry W. is a resi- 
dent of Elgin, III. Lewis P. first came from Massachusetts to Gaysville, Vt.. in 1855, 
where he was employed as finisher in the woolen-mill of the place. He also filled the 
same position in tlie woolen-mill at Claremont, N, H. He then went to Boston, where 
for five years he engaged in the mercantile business. Returning to Gaysville in 1864, he 
engaged there in mercantile business up to the time of his death, which occurred January 
18, 1887. He was postmaster at Gaysville under three administrations. His wife sur- 
vives him and lives with her son, Herbert L. 

Eaton, Samuel, was born in Westminster, Windham county, Yt., October 3, 1822. 
AsavJiis grandfather, born in Connecticut, married November 5, 1772, Abigail Goodell, 
born in 1750, and had seven children, viz.: Simeon and Asa, farmers, died in Rochestfi-; 
David and James, blacksmiths, the former died ni Granville, Vt., the latter in Roch- 
ester ; Samuel ; Abigail ; and Asa, was a blacksmith by trade, and died in Westminster, 
December 17, 1816; his wife died there January 3, 182.5. Samuel, his son, born in 
Westminster, December 8, 1788, married January 17, 1820, Anna Merrifield, liorn Au- 
gust 11, 1780. Their children were Abigail G., born November 20, 1820, married June 
6, 1844, David Jones, and died March 9, 1874 ; Samuel ; and Elizabeth R., born March 2.3, 
1824, was wife of the Rev. Geoige S. Guernsey, and died in Rochester. Samuel and 
his wife died in Stockbridge. Samuel, son of Samuel, married November 26, 1872, Ag- 
nes M., daughter of Lyman and Minerva (Ward) Long. Mrs. Eaton was born in Rut- 
land, August 24, 1827. His father moved from Westminster and settled in Stockbridge, 
upon the place now owned by his son-in-law, David Jones He pmchased the land now 
included in the farms of his son, Samuel, David Jones and James Bent. Sara el has been 
a resident of Stockbridge since he was twelve years of age. He has no children. 

Edmunds, William H., was born in Danby, Rutland county, Vt., August 27, 1840. 
William, bis great-grandfather, came from Rhode Island and settled in Danby. He had 
a family of fifteen children. He moved from Danby to Canada, where many of his de- 
scendants still live. The only one of the children^ho did not accompany the family to 
Canada was William, grandfather of William H. He was born in Danby, marrieii Ruth 
King and had four children. William died in I'hittenden, December, 1862; his wife died 
in Danby many years before him. Linus married Rlioda Fisk. Their si.x children were 
Ruth, Lucy il., Sarah Ann, Martha, William H. and Reuben F, William H. married 
June 22, 1859, Martha J., daughter of David and Emily (Davis) Wood, born August .30, 
1842, in Chittenden. They have eight children, viz : Myrtle H., born in Chittenden, Vt., 
December 2, 1860, married Jennie Long, February 27, 18S9. a farmer in Chittenden, Vt. ; 
Carrie J., born in Chittenden, Vt, June 2, 1862, married Albert N. Newell, April 20, 
1881, and they have one child, Ida Belle, born in Stockbriilge, January I, 1886; Linus 
F., Ijorn in Chittenden, February 15, 1867, married Mr.s. (^ora L. Sargent, nee Sprague, 
March 24, 1885; George W., born in Chittenden, Vt., April 30, 1868, married Annie M. 
Lamour, April 3, 1888, and they have two children, Vernie M., born March 21, 1889. 



^ 



\ 



988 History of Windsor County. 

and Ethel L., born September 12, 1800; Ruthie M., born Aiifjust 19, 1873 ; Lewis ¥.. 
born November 6, 1875; Fred A., born June 5, 1878; and Willie R., born June 12. 
1880. Mr. Edmunds enlisted January 4, 18G2. in Cotupany I, Seventh Regiment Ver- 
mont Volunteers, and passed through the graduations from private to second lieutenant, 
and was discharged April 6, 1S66. He receives a pension on account of an injury to his 
eyes, and other disabilities resulting from service in the war. His regiment was in the 
Gulf service and was in nineteen ilifferent engagements. After returning from the war 
he engaged in farming in Chittenden four years. . In 1871 he settled in Stockbridge, 
where, in company with Nelson Ellison, he has carried on the lumber busine.ss, the firm 
owning a saw-raill on Stony Brook. He has held the ofBce of selectman four years, 
being the present (1890) chairman of the board. He has been justice of the peace two 
years, and was representative to the Legislature in 1886 and 1888. He is a member of 
the VVliite River Lodge, No. 90, F. and A. M., at Bethel, also of the Lillie Post, No. 61, 
G. A. R. 

Kuowlton. Emraans, was born in Stockbridge, August 4, 1816, the .seventh in a family 
of eight children of Jacob and Ro.setta (Robinson) Kuowlton. Jacob, son of Joseph, was 
born in Hardwick, Mass., in 1777, removed from that State and settled in Stockbridge in 
1708, and died there April 29, 1861. He married, first, Rhoda Smith. By this union 
there was one chdd, Stephen S., who died in Pittslield, Vt. He married, second, Rosetta 
Robinson ; eight children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy. The five 
who lived to adult age were Rhoda, Zenas, Rosetta, Bmmans and Phila. He married, 
third, Nubby Taggart. Tlieir children were Abbie Mills and Agne.^. Rosetta, his sec- 
ond wife, died ui Stockbridge, December 11, 1834. Emraans married, first, April, 1840, 
Abigail, daughter of John and Betsey (Averill) Taggart, born in Deerfield, N. H., Octo- 
ber 14, 1793. Albert T. is their only child. He was born February 21, 1841, and mar- 
ried .\Iana, daughter of Benjamin and Emily (Lyon) Cozzens, She was born May 21, 
1840. They have no children. He is a farmer, livuig in Stockbridge. Abigail Knowl- 
ton died February, 1841. Emmans married, second, Harriet, sister of his first wife. She 
was born May 4, 1823, in Stockbridge. They have had three children, viz.: John Tag- 
gart, born Jan\iary 5, 1845, married Emma C. Cornell, has three children, Ralph L., 
Frank L. and Lillian L., and owns and carries on a farm near his father; Abbie R., born 
March 10, 1847, died January 1, 1880 ; Carrie M., born July 15, 1859, died March 7, 1864. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kuowlton have been members of the Congregational Church of Stockbridge 
for many years. 

Richardson, Orlando J., was born in Ro.Kbury, Washington county, Vt., November 5, 
1840. His father, Joel, was thrice married. By his first wife he had one child, Alonzo, 
a physician living lu Illinois. He married, second, Susannah Batchelder. The children 
by this union were Susannah P., wife of Emery P. Cram, farmer; Sarah E., wife of Lo- 
reu D. Cram, farmer; Samuel A., farmer; Euseba M., widow of Joshua Simonds ; Or- 
lando J.; and Harrison E. H., farmer. All the above except Orlando J. reside in Rox- 
liury, Vt. Joel married, third, Olive Chase. They had no children. He died in Roches- 
ter, Vt., May, bS57. Orlando J. lived in Ro.xbury until he was twenty years of age. 
After the district school he attended a select .scliool in Stockliridge, and the Orange 
Grammar School in Randolph. He came to Stockbridge in 18G0, and married March 2(i. 
1800, Elmina, daughter of John and Eliza (Boutwell) Woodward, l)orn in Stockbridge. 
Dfcemlier 25, 1838. They have three children ; Nettie E., widow of Howard L. Porter, 
living with her parents; Clara E., wife of Herbert Boutwell, farmer in Stockbridge; 
and Lewis O., living at home. Mr. Richardson volunteered, August, 1862, as private in 
Company A, Sixteenth Vermont Volunteers, and received his discharge July. 1863. 
He purchased the farm where he now lives in Stockliridge in 1868. He is at present 
one of the board of selectmen, a position he has filled at dilTerent times for nine years. 
He represented the town in the Legislature in 1880. He is a member of the Daniel 
Lilhc Post, No. 61, G. A. R., Bethel. '" 



Old Families. 989 



^Sawyer, Cephas W., was born in Stockbridge, February 25, 1825. His father, Ed- 
mund, was the fourth son of Enoch Sawyer, who married Sarah Little and moved from 
Sutton, N. H., to Antrim, N. H. He was the son of Edmund Sawyer, wlio moved from 
Hampstead to Sutton in 1758, was selectman of the town for several years and died 
about 1805 aged ninety-two years. Edmund was the only one of five children who 
came from New Hampshire, and .settled ni Vermont. He was born in Goilstown, N. H., 
September 17, 1782, and married, February 14, 1808, Jane Taggart, born .M,ay 9, 1787. 
Their children were Mark Woodbury, Joseph Taggart, Abigail Martin, Lydia Taggart, 
Levi Parsons, Cephas Washburn, Reuben Marsh. Edmund died in .Stockbridge, Decem- 
ber 21, 187:-!, his wife January 8, 1874. Cephas W. married, October 27, 1853, Anna R., 
daughter of Asahel and Lydia (Parker) I'iiigrey, born in Mo\nit Holly, Vt, Decem- 
ber 6, 1833. Their children were Ella May, bom May 1, 1860, married October 9, 1878, 
George R. Page, at Elk Grove, III., who died March 4, 1885, and upon the death of her 
hu.sband Mrs. Page returned to Vermont and purchased the Dr. Sparijawk place in Gays- 
ville, where slie now resides; Alice Adell, born September 2, 1860, died April 25, 1872; 
Hattie Viva, born May 27, 1805, a .school teacher, lives with her sister, Mis. Page; and 
Florence Almira, born November 14, 1874, also lives with Mrs. Page, Mr. Sawyer has 
always been a resident of Stockbridge, owns and carries on the Sawyer homestead farm, 
but at the present time lives with Mr.s. Page in Gaysville. He has filled a number of town 
offices, and was town lister for twelve years. 

Whitoomb, Reuben, was born in Stockbridge, August 31, 1806, tlie fifth in a family of 
nine...children of Paul and Eunice (Lamberton) Whitcomb. Lot Whitcomb, his grand- 
father, was born in Massachusetts, married Hannah Nye, and had children as follows: 
Bet.«ey, Branch, Paul, Nathaniel, Sherman, Lot, Ichabod, James, Asa and Lydia. Paul 
married Eunice Lamberton; of their children, two died in infancy. Those who reached 
adult age were Mariam, the wife of Ira Fay, died in Bakersfield, Vt; Paul, a farmer died 
in Stockbridge; Jame.", al.-;o a fiirmer, died in Stockbridge; Reuben; Sally, widow of 
Merrick Gay, who gave the name to the village of Gaysville in Stockbridge. Mrs. Gay 
lives in Bethel. Reuben married April 28, 1828, Amanda, daughter of Daniel and Klea- 
uor (Blodgett) Abbott. Mrs. Whitcomb was born in Stockbridge, July 9, 1809. They 
have had three children, viz.: Amanda, died young; Mary, died July 31, 1849; Elbridge 
W., born March 11, 1836. The latter married, first, Sarali Post and had one child, Katie, 
the wife of Dr. E. L. Sawyer, living in Barre, Mass. He married, second, Julia, daugh- 
ter of Caleb and Mary (F.arnngton) Leonard. She was born in Stockbridge, February 17, 
1841. Their children are Mary Abbie, Annie Amanda, Leonard and Reuben. Elbridge 
W. owns and runs a farm adjoining his father's in Stockbridge. Reuben was overseer of 
the poor twenty-si.x years, .selectman and lister one term eaclt. Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb 
celebrated their golden wedding in 1878, on which occasion over one hundred relatives 
and friends were present. 

Weathersfield. 

Converse, Rev. Jame.s, was born in Bedford, Mass., in 177-^, and was the son of Jo.st;|ili 
and Elizabeth (Aldricb) Converse. He graduated from Harvard College, and stu<iied 
theology with Rev. Dr. Payson, of Rindge, N. H. The only charge he had during his life 
was the Congregational Church of Weathersfield Center. His first wife was Mehitable 
Cogswell, of Boston, .and of their si.x children two died in infancy. The otliers are Al- 
mira, widow of Judge Chandler, resides in Saxton's River, Vt.; Elizabeth, widow of Dr. 
Simon C. Hewitt, late a surgeon of Boston, Mass.; James C, a resident of Boston ; and 
Lucius, died in Weston, Vt. His second wife was Charlotte, daughter of Major White, of 
Windsor, Vt. Their children were Susan, widow of the Rev. Nelsi.n Bishop, who re- 
sides .at Windsor, Vt.; Charlotte, wife of Chittenden Ros.siter, of Windsor, Vt.; Henry, 
died at the age of twenty-three years; Mary (deceased), married George Barrett, of 
Weathersfield ; Edmund, one of Boston's most successful merchants; Harriet, widow of 
Ptolemy Severance, resides in Greenfield, Mass. 



990 



History of Windsor County. 



Davis, Jonas B., was born in Plymouth, Vt., Februan' 2, 1808, ami was the eldest son 
of Samuel ami Sarah Davis. He came to WeathersfieM in 1821 and apprenticed himself 
to a blacksmith. He removed to the farm now occupied by his widow in 1835. wliere 
he continued the blacksmith business until his death, December 20, 1883. lie married 
Louisa B. Hall, and their two chddren were Mary (decea.sed), married Cluvrles P. Parker 
of Cavendish, and Frank, a resident of Weathershekl, 

Dean, William, came from Connecticut to Wealhersfield in 1772 and was among the 
early settlers. He died at Granville, N. Y., and had a family of seven children, viz.: 
Cliristopher, died at Granville, N. Y.; Theodnlia (deceased), married Simon Wilson; 
Elizabeth (deceased), mariied a Mr. Lyman ; William, a bachelor, died in New York 
State; Benajah; Cushman, died in Weatherslield and left no issue; and Lemuel, died in 
New York State, 

Dean, Benajah, son of William, was born in Weathersfield, November 10, 177-1, and 
married Lydia Richards, and their childriui were Eli, who died in Weathersfield ; two of 
his sons, George H. and Albert., reside in Boston, Mass., and another, Franklin, in Minne- 
sota; Minerva (decea.sed), married George Diggins; Avis (deceased), married Walter 
Newell; Olive (deceased), married John Smith; Lydia R., the wife oC Lyman Cabot, of 
Weathersfield, he was born in Hartland, Vt., March 13, 1818, and came to Weathersfield 
in 1844, they had no cliildren; Sophia (deceased), married John Smith. Benajah died 
June 14, 18(i4. 

Diggin.s, Martin, a native of Connecti(!Ut, immigrated to Weathersfield about 1800. He 
married Abigail Upham and had a family of twelve children, of whom Martin, the young- 
est, was born April 7, 1813, and married Minerva Newell, They had two cliildren: El- 
len (deceased), married William H. Cobb, of Springfield, and Sanborn, who died and 
left no male issue. 

Farwell, Richard, was of English descent and died in Weathersfield, April 2.i, LS.'jO, 
aged eighty-two years. His first wife was Mary Farwell, and their sons were Bi-njarnin, 
(iilman, Darius, Richard, John and Haskell, nil of whom, excepting Daiins, died and left 
no male issue. Their daughters were Sarah (decea.sed), who married Erastus Conners; 
Rosie (decea.sed), married William Woods; Miriam (deceased), married Eugene Crain ; 
and Martha, the wife of Cutler Saundeis, of Pasadena, Cal. 

Farwell, Darius, son of Richard, was born in Weathersfield, July 29, 1814. married 
Martha Cooper, and they had four children, viz.: Henrv , a resident of Maiiboio, Mas.s.; 
Joel ; Mary, the wife of John Smith, of Acworth, N. H.; and Charles, a resident of New 
York city. Darius died January 1, 1883. 

Field, Levi, a native of Weathersfield, Conn., was one of the early settlers of the town 
and purcliased a large tract of land in the noithern portion. He built a brick house at 
Ascutneyville now occupied by Charles Hubbard. He married Rhoda Lawrence and had 
the follciwing family: Fanny (decea.sed), married William Quinn; Eunice (decea.sed), 
married Chester Beokley ; Levi II.; Rhoda (deceased), married George Green ; Belinda 
(decea.sed), married John Moore; and Paul, who became a large land owner in Chicago, 
where he died. 

Field, Levi H., son of Levi, was a native of Wealhersfield, where he died in 1854, aged 
lifly-eight years and nine months. He married Bertha Pliillips and they liad seven chil- 
dren : John P.; Lyman W., lives in Kansas; Reuben, died in Rutland, Vt.; Daniel, was 
a member of the Ninth Vermont Regiment, died dining the war; Rhoda, the wife of 
Charles Marcy, of Hartland, Vt.; Willard, dieil at Brattleboro, Vt.; and Mary, died aged 
sixteen years. 

Field, John P., son of Levi H., vfas born in Weathersfield, September 9, 1827. He 
inarri(!cl Susan A. Bates, of Springfield, and they have two children: Sarah A., the wife 
of Charles Cady, of Weathersfield, and Mary E., the wife of Frank Proctor, of Cavendish, 
Vt. 



/ 



Old Families. 991 



Gould, John, was born at Topsfield, Mass., March 27, 1795, and came to Cavendish, 
Vt., in 1822, His wii^e was Polly Curtis, of Boxford, Mass. Of their eleven children, 
John, Mary, Alfred and Mary died young; Helen, at the age of fourteen years; Rod- 
ney, at St. Louis, Mo.; and Franci.s, in Weathersfield. The four living are John, Stella M., 
the wife of Charles Demraons, of Rowe, Mass., Humphrey, a resident of Peri<insville, Vt., 
and Hattie, the wife of H. H. Hicks, of Perkinsville. John died September 19, 1865. 

Gould, John, son of John, was liorn in Cavendish, July 28, 1827, and married for his 
first wife Orpha Buck, by whom he had two children-, Arnia O. and Hattie. His second 
wife was Lottie E. Briggs, and they had one child, Lottie. 

Grimes, Bradford, was born in Hancock, N. H., May 12, 1815, and was the third son 
of William and Mary (Jones) Grimes. He came to Weathersfield in L83S and was en- 
gaged until 1841 in the teaming business between that point and Boston. With the ex- 
ception of five years passed at Brandon, Vt., and three years in Northern Michigan, lie 
has been a resident of Weathersfield since his first settlement there. His first wife was 
Mary E. Norton, by whom he had two children: Franklin N., a meinlier of the Fourth 
Vermont Regiment, was wounded at Lee's Mills, Va., and died at Fortress Monroe, and 
Mary A. (deceased), married Enoch Weatherbee, of Sprnigfield, Vt. Mr. Grimes mar- 
ried for his second wife Mr.s. Rebecca A. Dartt. His third wife was Eliza Ann Parsons. 

Hall, Elijah, was born in Grafton, Ma.s.s.. in 1770, and died in Weathersfield in 182(i. 
He married Lucy Knowlton and had tlu-ee children, viz.: Mary, widow of James Fer.'^on, 
who lives at St, Charles, 111,; Jonathan W,, who died a bachelor in Weathersfield in 1858: 
and Louisa B., widow of Jonas B. Davis, resides in Weathersfield. 

Hammond, Luther, born at Dartmouth, Mass., May 5, 1781, vvas a ,=hoemakerby trade, 
and came to reside in Weathersfield aliout 1850, and died in that town February 2 / , 
1871, He married Abigad Hall, of Cornish, N, H, They had three children, Luther, 
Marcia (deceased), married George Hawkins, and Adin, died at Stowe, Vt, 

Hammond, Luther, son of Luther, was born at Corni.sh, N, H„ June 17, 1811, He 
was married three times, but his only child is Marcia, wife of Jarvis Walker, of Lang- 
don, N, H., by his first wife, who was Amanda Currier of Langdon, N. H. 

Jarvis, Hon. William, was born in Boston, Mas.s., February 4, 1770, and was the son 
of Dr. Charles Jarvis, of Revolutionary fame. He was educated for mercantile life, and 
became an active and succes.^ful merchant in 1791; but on account of the failure of 
friends for whom he had become responsible, he relinquished his business in Boston and 
became part owner of a ship, and for the five following years he followed the sea as su- 
percargo and captain. In 1801, owing to his experience in mercantile and maritime afl'airs, 
he was appointed by President Jefferson as Consul and Charge d'Affaires to Lisbon. 
While in this position, by his characteristic energy and diplomatic sagacity, he succeeded 
111 stopping the impressment of American seamen by English authorities; be secured the 
a.lmissi'on'of flour into Spain with small duties, thereby gaining tor this country the im- 
mense neutral trade during the Peninsular War. He also changed the quarantine regii- 
l;aion for Americ.m ships from six weeks detention to three days. The expense of the 
war made it nece.ssary for Spain to sell the celebrated flock of Spanish sheep, which had 
a reputation throughout the world and which tliey had spent a thou.sand years m im- 
proving. Mr. Jarvis at different times sent to this country 3,500 of these shc.p, which 
was a larn'er number than came to America from any other source, and has been the 
means of adding untold millions to the agricultural wealth and manuf icluriiig industries 
of the United States. After a residence of nine years in Lisbon, in ISlo Consul Jarvis 
came to Weathersfield Bow, he having sent previous to this time lo Dr. Jarvis, his 
cousin at Claremont, N. H., a large number of sheep from Lisbon, and his VKsit was to 
look after this interest. He became delighted with the place .ind decided to settle there 
and purchased a large tract of land. In his country home he wrote «■; the )ournals ol 
the day and corresponded with the prominent statesmen from 181(> to 18.56, on the sub- 
ject of the tariff and other matters affecting the industrial interests ot the country, bis 



992 History of Windsor County. 

opinions beinf; accepted with crreat consideration. Tliou<;li often solicited to hold office 
lie lirmly declined, preferring the enjoyments and attachments of home and the society 
of friends. Consul Jarvis continued to live in Weatheislield until October 21, 185i.l, 
when he passed away. His death left a vacancy in the ranks of the statesmen of that 
day that was felt throuu-hout the country. Of a lartre family of children there are oidy 
two livin.u;, viz.: Harriet Bartlett, widow of John De Forest Richards, resides in Chardon, 
Nell., and Catharine L., who married Colonel Leavitt Hunt, brother of the celebrated 
arti.st, William Hunt of Boston. They reside on the old homestead in Weathers6eld. 

Jarvis. Ma)or Charle.s, .son of the Consul, was horn in Weathersfield, August 21, 1821 • 
At tlie ajrc of nine years he was placed under the tuition of Solomon Foote at Castleton, 
Vt., and afterwards attended Exeter Academy. He was a student of Vermont Univer- 
sity at the aye of fourteen years, being the youngest member of his class. Graduating 
in 1839 he began the study of law in the oliices of Leverett Saltonstall and Judge Ward 
of Salem, Mas.s. The following year he entered the law school at Cambridge, Mass., Iiul 
reliiKiuished his studies and returned to Weathersfield on account of the death of his 
only iirother, William. From this tiine he devoted himself to his parents, relieving his 
a"eil father from the weight and care of business, and settled his estate after his death. 
Feelinf it his duty to devote himself to the service of his country, he raised a company 
for the Ninth Vermont Regiment in March, 1S62, and was chosen captain. The regi- 
ment was captured at Harper's Ferry and paroled in the strictest manner and ordered to 
Fort Douglass, Chicago. On account of the alisence of his superior officers the command 
of the camp devolved on Captain Jarvis, In June, 1863, the regiment was ordered to 
Yorktown, Va , and Captain (now Major) Jarvis received a furlough and returned home. 
He was soon ordered to Boston Harbor to take charge of the Vermont conscripts, but 
rejoined his regiment at Yorktown early in October, 1863. The regiment removed to 
New Berne, N. C, and sub.sequently to Newport Barracks, N. C, and on December 1, 
18'j3 while on an e.xpedition Major Jarvis was mortally wounded. Major Jarvis was 
never married. 

Streeter, John, was born in Rindge, N. H., April 8, 1762, and married in 1783 Sarah 
Carlton. He removed to Weathersfield in 1809, and died March 1, 1811. His children 
were John, who died in Westfield, Vt.; Obadiah ; Polly C, died single, at West Spring- 
field Mass. aged ninety-two years ; William, died in Alabama; Benjamin, died young; 
ISfancy (deceased), married Lot Whitcomb ; Thomas, died in Rindge, N. H. ; Charles, 
ilied siufle, in Weathersfield ; Adaline (deceased), married Henry Richardson ; and Aib 
dison, died at Ludlow, Vt. 

Streeter, Obadiah, son of John, was born at Rindge, N. H., March 4, 1791, and mar- 
ried Betsey Jackman. Thev had six children, viz.: Lucius; Eliza, died at twenty years 
of age ; Sarah (deceased), married Waldo Clark. Obadiah's second wife was Susanna 
Westcott. The result of this marriage was Susan, wife of Stephen Nourse, who resides 
in California; Charles; James, died in Kansas. Obadiah died in Springfield, March 11, 
1862. 

Streeter, Lucius, son of Obadiah, born in Weathersfield, Vt., August 2, 1813, married 
Mary Jane Stratton, of Rindge, N. 11., and has two son.s, viz.: William L., born in Rindge, 
N. H., September 1.5, 1839, resides in Kansas; and Herbert, born March 3, 1852. mar- 
ried Hattie E. Butterfiekl, and has two sons, viz. : Harrison L. and Arthur H. Lucius 
has been a resident of Springfield since 1858. 

.Streeter, Nathaniel, brother of the first John, was born at Rindge, N. H., and came to 
Weathersfield about the same time as his brother, and died in the town in 1832. His 
first wife was Mercy Allen, and they had four children: John ; Mercy, who married Sup- 
ply Reed; Lucy, married Samuel Williams; and Maria died single. Nathaniel also had 
two other wives, viz.: Lydia Proctor and Zada Barnes. 

Whipple, Jonathan, was born at Grafton, Mass., December 3, 1765, and married Lydia 
Leland. He came to Weathersfield in 1789, and died there March 29, 1846. He had 



Old Families. 993 



ei^ht children, viz.: Phineas L., died in Bath, N. Y.; Lydia (deceased), married Oalvin 
Warren ; Randilhi. married John C. Haskell ; Josephine (deceased), married John Per- 
kins ; Ormus Mandal; Balsora, died at twenty-eight years of age; Jonathan E., died at 
Lansingburg, N. Y.; and Clarissa, died at the age of eighteen years. 

Whipple, Ormus Mandal, son of Jonathan, born in Weathersfield, February 14, 1801 
removed to Springfield at the age of twelve years, returned to his native town in his 
sixty-fifth year, and died December 8, 1877. He married Sybil Bates and their children 
were Jonathan 0., a resident of Mitchell, la.; Sarah S. B., wife of Fred Fairbanks, of 
Springfield, Vt.; Charles F.; and George F. died at four years of age. 

Whipple, Charles F., son of Ormus M., born in Springfield, Vt., November 7, 1835, 
married Martha L. Warren, and have five children, viz.: Carrie L., Henry W., Robert M. 
Martha Ann and Charles Luther. He was a resident of Wisconsin from 1856 to March 3 
1862, when he enlisted in Company M, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, and was discharged 
January 9, 1806. 

Weston. 

Drury, David, was born November 7, 1763, and died June 8, 1818. He married Lucy 
Richardson, and was one of the early .settlers of Weston. Their children were Amy, 
Sybil, Lucy, all of whom died single; David, died in Weston, and left no male issue; 
.John, Ezra, died without issue, and Nehemiah, died young. 

Drury, John, son of David, was born in Weston, December 28, 1793, and died Septem- 
ber 3, 1865. He married Bridget Fletcher. Their children were John, died in Weston; 
Ezfa, died at the age of nineteen years; Wakefield, died young; Alonzo H.; Sophia, died 
five years of age; Constant Freeman, resides in Boston, Mass.; Sophia, wife of L. L. 
Lawrence, of Weston; and David S., of Marionsville, Pa. 

Drury, Alonzo H., son of John, was born in Weston, April 15, 182.5, and mairied Nancy 
Jane Persons, and has two children : Jane, wife of Edward Wilder, of Weston, and 
Henry, who married Cora Houghton and has no children. 

Foster, Wells Atwood, was born in Weston, April 8, 1837, and owing to the death of 
his father, when only four years of age, he received his education only from the common 
schools. By the death of his mother he was left an orphan at the age of thirteen years, 
and became dependent on his own resource.s. From this time until he purchased an in- 
terest in tlie above works, he passed his life in farming, working in a saw-mill most of 
the time in Mount Holly, Vt., and for two years was engaged in steam and gas fitting in 
Boston, Mass. Mr. Foster was the first citizen elected to represent the town in the bi- 
ennial sessions of the Legislature. 

Hamilton, Hans, was born in Chesterfield, N. H., March 18, 1780, and came to Wes- 
ton in 1807. He married Betsey G. Mark, of Gilsum, N. H., September 12, 1809, and 
had si-x children, viz.: Annie, married NeKson Pease, died July 11, 1855, and had seven 
children, Annie E., Rhoda A., Arvilla B., Hiland N., Mary, Loren U., and Nancy J. ; 
Mary, married Luther Mark of Gilsum, N. H., and had two sons, Hans H. and Luther 
W. F. ; Fannie, married Gardner Carlton, of Mount Holly, Vt., died June 5, 1851, and 
h.id two sons, one died in infancy, and Andrew G., who now resides at Brattleboro. Vt. ; 
Hiram, died February 3, 1835 ; Harriet, married Henry York, and had one son, IJira H. 
(deceased) ; Betsey G., married Andrew J. Shattuck, and had six children, a daughter 
died young, Andrew, Parker G.. Ara (died April 25, 18G2), Winfield S., and Ella B., wife 
of Blwin G. Butterfield, of Westmmster, Vt. Hans died May 11, 1859; his wife died 
August 15, 1870. 

Heseltine, Isaiah, was born in Manchester, N. H.,- February 24, 1809. Arriving at the 

age of manhood he came to Derry, Vt., and engaged in the carding business. He came 

to Weston in 1848 and carried on the business until his death, November 11, 1888. He 

married Relief Walker and the following are their children : Clifford C, of Brattleboro, 

125 



I 



\ 



994 History of Windsor County. 

Vt.; Hiland H., was a memljer of Company G, Sixteenth Vermont Regimentf resides in 
Gardiner, Mass.; and Abby, wife of Horace F. Cole, of Felchville, Yt. 

Jaquith, Rollin B., was born in Mount Holly, Vt., March 19, 1844, and is the second 
son of Isaac and Mary (Cole) Jaquith. He attended the local schools and was for a short 
time a student in the Eastman Commercial College, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. His father 
having been a farmer, he also worked on a farm until he was twenty-one years of age, 
when he engaged m the mill business and became a member of the firm of Foster & 
Jaquith, as above stated. Mr. Jaquith is also a member of the firm of Jaquith, Rryant 
& Co., who operate a saw-mill in Peru, Vt., where 6,00,000 feet of lumber are annually 
manufactured into plain and rounded finished chair-stock. He married Miss Susan 
Shedd, and they have six children, viz. : Frace, Harlan C, Maude, Burnett, Floyd, and 
Jumie. 

Shattuok, Parker, was born at Temple, N. H., and came to Weston in 1802. He mar- 
ried Sarah Spafford of his native town, and they had ten children, of whom Ralph and 
Virtue died young. The others were : Sally, married first Orrin Peck, .second Lemuel 
Abbott of VYindham, Vt., and had seven children by first husband, viz. : Orin and Sarah 
J., died young; James F., married Silva White and resides at Strafford, Vt. ; Sliattuck 
P., was killed in the War of the Rebellion ; Lucy M., married Ora E. Abbott, died 
March 15, 1863; Oren A., resides at Fair Haven, Vt. ; Mary E., married K. E. Beckwith, 
died July 2, 1868. Parker, son of Parker, married first Nancy Jewett of Temple, N. H., 
second Mrs. Addeline White, and had eight children, viz. : a son died in infancy ; Nancy 
A. (deceased) ; Mary J. (deceased), married Lucius Burton (deceased) ; Fernando P., 
married Jane Comstock (deceased), resides at North Andover, Mass. ; Rhoda (decea.sed) ; 
Elizabeth H., first married Byron S. Cobb, second Jay Wilkinson; Sarah B. (deceased), 
married Elbert W. Arnold, of Londonderry, Vt. ; Flora R., married E, Dana Bryant, re- 
sides at Gardiner, Mass. Lucy (deceased), daughter of Parker, married first James Fos- 
ter (deceased), second Rev. Daniel Packer of Mount Holly, Vt., had one son, Judson D. S. 
Packer, who married Alice Holton and resides at Mount Holly, Vt. Daniel S., son of 
Parker, died March 19, 1859, married Lucy Abbott, had five children, three of whom 
died young; the others are Ann J., married Hans H. Mark, resides at Rockingham, Vt., 
and Anthony, married Clara Benson, resides at Mount Holly, Vt. Ashley, son of Parker, 
married Elvira Sawyer, of Mount Holly, Vt., died August 9, 1872, had five children, 
viz.; Lucy E., married Putney S. Ilammon (ilied April 5, 1860); Daniel A., married 
Emma Coleman ; Fred A., married Jennie Hathorn of Rutland, Vt. ; Abby J., married 
E. Freeman Eastman ; Adelno P., married Augusta Millard of Danby, Vt. Clark, son 
Parker, married Loui.sa Sawyer of Mount Holly, Vt.. and their children were Harrison 
C, married Mary J. Davis of Boston, Mass.; B. Frank, married Fannie Manning, resides 
at Somerville, Mass.; Francelia, married W. S. Foster ; George W., married Emma 
Clayton ; and Jewett W., died November 7, 1864. Andrew J., son of Parker, was born 
in Weston, February 2, 1817, married Betsey G. Hamillon, of Weston ; of their six chil- 
dren, one, a daughter, died in infancy ; the others are Andrew, married Abbie M. Tay- 
lor, resides in California; Parker I., married Mary C. Felton ; Ara, died April 25, 1862; 
Winfield S.; and Ella B., the wife of Elwin G. Buttertield of Westminster, Vt. Parker 
Shattuck died August 19, 1869; his wife died Decemlier 11, 1851. 

Spaulding, Simeon, was born in Hollis, N. H., February 7, 1782, and came to Weston 
in 1814. He died December 28, 1839. He married Hannah Dow, and had eight chil- 
dren, viz.: Simeon D.; Hannah C, died single; Lucy M., wife of James M. Taylor, of 
Weston I James G.; Abigail D. (deceased), married Batchelder Parker; Lydia L. (de- 
ceased), married Micajah Martin ; Eliza A. and Mary A., both died singl«. 

Spaulding, Simeon D., son of Simeon, was born in Weston, February 19, 1816, and 
married Dorothy .Maria Lawrence, by whom he had one child, Melvin L., a resident of 
Potosi, Wis. His second wife was Eliza B. Work. They had two children. Mary Ann 
Eliza, and Harry S., who died young. His third wife is Mary Eliza Pease. 



Old Families. 995 



Spauldiiig. James G., son of Simeon, was born in Weston, September 21, ]iyj, ; u 
married Sophia, daughter of John Hull. They have no children. 

SpragLie, Charles W., was born in Plymouth, Vt., March 1, 1825. and was the youngest 
son of Charles and Betsey (Moore) Sprague. He began work on his uncle Ephraim 
Moore's farm, and removed with him into the town of Weston in 183S. His education 
was limited to the local schools, and when twenty years old he began the mercantile busi- 
ness, which he has ever since followed. He is at present a member of the firm of Sprague 
& Richardson. He has two children, Charles B., of Weston, and Sarah, wifa of T. H. 
Richardson, of Weston. Mr. Sprague has been a resident of the town of Weston more 
than half a century, and since 1857 has resided in the village. The town is indebted to 
him for many of its improvements, but his spirit of enterprise has not always been ap- 
preciated by his townsmen, and in several instances, says he, he has been unfairly 
treated ; as, for example, when the school district placed a high fence between his resi- 
dence and the school building, thus cutting off the rear entrance to his dwelhng and 
out-houses. In another case lie was bondsman for a defaulting constable who held his 
ofRce illegally. In this case the town refused to compromise the case, causing Mr. 
Sprague a loss of over $700. At the same raeetmg the town was at the expen.se of $000 
on account of the illegal action of another official. 

Woodstock. 

Merrill, Pro.sper, was born in Burlington, Conn., September 25, 1812, tlie second son 
and seventh child in a family of ten children of Bissell and Polly (Johnson) Merrill. His 
father was a native of New Hartford, Conn., and was killed by an accident in October, 
1830, at the age of thirtv-four. He was the son of Bnos Merrill, who was a native of 
New Hartford, Conn., and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, The subject of this 
sketch received the benefit of only a district school education. At tlie age of thirteen he 
became an employee in a woolen-mill at Torrington, Conn., afterwards at Spencer and 
Leicester, Mass., and at the time of the panic in 1837 was superintendent of a mill at 
Oxford. Mass. In February of the following year he first came to \^ermont and accepted 
the superintendency of the finishing department of the Felcliville Woolen Company's 
Mills. Remaining with them but a short time, he was employed by Earl & Campbell to 
superintend their mills at Cambridgeport, Vt., and remained there till 1840. After 
leaving their employ, he hired and operated mills at Drewsville. Saxton's River and 
Springfield. Finally, in 1850, he located at Felchville. purchasing of the FelchviUe 
Woolen Company their buildings and water privileges. He coiuinued successfully to 
run this mill until the spring of 1858, when it was destroyed by lire. In the fall of that 
year he moved to Jacksonville, Fla., where he engaged in the monumental busines.s, but 
becoming dissatisfied he sold his interest and returned to Vermont. A new mill was 
that year built at Felchville, which he stocked and re-engaged in the manufacture nl 
woolens. This mill was burned February, 1867, at which time Mr. Merrill retired from 
active business on the advice of his physician, on account of his health. Wliile carrying 
on this factory his monthly pay roll averaged |2,000. Upon his retirement from active 
business Mr. Merrill removed to Woodstock, where he built his present house and where 
he has since resided. He has been identified with the Repubhcan party since its organi- 
zation and has taken an active part in the political affairs of the State. He represented 
Reading in the Legislature, and was State Senator from Windsor county in 1861-62. 
Mr. Merrill is pre-eminently a self-made man ; temperate in his habits, energetic and 
industrious, he ranks among the successful business men of the State. While at the 
head of the mills in Felchville the town enjoyed the greatest prosperity ever known in 
iU- history. While he is well known to be liberal to the poor, he is wholly unoslenta- 
• 11 , V his charities. He married, first, Almira Cummings of Milford, Conn. Of tlieir 
three chftdren, two died in infaQca; Frederick B. resides in Woodstock. He married, 



996 History of Windsor County. 

second, Hannah Boles, of Rockingham, Vt. Their only child, John B., died in 1866, 
aged twenty-five. Frederick B., born in Wolcottville, Conn., October 29, 1831, married, 
first, Esther R. Dunlap, and had two children : Martha, wife of 0. T. Wliite, of East- 
hamjiton, Mass, who has three children, Merrill, Mabel and Charlotte; and Carrie L., 
died aged twenty-two years, nine months. He married, second, Calista White. They 
have four children, John P., Edwin L., May and George. 

Myrick, Samuel, the son of Jonathan and Abigail (Brown) Mynck, was born in New- 
ton, Mass., in February, 1757. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, being only 
eighteen years of age, he joined the army and served his country faithfully until peace 
was declared. He was commissioned first lieutenant, and also was, durnig a part of the 
time, quartermaster. He was present at the surrender of Burgoyne's and Cornwallis's 
armies. In January. 1787, he married Martha, daughter of Cot. Jonathan and Frances 
(Buckminster) Brewer, and came to Woodstock, Vt., m 1790, settled upon the farm on 
vifhich he died December 13, 1839, and which by his labor alone was cleared and be- 
came one of the best farmt in town. His widow .survived him, but died February 26, 
18.5G, aged eighty- five years. Of their family of twelve children, only two are livmg, 
viz.: Mrs. Stephen Farnsworth, whose home is .at West Lebanon, N. H., and Miss Julia 
D. Myrick, who resides at Springfield, is the only one of Samuel Myrick's descendants 
living in Windsor county wno retains her surname. 



INDEX. 



ABBOTT, Solomon S., 785. 
Aldricli, Hoii. Josliua Madison, S02. 
"American Whig, The," "217. 
Anisden, Charles, 7(M», iH)4. 
Andover, chartered, 102. 
Andover Town, history of, G20. 

vilU<,'e (Peaseville), 031. 

Baptist Church, G27. 

early settlers, 622. 

early inanutaclures, 632. 

first town meeting, 623. 

important events, 628. 

in the War of the Revolution, 629. 

in the War of 1812, 629. 

in tlie War of tlie Uebellioii, 630. 

proprietors, the, 620. 

physicians of, 628. 

representatives from, 624. 

situation and boundaries, 620. 

old familiesi, 633, 933. 

schools, 628. 

Simonsville, 632. 

town officers, 625. 

Universalist Church, 627. 
.Attorneys, roll of, 189-193. 

BALDWIN, Alfre.l K., 90(ir 
Baltimore Town history of, 723. 

first town meeting, the, 723. 

official list, 724. ^ 

old families, 725, 033. 

situation and boundaries, 723. 
Bar Association, the, 187-189. 
Bar, personnel of, 192. 
Barnard, chartered, 102. 
Barnard Town, history of, 574. 

attack upon, 578. 

charter of, 57(>. 

Congregational Church, .582. 

early settlements, 576. 

first town meeting, 577. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, .582. 

natural features, 575. 



Barnard Town of, in the War of tlie lli-v- 
olutioii, 580. 
representatives from, 58.'i. ' 

situation and boimdaries, 574. 
old familiec. 584. il34. - 
Universalist Society, .583. 
Baxter, Dr. Kdward K., 853. 
Bonch and Bar, 177-192. 
Bennington, the Battle of, 04. 
Bethel, chartered, 103. 
"Bethel Courier," tlie, 224. 
Bethel Town, history of, 558. 
charter, 559. 

Congregational Church, 503. 
early settlements, 561. 
East Bethel Baptist Church, 503. 
first events, 501. 
old familie.*, 500, 930. 
situation and boundaries, 5.58. 
schools, 504. 
village of, 505. 
East Bethel, 506. 
Universalist Church, .564. 
Billings, Hon. Frederick, 876. 
Biographical, 785. 
Bisbee, Aaron, 786. 
"Black River Gazette," the, 223. 
Bridgewater, chartered, 102. 
BridgewaterTown, history of, 601. 
Bridgewater Corners, 611. 
Bridgewater Mills, Oil. 
Bridgewater, 010. 
Bridgewater Center, 61 1. 
charter of, 603. 
first proprietors' meeting, 003. 
growth of population, Ou8. 
in the War of the Rebellion, GIO. 
married settlers prior to 18(J(), 605. 
old families, <;14, 943. 
officers of, 614. 
representatives from, 614. 
situation and natural features. 601. 
Brockway, .lohn, 803. 



998 



History of VVindsok County. 



Bruce, Capt. H. N., 860. 
Hurgoyne's .\rniy, surremler of. 6.5. 
Hiirke, LMnev, 787. 
Uutl.T, l{.-v. v., 8iJU. 

C^.\LI.. Josepli A.. 78.1. 
J I'anailu, iieKOliations witli, 60. 
Caveiiilisli, cliarlered, 11)2. 
Caveiuii.sh Town, lii.';lory of, ."iiM. 

early religious fiVort.s .'i(t7. 

Kiisl rriivers:»li.<t Society, •'lOS. 

lirsl settlers, the, ."j(I2. 

(irst Uaptist Clmrcli. .">(l!). 

in llie War of the |{el>elMon. h\\. 

iiii[ii>rtaMl evetil.<, .")tl<>, 

lawyer.^ of, .il'J. 

Methoilisi Kpisi-opal Clmrcli, ")09. 

.\Ia.«"nii' Onler in, .VJl. 

natural features, ;")ill. 

orij^iiial proprietors, the, oOl. 

or<^anizatioii of, ."lOii. 

representatives, .")(14. 

[ilivsiciaiis of, .tI.'5. 

St.' .Mary's Chinch, .'>08. 

Proctorsville, .")i;i. 

Ilaywartl, TalVi .t Co. ".l.'i. 

Black Uiver Bank, ."iHi. 

I'rootorsville I.ilirarv Association, 
.")I7. 

I. 0. O. R, .518. 

villape of, olS 

(Jay Brothers. .'jIO. 

Kletclier library, 520. 

old families, ;Vi2. !»47. 

schools. Oil. 

selectmen, ;")04. 

town house, .510. 
• "iiamplain's, Samnel, e.xplorations, 17. 
Chaiiiller, 'I'liomav, sr., (ili8. 
Chandler, Tlionias, jr., 8(1. 
("harli'stown Convention, 77. 
Cha.se, Dr. K. .M., 93(1. 
('hester, charter of, l(»o. 

inhabitants in 1771. 102. 
(Mie.ster Town, history of, 6(!:!. 

Baptist Churcli. (w"). 

Chester Academy, 681. 

early relifjions ellort.s, 671. 

early grants in, 664. 

early .settlenient,"!. 6i;'.». 

First Universalist parish, 678. 

first town nieeling, Otifi. 

fire district, formation of, 6S'.i. 

First Congrepational Church, 675. 

lawyers in, 687. 



Chester Town of, in the War of the Rebel- 
lion, 684. 

in the Uevoliilionary War, ()7I. 

Methodists, the, 67!*. 

newspapers in, 6S2. 

ollicial list, 672. 

physicians in, 68t«. 

poor farm, the, 680. 

proprietors' meeting, 665. 

situation and boundaries, (iti.'i. 

secret societies in, 6.^4. 

St. Luke's I'rotestant Kpiscopal 
Church. 679. 

schools in, 6S0. 

town hall, 681. 

0. A. K., 684. 

1. O. (). F., Ii8.5. 
Masonic- Order, i;8(;. 
Sawyersville, Hill. 

under the New York charter, (jriO 

villages in, 687. 

.Morth Chester, 687. 

the lirsl store, 68S. 

present busine.ss interests, <i8.'^ 

old fiiiiiilies. t>'.l3, 950. 

South Village, 689. 

post-oflice at, 689. 

business interests, 090. 

Depot, 691. 

Ga-s.setts (SpafTord), 692. 
"Christian Repository. The," 21.5. 
Collamer, .hiilgc .lacob, 85^). 
Colonies and the .Mother (^oiiulry, strug- 
gles l>etweeii, 36 45. 
Cook, Selden, 805. 
Coolidge. Cm-. Carlos, 900. 
Committee of (Correspondence, the, 46. 
Committee of Safety, .louriial of. 53 .55. 
Constitution, the new, 43. 
Convention at Windsor, 42. 
Council of Safely, the, 44. 
Counties, division into, 81. 
County Congre.ss, the, 51. 
County (Jourt, first term in Wiiid.sor 

County, 92. 
County Court, Judges of, 92, 182-18.!. 
Court-llou.se and jail, the first, 92-93. 
(yourt- House, the .second, third, 93 94. 
Court. Supreme, judges of, 182. 
Courts, establishment of, 81-82, 179-180. 
Cumberland Countv, civil ollicers of 

96-97. 
Cumberland County Convention, proceed- 
ings of, 50-51. 



Index. 999 

DAVIDSON, John, R07. TT AI.DIMANDCom'sponJetic.^.tlie.OH. 

Davis, lion. (iill>eit A,, S'il. LX Hale, Kraiik S,, 887. 

Di'i;laiiitioii of SlaU- ImlopeiKiciicu, 4.i. Hull, Alfred, i)OS). 

Dewey, Hon. AHiert (iailatiii, H0(!. Harlow, Col. Hiram. 828. 

•' Doinesli" Meilioal and Dietetical Moiii- Harlow, Hernioii \V'., 8(18. 

tor." 2I(). Harringlon, Edwin, 8.'i7. 

Dillon, William. 78S, Hartford, grant of, lirj. 

Downer, Chester, 8'.)(i. Hartford Town, history of, .'J32-35K 

DiirMniersloii Town records, e.xtracts from, cliarter of, .'>3.3-.'!.'J4. 

49-50. Centerville, .!.'.*;. 

DnrUoe, W. H., 930. churche.s of, 347-3.")!. 

Dntch Colony, tlie (irst, 18. eiiueational institutions of, 3.-jl. 

first settlers in, 33t>. 

EARLY Knglish settlements, 'i!). first olVieers of, 3.(.'j. 337. 

Early fortdioations in the territory Hartford ( White Kiver villa^je), 3.'>."). 

of Vermont, 27 28. industries of, 3.52-3.14. 

Er^'lrth Ke<,'ini(Mrt, history of, 124 12o. in the controversy with New York, 

Elevenlh i;e<;rnrerrl. Artillery, history of, 341-343. 

I2() 127. rrr the Kevolritionary War, 344 

Errri;;ratrorr weslwnrd. lltlt. in the War of 18I2,"34(!. 

Errjrlish ertmity aj^airisl the Irrdians, elVeit m the War of iln; Rebelliorr, 317 

of, 21 >. Oicott Kails. 3')l>. 

Errijlish si.'ttlenn-rrts iir New llarii|i-hire, 19. proprretor-.s' meetirrfis In, 33.')-3.'I7. 

•■ Ei|riiil Hij,'hts," 217. l^lire<-hee, viil.ifre I'f. 3.nl. 

Ethan .\lleri, 34, •'i9-tii). repre.sentatives frorir, 3.'.7 3.j8. 

" Evani'elioal Morrilor, The," 2I.">. West Hartfonl, 3'jri. 



F 



White Uiver .Irinction, .302. 
;'AY. Maj Levi C , 9II7. Ilairlaml Towrr, history of. 358 373 

Field, Ilorr Aimer, 824. charter of, 3.5!t. 

ftlr Uc^rmrent. history of, 121 first proprietors' meetinir iir, .'I'iir. 



Eirst Verriront Cavrdry, history of, 131 132. (i,.<t settlerrrent in. 3til-3(;2. 

Kirst Venrtorrt Ke^'rment. I 1.3-1 1-5. first towrr riieetrrrj; and ollicers. 3(i3. 

Fletcher. Hon. Itrcharil, 521. irrarrirfaorrires rrr, 372. 

Fletcher-, Ilorr. Uylarrd. 8.35 piorrriiretrt early settlers iir. 3(i5-3(ili. 

Forlirrsh. Ilorr. Clrarle." A., 789. relijjioris societies in, 371. 

Forrrlh lte(;irrrcrrt, history of. 119 120 representatives from, 372, 

" Freeilorrr's {{arirrcr-, The," 2ll!. riots in, 307-309.. 

■ Frei-rnarr's Depository," 21 1. sale of confiscated lands irr, 3(i7. 

Frerrch occniparrcy in ('anada, 29. villasjes rrr, 371. 

Frillarrr Him. Seu all, S(!4. ,n tile Wrn- of 1812, 309. 

FirllerloM, F. E., 893. Haves, Francis 1!., 911. 

,,,.,, , ,, , ,. Ha/.eKon, Darriel W., M. D., 830. 
1 ENEKAL ASSEMMLY, the Insr <cs- ,,_..^,,| [,^,^jp, j^ ,,._,,;_ 

J .sion of, 0.5, u Her.iy Clay, The,' 210, 217. 

(;ill Family, 883, Herr ford (Ilarlland). {jrant of, 102 

(Jill, .larires S,, 871, ||,|| (jeorire S., 8.59. 

(irilette, IV H . 8.59 Hudson, Heirdrick, e.\plor.atiori-i of. |s 
(rillette, Darriel (),, 834. 



( 



re" 



•'(5ospel Harrner," 210. I NDIAN Traditrons, 21. 

(Irartts of larrds, the first, 30. 1 Indians, trrbes of, rrrhabrting 

("Jraves. Lelari.l .1 . .\1 D.. 700. of Vermont, 25-20. 

(fieeri Dr. Cieorj,'e 1! . 8()S. Irorprois Confederacy, the, 21. 

;'S.%ot;;w-''l^^l>".l.nr,.,'n.e.' 214. '• t ( ..:RNAL on'emperance. The." 2.S 

.. Green Mourrtarn ^.st |^.y," 2M, 2.3. Jj'^j^',,, 

Guernsey, Kev d S.. ^M. .juii„c.,.q. 



lOOO 



History of Windsor County. 



Judi^es. Presidinp, 18:j. 
Judicial Sysleni of Veriiioiil, 179. 
Jugticesi of the Peace, Windsor County, in 
1781, 91. 



K 



ENNEY, Asa W., 858. 
Kidder, Rev. Moses, 792. 

IANDMAKK, Tl.e,"222. 
^ Legit-latiire, meeting of at Wind- 
for, 83. 

members of from Windsor County, 
83. 
Lemmex, W H., 8G2. 
'• Lilwral Exlracl-i," 216, 217. 
Ludlow, chartered, 102. 
Ludlow Town, history of, 528. 

early settlement and oriranization, 
529 

first town ineelinp, 530. 

Grahamville, villajie of, 538. 

Oraliain, Williiim, .538. 

in the War of the Rebellion, 535. 

Ludlow House, the. .534. 

officers of, 532. 

post-office, .538. 

roads and railroad, 533. 

representatives from, 531. 

situation and natural features, 528. 
Ludlow, village of, .')39. 

Baptist Church, tlie, 548-.549. 

lilack River Academy, 551 -5.i2. 

Masonic Orders in, 553-554. 

schools of, 5.51. 

Church of the Annunciation, 550. 

early manufacture.^, 541. 

early Riid rei-ent merchant.*, 543. 

First Congregational Society, 54<i- 
547. 

L O. O. F., .5.54. 

G. A. R.. .554. 

old families, .'.54, 953. 

First Universalist Society, 649-550. 

incorporation of, 540. 

J. S. Gill & Co., woolen-mills, .541. 

lawyers of, .545. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, .5.50. 

newspapers of, 543-544. 

physicians of, 545. 

Toy Manufacturing Company, 542. 

MACKENZIE Family, 844. 
.Marsh, Frederick W., 810. 
.Marsh, .Joseph, 83-84. 
Martin, Alonzo A., 793. 
Massacre at Westminster, the, 37. 



Mclndoe, Lyman J., 901. 
Medical Profession, the, 19;{-207. 
Medical Science, dawn of, 105. 
Medical Society, first in Vermont, 198. 

second in Vermont, 198. 

incorporation of, 199. 

members of, 199. 

proceedings of, 199-201. 
Medicine, Clinical School of. 202-203. 
Medicine, modern, 196. 
Minuletnen, regiments of, 52. 
Morgan, Charles, S09. 
Morgan, Harvey D., 794. 
"Morning Ray, The," 213. 
Morrison, M. F., 847. 
•' Musical Gazette," 216. 

NEW Hampshire Grants, history of the, 
29-34. 
Newspaper, first in Vermont, 211. 
Newspajier. first in Windsor County, 211. 
Newspapers (see Press of Windsor 

County), 207-224. 
New York and New Hampshire, contest 

between, 30-31. 
'■ Northern Memento, The," 213. 
Norwich, grant of, 102. 
Norwich Town, history of, 477. 

American Literary, Scientific and 
Military Academy, 488. 

Methodist Church, the, 487. 

Baptist Church, 486. 

Beaver Meadow, 493. 

early church history, 484. 

charter of, 478. 

Congregational Church, 485. 

early settlers. 4S0. 

Episcopal Society, 487. 

great freshet of 18G9, 490. 

important events, 491. 

in the War of the Rebellion, 483. 

meeting of the Council in, 482. 

newspapers, 491. 

Norwich Library Association, 491. 

Norwich, village of, 492. 

Norwich University, 489. 

organization of, 481. 

Pompanoosuc, 493. 

old families, 493, 955. 

railroads, 491. 

representatives from, 484. 

school.s, history of, 487. 

situation and natural features of, 
477. 

Union Village, 493. 



Index. 



lOOI 



PARKS, Frederick, 808. 
Paul, Hon. Norman, "Oa. 
Payne, Klisha, first judge, 181. 
Pingry. Hon. W. M., 885. 
'■ Pingry Papers, The " 46. 
Plymouth Town, history of, 391. 

charter of, 392. 

churches in, 399. 

controversy witli New York, 392. 

gold seeking in, 39". 

manufactures in, 399. 

mineral wealth, 396. 

natural beauty of, 394. 

pioneer settlements in, 395. 

old families, 4(KI, 962. 

representatives from, 399. 

topography, etc., 393. 
Pomfret, grant of, 102. 
Pomfret Town, liistory of, 726. 

church societies in, 736. 

first permanent settlement, the, 730. 

in the War of 1812, 734. 

in the Revolutionary War. 733. 

in the War of the Rebellion, 735. 

natural features of, 727. 

odicial list, 738. 

organization of, 731. 

Pomfret centi'nnial, the, 737. 

old families. 739, 967. 

proprietors' meetnig, 728. 

schools of, 737. 

situation and boundaries, 72ii. 

survey and division of, 72^. 
Population, lluctuationsof, 109. 
Porter, John, iM 1. 
Potter, Sanford 11., 797. 
Powers. Calvin It., S53. 
Powers, Dr. John I)., SoO. 
Powers, Dr. Thomas E., 852. 
Powers Family, S49" 
Powers, .John D., 851. 
Press of Windsor County, the, 207-224. 
Puritan settlements, the, 19. 

RAYMOND, Judge Isaiah, 798. 
Reading, grant of, 102. 
Reading Town, history of, 3S0. 
charter of. ■!80. 
Baptist Churcli in, 388. 
Methodist Society, 388. 
Congregational Churcli in, 388. 
first settlement in, 3H2. 
grantees under New Hampshire, 
384. 

120 



Reading Town of, in the War of 1812,386. 

in the War of the Rel>ellion, 387. 

in the War of the Revolution, 386. 

Reading centennial celebration. 
389. 

representatives from, 390. 

thrilling incident in, 381. 

Universalist Society, 38.5. 

villages in, 390. 
"Record of the Times. The," 218. 
•' Republican Observer, The," 222. 
Revolutionary War, the, 61-69. 
Robbins, Charles, S26. 
Robbin.s, Otis, 839. 
Rabbins, P. H., 826. 
Roberts, William G., 811. 
Rochester, chartered, 103. 
Rochester Town, history of, 646. 

annexations to, 647. 

considerations paid for erants in 
649. 

charter of. 648. 

early settlements, 651. 

early public improvements, 6,54. 

first churcli .society in, 6.55. 

in the War of th«- Rebellion, (S7. 

in the War of 1S12. 657. 

in the War of the Revohition, 657 

Methodist Episcopal Church, 656. 

Baptist Church, 6.56. 

Congregational Church, 655. 

old families, 648, 971. 

organization of, 653. 

situation .ind boundaries, 646. 

reprosenativt's from, (i.'i8. 
Roster of commissioned ollicers, 133-177. 
Royalton, liurning of, G6. 
Royalton, chartered, 103. 
Royalton town, history of, 761. 

Bank of Royalton, the, 774. 

burning of, 7ii5. 

charter of, 764. 

churches of, 773. 

civil list, 777, 

in the New ?Iainpshire and New 
York trouble, 761, 

Royalton Academy, 773, 

First Congregational ('hurch, 773, 

St. Paul's F.pi.scopal Church. 774. 

old families, 778, 975. 

Royalton village, 773. 

situation and bouiiilarics of, 761. 

Soutli Royalton, 77i;. 
Rugg, David Fletcher, M. D.,811. 



I002 



History of Windsor County. 



O ALTASH (now Plymouth), grant of, 

SaiKlers, Coleman, S33. 

" School Journal and Agriculturalist, The," 

Second Regiment, history of, 116-117. 
Seventeenth Regiment, history of, 130-131. 
Seventh Regiment, history of, 122-123. 
Sharon, chartered, 102. 
Sharon Town, history of, 746. 

charter of, 747. 

freemen's meeting, 752. 

first settlements, the, 749.' 

in the War of 1812, 752. 

organization of, 750. 
I oflicial list, 754. 

old families, 754. 

proprietors' meeting, 74fi. 

.schools and churches, 7.5."!. 

situation and boundaries, 746. 
Si.tteenlh Regiment, history of. 12S-I29. 
Si.xth Kegiineiit, history of, 121 122. 
Slack. Col. W. H. II., KG5. 
Slack, John A., 813. 
Smith, Dr. Charles C, 925. 
" Spirit of the Age, The," 220. 
Spooner, Dr. Paul, 44-45, 365. 
" Spooner's Vermont Journal, "212. 
Springfield, chartered, 102, 
"Sprinirfield Reporter, The," '219. 
"Springfielii Telegraph. The," 219. 
Springfield Town, history of, 406-477. 

cemeteries of, 421. 

church history of, 431. 

civil list, 428. 

early settlements in, 408. 

First Church of Christ, the, 433. 

hotels of, 419. 

in the War of the ReWlion, 423. 

in the War of the Revolution, 413. 

lawyers of, 424. 

Metliodist Episcopal Church, the, 
434. 

ofticial list of, 428. 

bonded debt, 424. 

organization of. 410. 

physii-ians of. 42r>. 

political hi.story of, 42<i. 

pro[irietors' meeting in, 4(i(i. 

railroads in, 418. 

reminiscences, 415. 

roads and bridges in, 417. 

schools of, 420. 

situation and topography of, 400. 



Springfield Town of, .slave trade in, 416. 
temperance in, 418. 
town poor of, 422. 
town hall in, 422. 
Springfield Agricultural Society, 

422 
old families, 409, 983. 
staging in, 417. 
Christian Church, the, 440. 
Free Will Baptists, 439. 
North Springfield Baptist Church, 

437. 
Reformed Methodist Church, the, 

439. 
Second Advent Church, the, 

440. 
St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal 

Church. 438. 
St. Patrick's Church, 440. 
Universalist Society of, 435. 
Springfield, villajje of, 440. 

IJIack River Woolen-Mills, the, 460. 

Cobb & Derby mill, 45(;. 

D. M. Smith Ac Co., 456. 

freshets, 451. 

early manufactures in, 454. 

Exchange Bank, the, 451. 

fire department of, 441. 

First National Bank of ! 

4,53. 

Oilman <fc Townsend, 461. 
G. A. U. in, 4.5(1. 

incorporation and first officers, 443. 
Jones & Lamson Machine Com- 
pany, the, 464. 
John C. Holmes & Co., 457. 
Masonic Order in, 448. 
mercantile interests, 465. 
new.spapers of, 445. 
Parks it Woolson ^lachine Com- 
pany, the, 459. 
post-ollice in, 445. 
situation and boundaries of, 440. 
Springfield Wesleyan Seminary, 

44fi. 
.'^|>riiigfield Town Library, 447. 
SprinfrfiL-Id Marble and Granite 

Works, 401. 
.Springfield Board of Trade, 4,51. 
Springfield .'Savings Bank, 452. 
Springfield Creamery Company, the, 

465. 
Toy Manufacturing Company, 
458. 



Springfield, 



Index. 



1003 



Springfield, Upper Dam, the, 460 

Vermont Snath Company, 462. 
Vermont Novelty Works Company, 

4()3. 
W. H. II. Slack, 464. 
North Springliekl, 407. 
early bnsiness interests of, 40 ( . 
Frank D. Marlins factory 408. 
Henry Parker Company, 1 he, 40J. 
cheese factory, the, 46U. 
loeation and boundaries, 46;. 
post-oftice, 4C8. 
Stearns, Daniel, w:\. 
Steele, Hon. Denjamin 11., ><«J. 
Steele, Dr. F. E., 83S. 
Stockhridge, chartered, 102. 
Stockbridge Town, hi.^^lo.y ot, .->*<<. 
charter of, 5S9. 
church .<!0cietie8, -"^94. 
first settlements, 591. 
old families, 690, 987. 
Gaysville Manufacturing Company, 

organization of, 593. 
present industries, 594. _ 
representatives from, 593. 
situation an.l natural features, o87. 
town ollicials, 595. 
Stocker, Samuel Russell, 800. 
Story, Dr. Dyer, 891. 
Sumner, David II.. 893. 

rpAYLOU, James C, 839. ■ 

X Tenth Kegiment, history of 120-126. 
Third Uegiment, history of, 11 (-1 1«. 
Ticonderoga, evacuation of, 03. 
Topography, 109-110. 
Town organization, lUl-ii'J. 
Town meeting, request for, 40-47. 

proceedings of, 47. 
Towns chartered under New York, lOo. 
Tracy. Hon. Andrew, 913. 
Treaty between France and England, the 

final, 29. ^ , . , 

Treaty of peace between France and i<.ng- 

land, 27. 
"Tribune, The," 223. 
Tuttle, Col. Oscars 872. 
Twelfth Regiment, history of, 12<-128. 

NIVERSALIST Watchman," 215. 



U^ 



VAIL Family. 814. 
Vail Homestead, the, 815. 
Vail, Joshua, portrait, 815. 



Vermont admitted to the I'nion, 100. 
•' Vermont Advocate, The." 224. 
Vermont and New Ilainpsliire, controversy 

between, 70-79. . 
Vermont and New Hampshire towns, 

union of, 78. 
" Vermont Chronicle, The," 216. 
" Vermont Courier. The," 217. 
" Vermont Knqulrer. The," 216. 
"Vermont Gazette, The," 211. 
Vermont, Independent State of, 34, 80. 
•• Vermont Journal and Universal Adver- 
tiser," 211. 

" Vermont Journal, The," 212. 

" A'ermont Luminary, The," 217. 

Vermont .Medical College, 2tl4-2(i7. 

" Vermont Mercury, The," 219. 

■' Vermont News, ' 224. 

" Vermont Republican, The," 212, 214. 

'■ Vermont Standard, The," 220. 

" Vermont Temperance Standard, The," 
220. 

" Vermont Times, The," 218. 

'■ Vermont Tribune. The," 223. 

•' Voice Among the Mountains, The," 223. 

WALKER, Hon. W. H.. S42. 
War of 1812, U1O-IO8. 
I War of the Rebellion, 110-107. 
' .War between the French ami English, 20. 
I'-Wardner, Allan, 917. 
Wardner, Clark, 886. 
■ Wardner, George, 871, 
Warner, Hiram L., 843. 
Warren, John, 914. 
Washburn, Hon. Reuben, 928. 
Washburn. Hon. I'eter Thatcher, 81/. 
" Washingtonian. The," 214. 
Watson, Hon. E. C, 874. 
Weathersfield, charteied, 102. 
WeatherslieUl Town history of, 097. 
Am.-<den, history of, 709. 
Baptist Church, the, 706. 
business industries of I'erkinsviUe, 

711. 
cemeteries, 712. . , . . 

Congregational Church of Asciit- 

neyville, 7"8. _ 

Corners Church Society, the. (0.. 
East Congregational Church, the. 

70.5. 
early settlers, 702. 
early religious eftort-s 704. 
early history, 697. 



I004 



History of Windsor County. 



Weathenifield Town, first tovn me«tinf(, 

schools in, 713. 

hotels in, 713. 

old families, 717, 990. 

important evenUi, 713. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, the, 
706. 

official list, 714. 

Perkin.sville, history of, 710. 

post-office, stores, etc., 7<»8. 

public iniproveinent« in, 7"2. 

80a|)Stone inilustry, the, 711. 

situation and boundaries, 697. 

Weatherslield Center, history o(, 
712. 
Webber, Hon. S. A., 841. 
Weston, formation of, 104. 
Weston, Horace, .Sl!t. 
Weston Town, history of, 636. 

Baptist Church, 643. 

Congregational Church, 641. 

Foster & .laquith, (>43. 

in the War of the Uebelliun, 040. 

organization of, 637. 

officers of, 639. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, 643. 

physicians of, 64 1. 

post-office, 040. 

repre.sentatives from, 638. 

cemeteries in, 641. 

old families, 644, 993. 

situation and boundaries, 636. 

schools, 641. 

Universalist Church, 643. 
Westminster Convention, the, 41. 
West Windsor, formation of, 104. 
West Wind.«or Town, history of, 373. 

act authorizing the division, 376. 

charter of, 373. 

6rst election in, 378. 

manufactures of, 379. 

represeiitative.s from, 380. 

separation from Windsor, 378. 
Wheeler, Capt. D. D., 920. 
Windsor County, civil officers of, 97-101. 
Windsor County erected, 88. 

boundaries, 88. 
Windsor, grant of, 102. 
"Windsor Federal Gazette, The," 213, 
" Windsor Republican, The, " 217. 
" Windsor Statesman, The." 218. 
" Windsor County Advertiser, The," 219. 



I Windsior Town, history of, 275-313. 
I as a county seat, 295-296. 

I Assembly meetings in, 293. 

I change of jurisdiction in, 281-282. 

charter of. 277-278. 

division of, 300-303. 

first officers of, 278. 

in the Revolution, 293-294. 

in the War of 1812, 303. 

in the War of the Rebellion, 304. 

old Constitution House in, 292. 

old families of, 306-313. 

organization of, 296-298. 

patentees from New York, 286. 

proprietors' meetings in, 278-279, 
287-288. 

represented in Westminster Con- 
ventions 289-290. 

settlemeiiU in, 280-281. 

schools of, 304-306. 

tax list iu East Parish of, 298. 

tax li.st in W'est Parish of, 299. 
Windsor, village of, 313-331. 

act incorporating, 315. 

All Souls' Church, 326. 

banking institutions of, 327-328. 

first Baptist Church in, 323. 

first Congregational Church of, 
322. 

library association, 020. 

location and topography of, 313. 

manufacturing interests in, 328-330. 

&Iasonic Order in, 330. 

Metliodist Episcopal Church, 326. 

organization of, 315. 

scliouls of, 316-.J18. 

State prison, the, 321. 

St. Francis's Church, the, 325. 

St. Paul's Church, 324. 

town hall, 319. 

water supply, 318. 

Windsor National Bank, 327-328. 

Windsor Savings Bank, 328. 
Woodstock, chartered, 102. 
" Woodstock (.Mjserver, The," 215. 
W'oodstock, the county seat, 90. 
" Woodstock Post, The," 21!l, 221. 
Woodstock Town, history of, 225-275. 

change in character of government, 
235. 

charters and settlements, 226-230 

church society, first in, 243-244. 

description and boundaries, 2'25. 



Index. 



1005 



Woodstock Town, 6r8t officers of, 230. 

grantees of under New York, 228. 

in the War of the Rebellion, 242- 
243. 

in the War of 1812, 241-242. 

in Revolutionary period, 238-240. 

old families, 995. 

made the shire town, 240-241. 

organization of. 230. 

Oliver Willard's ownership, 236. 

South Woodstock, village of, 245. 

Taftsville, village of, 245. 

villages in, 245. 

West Woodstock, 24G. 
Woodstock, incorporated village of, 248- 
275. 

act incorporating, 251. 

banking institutions of, 264. 

boundaries, 249-250. 

Congregational Cliurch, 257-2.58. 

Christian Cliurdi, 2G0-261. 

fire department. 253-254. 



Woodstock, first officers of, 252. 

gas light companv, 269. 

hotels of, 269-270. 

industries of, 2li7-268. 

Joab Hoismgton, purcha.se of, 248. 

Masonic Order in, 272-273. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, 26 1. 

Norman Williams Library, 256. 

Ottauquechee Savings Bank, 266. 

park and surroundings, 254-255. 

schools of, 203. 

St. .lames's Church. 262. 

town representatives, 274-275. 

Universalist Church, 259-200. 

Windsor County Agricultural So- 
ciety. 271. 

Woodstock Aqueduct Company 
the 270. 

Woodstock Bank, 265. 

Woodstock National Batik, the 
266. 
•' Workingman's Gazette, The,' 216, 217. 



OCT 019:3 



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